Intro and discussion

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

Name: alphabet26
Age: late 20s
Location: Iowa
Favorite TV Show: I'm fickle. Right now, I'm totally in love with CM--it's all new and shiny and wonderful. But look below, and all those shows were considered favorites, too. ;)
Other Shows Watched: Brothers and Sisters, Heroes, SPN, Merlin, Project Runway, Law and Order.
Favorite Quote: "Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: What! You too? I thought I was the only one." C.S. Lewis
Favorite Color: Purple
If I was a criminal, I'd be... not the kind they catch on "Criminal Minds." I'd be caught by the Law and Order cops, I'm sure.

*****

And now onto my discussion point. Disclaimer: I've only recently started watching the show and I pretty much marathoned my way through all the episodes thus far, so I definitely could have missed something. I'll feel kind of foolish, but you know. You'll have that.

Anyway, I've been reading a lot of fanfic lately and it seems like a lot of authors make Reid kind of...helpless. Like, can't cook, can't take care of himself, that kind of thing. Which isn't bad, but when I was watching the show and learning his backstory, I immediately thought that he'd have to be fairly decent at that kind of thing. "My mother is a paranoid schizophrenic who'd forget to eat if she wasn't properly medicated and supervised." So he had to take care of her and himself until he went off to college. It's obvious she got worse as time went on, but he said his mother didn't notice he didn't get home until midnight when he'd been tied to the goalpost because she'd had an episode.

And once he got to college...well. I guess I don't know about prodigies, but do they let 12-year-olds live in the dorms? He went to Caltech, and it seems like Diana stayed in Las Vegas. Hmm. Maybe he stayed with a host family like a foreign exchange student might?

Plus, he has Ph.D in chemistry--surely he can follow the directions in a simple recipe to make something? ;)

Anyway, your thoughts? If this was discussed previously (it doesn't look like it was discussed recently, at any rate), sorry, and if you wouldn't mind linking, I'd appreciate it!

Comments

[caitriona-3.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of people see Reid as this little brother, and because he has difficulty relating to people on a social level, they have this desire to take care of him. Sometimes that translates to forgetting he is a capable, if shy adult. Its that automatic reflex - "but he's the baby" - thought.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

That's really a good point. Maybe it's more perception than reality.

I see your "Hotch with a gun" icon and raise you a "Reid with a gun" icon! ;P

[bookgodess15.livejournal.com]

Reid is usually (irritatingly (http://bookgodess15.livejournal.com/38641.html#cutid1)) portrayed as weak and helpless and such in fanfiction. There's one in every fandom. It's annoying, but you learn to live with it. It's also something that I frequently complain about, and I usually find a fair number of people in agreement with me, so you're not alone. There are a lot of us that get tired of seeing Reid portrayed as Bella freaking Swann.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

I was just kind of wondering if I'd missed something. I mean, I don't expect him to be some master chef or anything, but he is a grown man, and has been taking care of himself for quite a while now.

There are a lot of us that get tired of seeing Reid portrayed as Bella freaking Swann.

Ha! I thought about making that comparison. ;)

There's one in every fandom.

::sigh:: Very, very true.

ETA: Oh, yeah, thanks for the link! Will check out.

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of us that get tired of seeing Reid portrayed as Bella freaking Swann.

Score.

[antoinettemason.livejournal.com]

There are a lot of us that get tired of seeing Reid portrayed as Bella freaking Swann.

lol and cosigned! ;)

[benitle.livejournal.com]

I like to imagine Reid as someone who knows basic cooking - and that's it. For the reasons you pointed out, I believe that he's fine with making easy dishes or heating up something frozen or throwing together something like Mac 'n Cheese.

I don't see him as someone who's capable (or maybe just interested?) of cooking a sophisticated meal though. While I can see how he learned/taught himself at an early age how to prepare food whenever Diana wasn't capable of doing so, I can't see him as having the motivation to deepen that knowledge.

I guess for a lot of people cooking large fancy meals is something you do in larger groups and/or with friends. Since Reid never had a lot of friends, I can't see him throwing fancy dinner parties. Or, since he never really dated a lot, I can't see him trying to teach himself how to cook big meals in order to impress his date.

