#Technically Danny isn’t his mother BUT he does take on parental role & as far as the kids are aware this death-being is their mom

[puppetmaster13u]

Prompt 245

Now Danny would openly admit, if only to himself, that he had a type when it came to relationships. If they were strong, if they were a threat to him, then chances were he would develop some sort of crush. It was how he had dated Sam and Valerie (And Johnny & Kitty) when he was a bit younger, and hell, Sam had technically succeeded in killing him, even if partly. 

Attraction towards smart people who could kill him was honestly par for the course for a Fenton or Nightingale anyway. 

And he’d also admit he enjoyed a bit of time travel, learning about times and culture long before his time, to the point that he could blend in in ancient times just as easily as the time he had been born in. That it was natural to mutter in a language lost to time. 

So color him surprise when another man perks up in the bar he had paused to get a drink in, vibrant green eyes gleaming in interest and responds in turn. And not just in the language, but able to keep up when he talks about things that once existed but haven’t been rediscovered yet. 

And one thing led to the other, and there might have been some assassins and some shenanigans that end with them both laughing together in an inn and then more and- Okay he has a type alright, and he’s ticking each box! How is that fair? 

[burnouts3s3]

Let’s Talk About: Eric Forman

(Disclaimer: The following is a non-profit unprofessional blog post written by an unprofessional blog poster. All purported facts and statement are little more than the subjective, biased opinion of said blog poster. In other words, don’t take anything I say too seriously.

"Let's Talk About" is a series of articles focused on individual character or characters and their development and commentary throughout the work in question. THIS IS NOT A REVIEW OF THE WORK, but rather what the character says about the world around them.  If you wish to read a strict review, please click on the link to read it. My reviews focus more on the purely technical aspects of the work. There are bad characters with good messages. There are good characters with bad messages and so on and so forth. Thank you.)

Let’s Talk About: Eric Forman

When writing about That 70’s show, I kept going back and found myself charmed with how much the characters and the drama drew me in. While the show’s humor was its main selling point, it became apparent there was much more going on and that the serious moments kept me watching.

Eric Forman was the show’s main character, a high school boy living with his Korean War veteran father, Red, and his smothering mother, Kitty, while having to battle with his slut sister, Laurie, when she visited from College. Eric was a skinny, pale introvert save for a close group of six friends who often hung out at Eric’s basement, where they would smoke marijuana and grouse about their daily lives. The show took place during the late 1970’s in Point Place, Wisconsin, a suburb just modern enough without feeling like a city but far away from cities to be considered intimate.

In some ways, Eric was the perfect protagonist, at least for That 70’s show. As a character, Eric’s not really that interesting. He’s a whiny, neurotic, paranoid person who overreacts to non-important and petty situations but deep down does care, even if he’s a bit too obsessed with things like girls, high school, GI Joe and most of all, Star Wars, to notice it at first. It makes him the perfect character to bounce off the wacky personalities for the other cast members such as Stephen Hyde, the conspiracy theorist and delinquent, Michael Kelso, the dumb friend who’s ready to physically injure himself and sex seeker, Fez, a Foreign Exchange Student unfamiliar with American customs, Jackie Burkhart, a shallow rich girl and Donna, tomboy and love interest.

Eric is essentially the audience avatar; too much of a weakling to do anything against a backdrop of characters. But as the show went on, Eric’s character grow, developed and changed as we saw his transition from boy to boy who lives with his parents to man.  I would argue that Eric, while not that different from sitcom stereotypes, defied expectations and eventually became the show’s emotional core and his plight was compelling (even if said plight was from the perspective of a white working class male with a mother and father figure).

The first 4 seasons of the show were basic high school antics. It depicted Eric living day by day through the late 70’s dealing with high school, his growing on and off relationship with Donna, his butting heads between his need for independence and his role as a son in his family and other mundane topics. This wasn’t exactly compelling stuff but it did hit a note. Eric was essentially us, a child living with his parents and not sure where to go in life but getting through things like a post-Vietnam world with his friends.

What really sold the show was the chemistry between the characters. Getting a group of character actors like Kurtwood Smith, Danny Masterson, Wilmer Valderama and discoveries of genuine talents such as Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis solidified the show as a syndication mainstay. But it was really Topher Grace that brought the show together. To be fair, Topher Grace is not a very diverse actor with a big range. But he had a toned down sardonic wit that made him relatable enough to laugh at but humble enough to bond with.

