Seriously, there's no such thing as a 'Summer Glau Curse' by HAKEN

I completely agree with everything the article said. She's had a run of bad luck but it's not her fault. And if there was any truth to this ridiculous idea then CSI and The Big Bang Theory would also be cancelled by now as she appeared on those as well. Discounting The Unit, Dollhouse and The 4400, as she only had guest appearance on those shows, that leaves Firefly, TSCC and The Cape.

I don't need to explain Firefly as we all know that story but Summer often gets mentioned as one of the fans fave characters in the show. For her first major role it is a great performance. Even more so in Serenity.

Then we get TSCC. This show seems to be like Marmite. You either loved it or loathed it. I loved it. The writers strike definitely did the most damage to this show and it didn't get off to the best start. But when it found it's stride in the second season it was a great show that deserved to keep going. But some Terminator film fans wanted a different show. Summer was great again although it's a role where it's not easy to easy. Actors often say that the less emotion you show the harder it is to act. She got to explore that side as well as the emotional side when she played Allison and 'scared' Cameron.

Then we get The Cape. This should failed because of it's creators. They had a great idea but couldn't decide how to proceed with it. The humour didn't really work, some of the acting was a bit wooden and Summer was badly underused. The characters were fairly bland and one noted. I kept thinking that Vince was going to turn into Michael from Lost. Instead of "They took my son" we'd have something like "I'm doing this for my family". In the last episode they even seemed to be making a last ditch effort to get fans by making Orwell appear to have lost the plot and allow Summer to be 'crazy' again. They should have taken the more serious route and made a sort of 'Batman for TV' show. It could have worked and Vince should have been more involved with the circus. What happened to the 'you help us we'll help you' speech. A likeable show but no surprise it didn't keep viewers.

Summer needs to get away from Fox and find a straight drama so she can show non-scifi folks what we know sh'e capable of. Maybe on one of HBO's shows. Her's hoping coz I'll keep watching her.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 2:33 AM

Ooops

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 3:51 AM

JEANDUPONTEL

As an active member of the Summer Glau Wiki, i read a lot of online articles about The Cape or Summer Glau and i can tell you Summer Glau is the only buzzworthy actor of the show. Online commentors always say "Summer Glau's show", whereas she is not the main character on The Cape and was underused until episode 8. As io9 author said, it's more easy to bash Summer Glau because she often has the focus on her when she is on a show.

I visit this site several times a day and i feel there is more news about Summer recently ;)

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 3:59 AM

FEARTHEBUNNYMAN

I'm surprised "most buzzworthy" wouldn't be Keith David.

Although when Charlie Jane mentioned "she usually play's neurotic characters" but we kept hearing how the Cape was going to let her "stretch" a bit...but by the last episode, they were already writing her character as neurotic and mentally/emotionally disturbed.

I'm starting to wonder...

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 4:53 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fearthebunnyman: Although when Charlie Jane mentioned "she usually play's neurotic characters" but we kept hearing how the Cape was going to let her "stretch" a bit...but by the last episode, they were already writing her character as neurotic and mentally/emotionally disturbed.

I'm starting to wonder...

That was the point I was referring to. The writers know Summer has a dedicated fanbase and is known for playing popular, off-kilter, characters so they started to change Orwell in the last aired episode to be more like those others in a last ditch attempt to get something (whatever that may be) out of it and undermine their original words in the process. A weak and desperate ploy but the show was obviously doomed after a few episodes from ratings alone. I don't think anything could have saved it by then. I liked the show enough to keep watching it but by the end it was only Summer keeping me there.

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 4:58 AM

Excuses excuses. She's clearly TV poison. Off to broadway with her.

Don't go nuts I'm just kidding. She has to get some of the blame for The Cape though. Both her and her agent should have been able to read one script and run away screaming in terror. I guess a paycheck is a paycheck.

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 8:00 AM

FREMDFIRMA

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek: Both her and her agent should have been able to read one script and run away screaming in terror. I guess a paycheck is a paycheck.

You know who you just reminded me of, and a good lesson in taking even the parts that really suck ?

Christopher Lee. Hell, some of his earlier roles didn't even have dialogue - but it paid the bills, right ? And look where that went!

-Frem

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 8:10 AM

Is it bad that I had to look him up to even know who you were talking about? On top of that the only movies on the list that I'd consider as good are the Lord of the Rings. Of course I haven't seen the vast majority of his work.

So, in 50 years Summer can hope for 3 good movies? :wink:

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 12:28 PM

WHOZIT

There is a curse, it's called "NBC"! Check that networks ratings for all their shows.

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 12:34 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek: Is it bad that I had to look him up to even know who you were talking about? On top of that the only movies on the list that I'd consider as good are the Lord of the Rings. Of course I haven't seen the vast majority of his work.

So, in 50 years Summer can hope for 3 good movies? :wink:

Yes it is very bad that you had to look up Christopher Lee. I could understand you not seeing much of his work or knowing a great deal about him because that would depend on your film tastes and age. But aside from Saruman in LOTR he also played a classic Dracula in many Hammer films and Scaramanga in one of the better Bond movies to name just two other roles. Although to be fair he has done his share of rubbish.

Of course you could be joking about it all, it's impossible to tell in print. Either way your punishment will be saying three 'We applied the cortical electrodes...' lines and to kick yourself into the nearest engine. :biggrin:

"The greatest invention ever is not the wheel. It's the second wheel." - Rich Hall

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 12:44 PM

Nope really didn't know who he was. I think I've only seen him in LotRs and the Star Wars prequels. The joking part was that Summer would have to do crap for 50 years just to get to 3 good movies.