So while I think he's perfectly capable of getting himself and others fed when needed, I certainly don't think he's a kitchen witch.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

Oh, sure, he's not going to be be on "Top Chef" or anything. And I'm also sure that he's not the sort to be intuitive in the kitchen, and he'll measure out ingredients exactly.

But there was one fic where he, like, walked into the kitchen and wound up setting the place on fire. And a lot of the replies were all, "Yes! That's so right!" and I thought, "He doesn't quite seem like a Jackie Rodowsky to me..."

And I'm sure if Reid somehow had to make a big meal, he'd be totally nervous and freak out that he'd messed it all up, but that's more his social skills than his cooking ability, imo.

But if he got invited to a potluck or, I don't know, went someone's house for Thanksgiving and brought a side dish, I don't see him as needing to buy something pre-made. Maybe he would for convenience sake, but he wouldn't have to.

Although now I'd be kind of interested in seeing a fic where he watches the Food Network at home and tries things, or brings in cookies or something for everyone. Hey, he has a sweet tooth, and sometimes Oreos and Chips Ahoy just aren't what you're craving, you know? ;)

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

I agree with all of your observations one hundred percent, and I think that (provided, of course, you write fanfics) you'd probably give us a pretty decent characterization of Reid. There aren't enough, sadly. While he is socially awkward compared to someone like Morgan, he's not helpless. I mean, he is an FBI agent, for God's sake. They don't just toss those credentials into Cracker Jack boxes.

[madlori.livejournal.com]

I'm a total slut for Competent!Confident!Reid. In a few weeks I'm going to start posting a fic I've been writing, a giant 125,000 word Reid/Prentiss fic of dooooom, and I'm hoping to present just this kind of characterization of Reid. Still his nerdy, sometimes-awkward, charming self, but not the fluttering ingenue he sometimes ends up being.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I do like to write fic, but haven't tried CM yet. We will see. :)

Exactly. Socially awkward /= incompetent.

They don't just toss those credentials into Cracker Jack boxes.

I LOL'd.

[writerjc.livejournal.com]

I think it's a matter of appearances being deceiving. There are several occasions on the show where it's hinted at, for example, Hotch telling him that Gideon always introduced Reid as Dr. Reid so that people would respect him. He looks young and frail, he'd be perceived as having nothing to contribute. He looks more like he needs to be taken care of, or defended.

In LDSK, part of the reason I think the unsub bought into Hotch's feigned animosity toward him is because at first appearance, he wouldn't be perceived as a capable federal agent. But Reid is the one who made the kill shot.

Also, before this becomes tl;dr *g* - sometimes fanfiction is wish fulfillment. Sometimes as writers we *want* to take care of our favorite characters. Some (sometimes perceived) vulnerability about them pushes all our buttons and makes us want to write situations about them that put them in a position to be cared for or hurt and comforted. Because of the character's portrayal, fans focus in on those things that draw them and so that's what they write. Basically, we see sometimes only the parts we want to see.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

I love tl;dr replies! ;)

That makes a lot of sense, that there's wish fulfillment there (isn't most fanfic, after all?). I was just wondering if I'd missed an episode or if it was more fanon than canon. Seems more a fanon thing, which is totally cool. I just wanted to make sure I had the facts straight.

He looks more like he needs to be taken care of

Oh, yeah, I totally agree. Although...now I kind of want to see a story where, like, after Penelope was shot, or after Hotch was, he brings by some easy casseroles for them to eat. "Just pop in the oven at 400 for 35 minutes. See you later."

[madlori.livejournal.com]

It's been my observation that Reid is portrayed as more helpless in slashfics (when he's often The Girl in the relationsihp), but a lot more capable and competent in het fics, because those are written by women who see him in a more confident, less dewy-eyed incarnation. Just a theory.

I personally think Reid is perfectly self-sufficient, but I doubt he's an accomplished cook. The only things we ever see him eating on the show are bad for you. I'd also guess he's an eater of convenience foods just because he'd be the sort who'd forget to eat and who has a laundry list of higher priority items than food. He has no time to be a foodie!

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

He has no time to be a foodie!

That is very true. But I think we agree that he certainly can take care of himself in the kitchen.