Then Season 5 came to a close. The gang had graduated from High School. Eric and Donna were ready to leave for College. And everyone else was ready to move on with their lives.

But, there came a complication. After being arrested, Fez realizes that his student Visa expires when he graduates and he will be deported. (Fans of the show have pointed out the continuity error that during his trip to Canada, Fez has a green card thus making him legal to stay). But, just before the gang leaves, Laurie makes an announcement: She’ll be marrying Fez so he can stay in the country.

This causes Red to have a heart attack. Red survives but cannot work and in need of special care. With Red unable to work, Kitty has to take double shifts at the hospital to make ends meet. All the while, Eric realizes that his dream of going to college gets further and further away.

Again, this was an obvious stunt by the showrunners. They wanted the gang to graduate high school but they also wanted them to stay at the Forman’s basement since they wouldn’t have to build another set.

Then comes the most emotional moment of Season 6.

“I have to go!” Eric cries, desperate to convince Donna and himself. Then after a moment of silence, Eric says “I have to stay”.

It’s a big moment. Obviously, the show producers want to keep Topher Grace, Eric’s actor, around for another season. But here, it’s made into a big moment. What was the American Idea, a child leaving his adolescent home to pursue higher education is focused through the lens of economic strife and reality. With Eric, the idea of being stuck under his parent’s roof and having to live there is almost a nightmare to him. But he chooses to stay to help his family in this time of crisis, during a time when Laurie is having a sham marriage with Fez while partying like she’s still in college without him. (Behind the scenes, Laurie had to be written out. Her original actress, Lisa Robin Kelly, was dealing with drug abuse and was kicked off the show and replaced with a different actress. The fans of the show didn’t care for the new actress so Laurie eventually disappeared without a trace. The last reference is when Kitty asks “Has anybody seen Laurie?” during the series finale. Lisa Robin Kelly would tragically pass away from her drug addiction).

And thus, it’s the crux of his character: Eric wants to leave not only his childhood home but Point Place, the very place where he grew up.

As such, the show’s conflict also became a meta statement: How long can the characters, and by proxy the actors, keep doing this? How long can they keep meeting up in the Formans’ basement? How long can Kelso keep being an immature man-child with no thought other than having sex with the next girl he meets? And how long can Eric still be a child under his parents? And how long can Topher Grace, Ashton Kutcher, Mila Kunis and the other actors keep in the comfortable work that is a sitcom without advancing their careers?

Season 6 continued. Eric got a job as a dog food coupon dispenser, before Bob and Joanne broke up. Eric then became waiter at a restaurant to help out at the house. Donna decided to stay as well, putting off college for a year to support Eric.

Eric and Donna even planned to get married during Season 6. However, at the last moment, just when we’re finally ready to see these 2 characters we’ve been following for 6 seasons tie the knot, Eric gets cold feet and doesn’t show up to the wedding. He comes back to Donna’s room while she’s sleeping. Donna wakes up, hits him but just tells him to stay.

This is also a commentary on Eric’s character and the nature of the series. Eric says he ‘wants’ to change but can’t commit to it. Much like the familiarity of a sitcom needing to stay the same, Eric needs the familiarity of not being married to Donna but still having a relationship to her. It’s a sign of immaturity. Eric isn’t doing anything with his life, whether it’d be financially, socially and even romantically. He, like the series, was running in place.

Season 7 came around and Eric is completely lost in his direction in life. When he started Season 6, Eric was planning to leave for college. But after refusing to marry his one true love, Eric has eventually regressed into a state of adolescence and decides to take ‘a year off’. This was done out of uncertainty from the producer’s part. The show had lasted for longer than they had anticipated and no one was sure who was going to come back next season.

Both Eric and Red were locked in nostalgia, though for different generations. Red Forman’s nostalgia was for an ideal 1950’s America with white picket fences, a nuclear family, with him bringing home the money from his manufacturing job and his wife is a homemaker and his daughter is sweet and pure and his son is a football player so good he can get a sports scholarship for college. Eric’s nostalgia is his high school years continuing on forever, where he could just hang out in his parent’s basement, his friends would always be there and he would have a carefree sex-ready relationship with Donna without any consequences.

It wasn’t until Eric met a man named Stu, another adult male concerned with little more than reading comic books and lounging around without a care in the world. Eric, enchanted by this idea, befriends Stu and wants to become him. It’s not until Eric visits Stu’s home that he realizes that Stu still lives with his mother and has done nothing with his life. When Stu’s mother coddles him and offers Eric a cookie in the shape of an X-Wing, Eric realizes he will become Stu if Eric doesn’t change right now.

