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.

[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]

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

[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]

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]

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.

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

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

Score.

[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.

[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]

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? ;)

[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.

[caitriona-3.livejournal.com]

Nice! I love my guys with guns!

[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."

[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.

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

Excellent! I've not come across a lot of Reid/Prentiss. I look forward to reading it.

I'm a total slut for Competent!Confident!Reid.

Me too. ;-)

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.

Fluttering ingenue...that's a really excellent way of putting it. That's exactly what he is in these kinds of fics.

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

:-D

Well, you do have to work for em...you know?

[writerjc.livejournal.com]

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."

Sounds like you've already got a start ... now you just need to write the rest of the story and post it ;)

[madlori.livejournal.com]

You know when I was doing my must-watch-every-episode CM marathon (which it seems like we all go through at some point) but before I'd dipped a toe into the online fandom, I naturally grativated toward Reid/Prentiss. Seemed so natural to me. Imagine my surprise when I came into the fandom and discovered that it was such a rare pairing. I've never shipped a rare pairing before! Woe!

That being said, I've noticed a definite uptick in the number of R/P fics being written. I don't know why. There's quite a few of them at The Pit as well.

[benitle.livejournal.com]

And I'm also sure that he's not the sort to be intuitive in the kitchen, and he'll measure out ingredients exactly.
Oh yeah, totally! I'm sure he can follow step-by-step recipes well enough. He just doesn't seem to have enough practice to know that you can substitute A with B and C if you've run out of it.

I honestly can't see him setting a kitchen on fire. Mainly again because I think he tends to cook simple stuff that just doesn't have enough fire material and because I'm a klutz in the kitchen too and despite many kitchen accidents, I never actually set anything on fire. O.o

Maybe he would for convenience sake, but he wouldn't have to.
Yes, I agree! :)

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.
Or where he's got a date with someone and surprises them with a nicely-cooked meal! I think I'm craving a Sean Hotchner/Reid fic now where Reid - even though still able to learn a thing or three from Sean - is not a kitchen disaster.

And since I totally forgot my manners: welcome to this community!

[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.

[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 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!

[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.

[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?