[nebula99.livejournal.com]

My personal canon regarding Reid in the kitchen is that he is a perfectly competent cook who doesn't make anything fancy, but is capable of cooking for himself and his mom. He just doesn't always cook because he can't always be bothered.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

That sounds about right to me. :)

[dungeonwriter.livejournal.com]

Having been blessed with a bunch of friends with genius level IQs, i doubt they'd set the kitchen on fire, but I also doubt they eat properly. They just have different priorities, but I also see them able to function "normally".

I imagine Reid knows the ideas of basic nutrition and makes sure his mother ate some form of food every day. Given his...slender physique, I doubt he eats well, but I imagine he can follow a basic recipe as a set of instructions.

The question is, can he lose interest in a few minutes and just order take out and spend the time reading? Likely.

Wow, I just realized that they tied a twelve year old naked to a goal post? That is just...wow, about as horrible as I can imagine.

[jujuberry136.livejournal.com]

I know :( Even if he was a super bratty kid, what 17/18 year old could justify doing that kind of thing?

[jujuberry136.livejournal.com]

I like all my BAU folks to be competent. Seriously, nothing irks me more than when I see one character written as helpless or completely dependent on another. None of these folks are idiots.

As for the college thing. My personal canon is that Reid went to UN-LV for three years, then Cal-Tech at 15 for his doctorates. Given that his dad walked out on his mom when he was 10(?), I don't think he'd be comfortable abandoning his mother only a few years later. And given Diana's reasons for not being institutionalized ("all my things are here") I doubt that she could have moved from LV to supervise Spencer at Cal-Tech in undergrad. And I'm not sure what options Spencer would have in on-campus housing at 12 (most college are wary of that kind of thing).

However, Cal-Tech for graduate degrees (and being 15), makes finding housing for him slightly easier from the administrative point of view. And he could still come home for holidays to check in on his mother.

Welcome!

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

I like all my BAU folks to be competent. Seriously, nothing irks me more than when I see one character written as helpless or completely dependent on another. None of these folks are idiots.

Yes. This. Exactly.

And given Diana's reasons for not being institutionalized ("all my things are here") I doubt that she could have moved from LV to supervise Spencer at Cal-Tech in undergrad.

I knew there was something that made me think she hadn't left LV, thanks! Yeah, very doubtful she moved to CA.

And I'm not sure what options Spencer would have in on-campus housing at 12 (most college are wary of that kind of thing).

Yeah, and it's not like he had relatives to live with or something.

However, Cal-Tech for graduate degrees (and being 15), makes finding housing for him slightly easier from the administrative point of view. And he could still come home for holidays to check in on his mother.

That makes sense.

ETA: And thanks for the welcome! :)

[took-skye.livejournal.com]

...Um...mostly what everyone else said, haha! I think some misinterpret his youthfulness, occasional social awkwardness, and lack of pop-culture knowledge (all compared to others on the team) as helplessness. But if you're raising a mentally ill parent virtually on your own from age 10 (when his father left the family if I recall) you have to be a very capable and independent person for it to work...you're anything but helpless really.

The other issue that seems to bring about "helpless!Reid" in fic is likely that he's not an Alpha Male type in a team were there are 3 other guys, all of whom are. Morgan is very physical and had a tendency to tackle people (including Reid, haha) when needed; Hotch is the leader of the team (I mean in spirit more than title) and has a glare that could stop a weaker person's heart; and Rossi has a self-confident swagger about him that not even Strauss could damper. Now Reid has his moments of bold moves, extreme bravery, and UNSUB outsmarting but...well...he's not Alpha Male so, when you've got a fic with Reid and another guy (slash or not), sadly, Reid gets the "helpless" treatment.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

That's a good point. The other three are very alpha male, aren't they?

[ladymalchav.livejournal.com]

I bet Reid's a great cook, but never actually takes the time to really cook anything. I mean, if you can remember verbatim every singe recipe you've ever glanced at, you'd have to be at least decent in the kitchen!

Now I have this picture in my head of Reid at 10 or so sitting down and absorbing The Joy of Cooking, or something, just so he could whip up something half-way decent whenever his mom couldn't function.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

I hadn't even put it together with the fact that he'd never forget a recipe!

And I could totally see him doing that--he wouldn't want to cook so much for himself, but hoping he could bring his mom out of an episode...that's totally plausible.