And at the core of season 7 was the message: change. For Eric’s desire and stubbornness for everything to stay the same, it simply can’t. Social Movements like Civil Rights and Feminism make an appearance. More and more persons of color are being introduced into the group. Eric wants the show to stay 1979 forever, but it just can’t. Time marches on. Childhood doesn’t last forever. People change. Life changes. And Eric, as hesitant and painful it is to take the first step, must change as well.

Eric’s plan to take a year off turns out to have huge ramifications, even going so far as quitting his job. (This was probably intentional on the producers’ part as they probably didn’t want to have the restaurant as a set anymore). His friends all end up getting jobs and getting on with their lives. Hyde, the rebellious conspiracy nut, becomes part of the corporate machine he so much despises, Jackie becomes a newscaster and Fez becomes a shampoo boy at a local salon. Even Kelso, the moron of the group, finds a career in law enforcement as well as a daughter he had out of wedlock.

In some ways, Eric Forman is the evolution of stay at home children, such as Bud Bundy from Married with Children. But whereas Bud’s situation was often played for laughs and satire, Eric’s is played up more for dramatic purposes. And it some ways, it reflects the situation of arrested development. Obviously, this was unintentional on the producers’ part; they had no idea that their sitcom would run for 8 seasons and thus set the first episode in 1976 (such as to get the Star Wars reference in). But, just as the back end of the Vista Cruiser never went beyond 1979, so did Eric.

Then came an opportunity. Eric, after an awkward talk with his guidance counselor, finds a path. If Eric goes to Africa to help out, he can get payment for college. Obviously, Kitty and Donna do not take this news well. Donna is furious with Eric, stating how selfish he is for asking her to put on life on hold for him. Eric and Donna make up and Eric prepares himself to leave Point

In the background, Topher Grace and Ashton Kutcher decided to go on with their careers. Ashton, having gained fame from his reality show Punk’d, decided to make a go at Hollywood along with Topher Grace left the show to pursue a movie career, starting with playing Eddie Brock in Spider-man 3. (Yeah… Didn’t work out so well, though he has found other parts in other movies).

And after 7 seasons, with Bob’s Polka band playing him off, Eric rides his Vista Cruiser to the airport finally saying “So Long, Point Place!”.

In Eric’s absence, the show didn’t really have a thematic crux. They just had their biggest turning moment and dramatic finish to the series. Originally, this was the series finale only for the show to still be popular and incur another season to make.

Say whatever you will about Topher Grace’s range (or lack there of) as an actor, his character, Eric, played a vital balance to the cast of wacky characters. Without him as the Straight Man, Hyde’s cynicism, Fez’s innocence, Jackie’s shallowness, Red’s anger and Kitty’s smothering had nowhere to essentially go. It’s not that the actors couldn’t bounce off each other but without an Eric character to balance all the chaos, the show became sort of a mess.

To replace Eric, the producers introduced Charlie, a son of Red’s War buddy, back in Season 7. Charlie is also a meek, unsure waif and honestly, I feel like he would’ve made a fine addition to the show. But, there was a complication. The real life actor who played Charlie was contacted by Fox to star in his own live action sitcom and couldn’t return. So at the start of Season 8, Charlie is killed off by falling off the water tower. Instead, the show picked Randy, an old friend of Donna’s to be in the group.

Randy sucks. Or rather, the idea of Randy sucks. He was an obvious attempt by the producers to replace Eric and Kelso by combining them into essentially one person. But, it didn’t work. Fans of the show hated him and it felt like a betrayal. Plus, it didn’t help that Randy had no chemistry with the rest of the cast. Or, maybe that’s just a symptom. Watching these 6 friends interact for 7 seasons only to lose 2 of them and replace them with this guy feels really cynical and cold in terms of marketing.

Just as well, the departure of both Kelso and Eric made the ratings tank and forced the show to end. (There’s an ongoing fan theory that the producers ‘sabotaged’ the show so they could finish production and didn’t force it to go on). Ratings got so bad, the show forced an endless amount of guest stars and even got Ashton Kutcher to come back.

