cirsumvrent, as gob says

[schmerica]

I have two topics for discussion today, people.

FIRST. Okay, so what is your guys's opinion on Diefenbaker's diet in Chicago? Primarily kibble, you think? I'm not sure Fraser in either the apartment or consulate has the resources for a raw food diet. We also see Dief eating a lot of people food (which, even leaving the donuts and pizza aside for a moment, Fraser, why are you giving your wolf spaghetti? Honestly). He seems pretty healthy no matter what, though. Presumably there's a stricter regiment when Diefenbaker is in working mode as a sled dog, as well.

SECOND. Fraser is basically respectful of authority -- but the law trumps authority -- and justice trumps the law. This last part is SO INTERESTING to me, you guys, because throughout the series we get, like, dozens of examples of Fraser telling other people that the only way to get to justice is through the law -- but when it comes down to it, the places where they don't meet up is still a major struggle for Fraser. Like, I don't think he's a hypocrite at all, but there are definitely times when in order to do the right thing, he is circumventing the law.

Examples off the top of my head:

+ Refusing to take the baby to the authorities in Mountie, Cop and Baby
+ Not turning in Kowalski in Asylum or Vecchio in Dead Man Running
+ Sitting in the Riv while Vecchio is in the gym with Zuko in the Deal
+ I haven't seen the episode in a while, so I don't remember exact details, but he's definitely torn in some way when it comes to Mask

There are more, I'm sure. And that's not even counting the times when he is tempted to the edge and you see how he's restraining the "wild sort of justice" within himself, just like he tells RayK in Eclipse. With Gerrard, with the gun in the pilot and the boot in the chest and throwing knives in Bird in the Hand; with Muldoon in Call of the Wild.

And of course, one of the questions that comes up is the same question that comes up with pretty much any question of Fraser characterization, which is: how does Victoria fit into all of this? Picking the law above love, and love above the law, and it goes wrong every time. How does justice fit in there at all?

Oh, FRASER. You have such deeply held beliefs. That is reason number 874 why I love you. <3

Comments

[ainsley.livejournal.com]

But does he think that love trumps all? He thinks he's wrong in loving her, but does it anyway, which suggests to me that loving her goes beyond his ability to think (which in turn undermines his understanding of who he is).

[phineasjones.livejournal.com]

but at first, before he finds out what she's up to this time around, he thinks he did the wrong thing in turning her in last time. because he loved her. he goes to confession and tells this to a priest, he's so sure it was the wrong thing to do. when his father tells him it was the right thing to do, that it was his duty, he disagrees. because she's the only woman he ever loved.

[ainsley.livejournal.com]

Which begs the question: is he Catholic? He never struck me as the religious type. VERY spiritual, yes, but not religious.

Why do I never find good things to ponder when I DON'T have papers to write? (because you make very good points)

[phineasjones.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! that's always bugged me. he doesn't seem catholic to me. which is an odd thing to say, i'm sure. but we never get any other hint that he might be. hmmmm... i wonder if we could tell what kind of church his father's funeral is in...

yeah, i have major work due tomorrow too, can you tell? :)

[ainsley.livejournal.com]

He always struck me as the church of the great outdoors sort myself, but I could have spent too much time lusting after the unfortunately named Byron Sully in my formative years.

I have a 20-30 page paper due Thursday. I haven't started the RESEARCH.

Which of course means I'm fucked, but damn if I can find the hottie doing the fucking (I refuse to believe it's all me).

[pearl-o.livejournal.com]

I would be shocked if Fraser was Catholic, honestly. His father and the stories of his grandparents definitely give off strict Protestant ethic to me. (Also, am I wrong in thinking the reason he knows Chinese is because his grandparents were missionaries there?)

I wonder if the confession thing is connected to his friendship to Ray Vecchio -- seeing it as *something*, some way of attempting to be forgiven.

[ainsley.livejournal.com]

Good call on the grandparents. I still don't see him in church on Sundays. Obviously he'd be up, but would he spend that time sitting in a crowded room, or in activity?

I can see him as seeking penance and solace anywhere he can find it, because he's spent years failing to forgive himself.