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 12:47 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek: Both her and her agent should have been able to read one script and run away screaming in terror. I guess a paycheck is a paycheck.

On the one hand, I kinda agree. But as you say, a paycheck is a paycheck, and decent roles for women are harder to come by, and tend to dry up completely after about 35. She's wise to bank what she can now.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 12:48 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek: Nope really didn't know who he was. I think I've only seen him in LotRs and the Star Wars prequels. The joking part was that Summer would have to do crap for 50 years just to get to 3 good movies.

Ive seen very few of his movies, myself, but I've known who he was since like age 8. It's like, requisite knowledge for a movie nut, especially one with an affinity for genre fare.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 2:26 PM

FREMDFIRMA

In the words of Agent Pleakley, "Here, educate yourself." http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ChristopherLee

Cool stuff, some of it even I didn't know.. Metal Album ? Headbanging ? WTF ? Awesome dude, he is.

-F

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 3:11 PM

DREAMTROVE

Summer was also underused by T:SCC.

The best ep. IMHO was Alison from Palmdale. The producers said they were deliberately limiting Cameron's screentime and story involvement because the show was supposed to be able Sarah, and Cameron's only real connection was to John. I thought this was a dumb reason to sink your own show, esp. since Cameron was also in the show's title: Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles. I mean, they didn't call it "Serial Mom: The Sarah Connor Chronicles."

I think there's a little bit of Summerphobia in the industry, maybe because of Firefly. They don't want to be dependent on Summer for their success. Actually, I've noticed this before with truly talented actors. It seems you get a lot more screentime if you're more middle of the road to "pretty good."

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Tuesday, March 08, 2011 6:57 PM

GREENKA61

Quote:
Originally posted by lwaves: Summer needs to get away from Fox and find a straight drama so she can show non-scifi folks what we know sh'e capable of. Maybe on one of HBO's shows. Her's hoping coz I'll keep watching her.

I think so, too. She needs to get an indy film of the "Monster's Ball' or "Monster" genre. Or play Ophelia in a screen remake of "Hamlet" if they're going to keep giving her crazy person rolls.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 4:51 AM

JEANDUPONTEL

Quote:
Originally posted by fearthebunnyman: I'm surprised "most buzzworthy" wouldn't be Keith David.

Which actor did a beach video for FHM and a Photos for FHM UK? Can you link to a online The Cape-related article on Keith David? Which promo picture for The Cape was the most used online? Who was at The Macy parade on NBC to promote the show? Whose name appear the most on comments about The Cape? Can you link to a Keith David fansite? Who has the biggest line at comic-con?

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 8:34 AM

FEARTHEBUNNYMAN

U mad? U sound mad.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 9:39 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jeandupontel: Quote:
Originally posted by fearthebunnyman: I'm surprised "most buzzworthy" wouldn't be Keith David.

Which actor did a beach video for FHM and a Photos for FHM UK? Can you link to a online The Cape-related article on Keith David? Which promo picture for The Cape was the most used online? Who was at The Macy parade on NBC to promote the show? Whose name appear the most on comments about The Cape? Can you link to a Keith David fan? Who has the biggest line at comic-con?

Can YOU say "sarcasm?"

Geez, unpucker.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 9:41 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Don't you just love it when people look at presented facts and say, "Oh, facts! Why, you must be upset."

Ritual is what happens when we run out of rational.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 10:04 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose: Don't you just love it when people look at presented facts and say, "Oh, facts! Why, you must be upset."

Ritual is what happens when we run out of rational.

Why would they be mutually exclusive?

One can post facts, and be mad. Or, in this ccase, one can post facts after ridiculously missing the point.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 10:14 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark:
Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose: Don't you just love it when people look at presented facts and say, "Oh, facts! Why, you must be upset."
Why would they be mutually exclusive?

They aren't necessarily mutually exclusive, but they are separate things. While it's not out of the question that they can occur together, it's not necessary that they do. One doesn't need to be mad to call attention to facts any more than one needs to be outdoors to be walking.

I do not need the written code of a spiritual belief to act like a decent human being.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 10:31 AM

Yeah, but when someones jokingly says offhand that the sky is green, and someone goes into a factual rant about how blue it really is - it's hard not to laugh at them. Like I said, missing the point.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 12:36 PM

JEANDUPONTEL

Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark: Yeah, but when someones jokingly says offhand that the sky is green, and someone goes into a factual rant about how blue it really is - it's hard not to laugh at them. Like I said, missing the point.

Or maybe, just maybe, someone is not english native and may have miss the double meaning of a sarcasm.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 12:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by jeandupontel: Quote:
Originally posted by Storymark: Yeah, but when someones jokingly says offhand that the sky is green, and someone goes into a factual rant about how blue it really is - it's hard not to laugh at them. Like I said, missing the point.

Or maybe, just maybe, someone is not english native and may have miss the double meaning of a sarcasm.

You're absolutely right. I tend to take for granted that we're all speaking the same language, and can forget that the internet is an international forum.

So - my apologies for jumping to conclusions.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him."

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 12:58 PM

So, what show do you all think Summer will sink next? Maybe she'll replace Charlie Sheen and get Two and a Half Men put down. I could see her joining House and killing that. Oh how about V?

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 1:09 PM

DREAMTROVE

Quote:
Originally posted by Zeek: So, what show do you all think Summer will sink next? Maybe she'll replace Charlie Sheen and get Two and a Half Men put down. I could see her joining House and killing that. Oh how about V?

I think she'll play River Tam in Firefly, Season 2 :biggrin:

That's what a ship is, you know - it's not just a keel and a hull and a deck and sails, that's what a ship needs.

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Wednesday, March 09, 2011 1:14 PM