I recall a particular gender-bender fic I read some time back...one of those AU stories where a certain male character was recast as female from the very beginning. I'm intentionally not naming the story here, because discussion of the specifics would detract from the point.
Anyway.
The author claimed her intent was to explore the canon differently - the interactions between characters would be different, the protagonist would react to situations in different ways, and develop as a person in new directions... that kinda thing.
I did follow this for a while, because the writing was actually pretty good. But with all these changes, was the new protagonist really the same character, or just an OC with the name? Or worse, a thinly-veiled author insert?
I wrote to the author regarding this, and she acknowledged it as a valid criticism. She said that wasn't what she wanted, but yes, it could be seen that way.
It bears mentioning that some point after this, one of the canon rivalry/friendship relationships - between two guys, in the canon - started to be painted as a romantic heterosexual one.
I couldn't decide whether that was the fic jumping the shark, or it simply living up to the expected conventions of this kind of AU fic...or the author simply following plot threads and premise to a logical conclusion.
I'm never sure what to make of these things, but those are my thoughts, anyway. =P
-- Acyl
Anyway.
The author claimed her intent was to explore the canon differently - the interactions between characters would be different, the protagonist would react to situations in different ways, and develop as a person in new directions... that kinda thing.
I did follow this for a while, because the writing was actually pretty good. But with all these changes, was the new protagonist really the same character, or just an OC with the name? Or worse, a thinly-veiled author insert?
I wrote to the author regarding this, and she acknowledged it as a valid criticism. She said that wasn't what she wanted, but yes, it could be seen that way.
It bears mentioning that some point after this, one of the canon rivalry/friendship relationships - between two guys, in the canon - started to be painted as a romantic heterosexual one.
I couldn't decide whether that was the fic jumping the shark, or it simply living up to the expected conventions of this kind of AU fic...or the author simply following plot threads and premise to a logical conclusion.
I'm never sure what to make of these things, but those are my thoughts, anyway. =P
-- Acyl