[wingstar102.livejournal.com]

I agree with you all totally. I really try not to write him that way, even though I write Reid slash... I think the other part of the misconception is that he's accident-prone and has a couple of serious bouts of bad luck: i.e. Hankel, anthrax, ect.

I hope I'm done good with the wellrounded!Reid thing. No, he's not the Alpha that the rest of the guys are, but he's no slouch either.

Love and cherries,
Wingstar

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I can see where sort of focusing on his misfortunes (which, I cannot tell a lie, is always fun to do with Reid ;P) could sort of leave that impression. That makes a lot of sense.

[drasticbarbie.livejournal.com]

you know how people say doctors have bad handwriting? i think it's like that for Reid. he's got so much going on in his brain that cooking and socialization skills are pushed to the back burner. doctors have so much to remember and are so overworked that they can't be bothered to write legibly.

perhaps making Reid inept at cooking or other basic skills is a way of giving his character some flaws/weaknesses that go beyond his small frame. it's like his kryptonite.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

I can see that, sure. Makes sense.

[calanthe-b.livejournal.com]

I tend to think that Reid, with regard to cooking etc, is a bad case of someone who can, but can't be bothered. It's a bore, it gets in the way of other stuff, and the cleaning up afterwards is a pain, so most of the time he doesn't waste the effort. I see him as someone who doesn't see food as anything important enough to put time into beyond making sure he has enough fuel to be going on with.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, that makes sense! It's just not worth the hassle when he can grab a microwave meal on the way home and read a book.

[cloudzrshibby.livejournal.com]

I don't see him as weak, personally. Socially awkward, yes. But I also think MGG is still pretty awkward, so it rubs off in the characters he plays. So yeah. I honestly don't see him going through life not knowing how to at least cook Cup-O-Noodles. Especially given that he took care of his mother. But yeah. He's not Bella Swan; He's taken bad guys down, out-smarted bad guys, took care of his mom, lived through high school and college at a super young age, contracted anthrax during an investigation and lived, and got shot in the leg. Writing him as weak would probably anger me if I ever read fanfiction.

Oh, that and I basically agree with most of what else has been said here (ie him probably being an awesome cook because he'd never forget a recipe, him not being an alpha-male, etc)

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

MGG cracked me up in one of those DVD bonus features. So adorkable.

But, like you said, not incompetent, not weak. Part of the whole emphasis on "doctor" is to help make sure he's not underestimated. Because he shouldn't be.

I really love your icon, BTW.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nextboldmove_/]

I hate helpless!Reid. He basically had to raise himself and his mother, so he's much more capable than he's made out to be in fic, and the show too.

I also think he's socially awkward, but once he cares about someone and lets them into his world (which I don't think has happened yet) he'll be very nurturing (something I'm trying to convey in my current story). I also don't think he's a virgin in canon, either.

Also, part of me thinks that Reid (on the show) plays into the notion that he's helpless, just a little, because it makes him seem less threatening or intimidating to others. He's already the smartest one in the room, and that can be scary to everyone--including tough guys. He exagerrates his vulnerability and he's seen as less of a threat and therefore people-like local PD-trust him more.

That's just me...

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

I hadn't thought about him playing it up--that's a really good point. He probably did that in school a bit, too, "I'm smart, but I'm no threat." Didn't always work, but it might have helped. Or at least, he might have thought it helped. So yeah. Thanks for bringing that up.

[alphabet26.livejournal.com]

Oh, yeah, and in the Fisher King, when Gideon was cooking, it really seemed like a treat for him, something he didn't get to do much.

I haven't read as many Morgan fics, but is he really portrayed as stupid? What is this I don't even. Like someone said before, they don't give away FBI credentials in Cracker Jack boxes! Morgan earned it, too. HONESTLY.

[dragonladyk.livejournal.com]

Anyway, I've been reading a lot of fanfic lately and it seems like a lot of authors make Reid kind of...helpless. Like, can't cook, can't take care of himself, that kind of thing. Which isn't bad, but when I was watching the show and learning his backstory, I immediately thought that he'd have to be fairly decent at that kind of thing. "My mother is a paranoid schizophrenic who'd forget to eat if she wasn't properly medicated and supervised."

Word to the power of a million.

DragonLady