The series finale was on New Year’s Day and Donna is worried Eric won’t come back from Africa. But, in those final moments, Eric returns to Pont Place, confesses his love for Donna, has one last circle with the gang and proceeds to go upstairs, leaving the basement empty. And finally, after 8 seasons and 200 episodes, that 70’s show ended, the sticker of the Vista Cruiser showing a 80’s stick, signaling the show to turn into 1980.

That 70’s show was a show that was a lot smarter than people took it credit for. What started as a blatant attempt to get ad space and another live action sitcom for the Fox Network transformed into a running commentary about family, friendship and high times.  And in the center of the show was Eric, the boy who grew up during this period.

And as much as the characters wanted things to stay the same, much like Red feeling uneasy to depressed to ready to change after losing his manufacturing jobs, finding a new job to finding a place to support his family alongside his wife, so did the rest of the cast.

Thank you, Eric Forman. Thank you for everything.

[jean-michelbelrose-blog]

Some Info

Part 1: The Basics

What is your full name? Jean-Michel Belrose. No middle name.

Where and when were you born? I was born February 14th, 1995 in Marseille, France.

Who are/were your parents?

Cecila Belrose and Adam Belrose.

My mother is more of a housewife than anything. She's a lovely lady with a little bit of a temper. I love her. My dad’s a mechanic and kind of an ass but he loves me and my mother and he pays the bills.

Do you have any siblings? What are/were they like?

No.

Where do you live now, and with whom

Ontario, Canada. I technically live on my own, but Danny is over often enough that he might as well live here. (Depends on story. But most of the time yes)

Describe the place and the person/people.

We live in a modest little apartment, sometimes the heating gives out in the dead of winter and we have to rely on the oven and fireplace, but it's okay. It's a good life and I’m supposed to be getting a new AC/heating unit soon.

What is your occupation?

I  graduated highschool, by some miracle, and Danny got me into racing. It pays when you win? August’s mom lets me model for her. She’s sweet on me even though me and her son split up. Yea, I just skirt by really?

Write a full physical description of yourself. You might want to consider factors such as: height, weight, race, hair and eye color, style of dress, and any tattoos, scars, or distinguishing marks.

I’m 6’1, have black hair, hazel eyes. I’m pretty long, sometimes my mom refers to me as a monkey because of my long limbs? I don’t know.  I’ve got tanned skin with scars from fights I accidentally picked with arguing. I typically wear jeans, a t-shirt, and a leather jacket.

To which social class do you belong? Lower Middle

Do you have any allergies, diseases, or other physical weaknesses? I'm allergic to birds. Just kidding. I'm fine. I tell Danny that because I don't like birds. I am allergic to grapes though.

Are you right- or left-handed? Left.

What does your voice sound like? It's kind of low and sandpaper-y. Or so I've been told.

What words and/or phrases do you use very frequently? “Actually, you're wrong”, “Danny, shut up”, and “Come back when you've thought it out.”

What do you have in your pockets? The keys to my motorcycle, my phone, some change, uh lets see, 57 cents, and my electronic cigarette. God, I need some actual cigarettes. This thing is shit, but it’s better for my lungs I suppose.

Do you have any quirks, strange mannerisms, annoying habits, or other defining characteristics? I argue a lot. All the time really.

Part 2: Growing Up How would you describe your childhood in general? It was full of struggles and hardships, but it was okay. My family in France pays for us to visit them every year or so. It's nice.

What is your earliest memory? Eating cuttlefish on the shore with my mother. The sun was just starting to rise and I was pressed up against her chest. We were sharing a plate. I didn’t like it, but she thought it was great. “Never change, sunshine.” I remember her saying that, of course, I my reply wasn’t as sweet. “People always change. You can’t ask me not to.” God, I was a dick even as a kid. I remember her just shaking her head and pulling me closer as the tide washed over our feet.

How much schooling have you had? Completed High School

Did you enjoy school? Eh. It's not my favorite place, but debate is a great class!

Where did you learn most of your skills and other abilities? My parents and Danny. Danny taught me a lot.

While growing up, did you have any role models? If so, describe them. Not really, I guess my father was a role model. He was strong and cared for all of us. It was pretty amazing.

While growing up, how did you get along with the other members of your family? I mean, as a single child it didn't take much. I just got along with my parents, which wasn't hard.

As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? *Rubs the back of his neck* A NASCAR driver.

As a child, what were your favorite activities? I liked to watch my dad work on cars and other vehicles.

As a child, what kinds of personality traits did you display? I was a bit of a jerk really. And argumentative. Not much has changed.

As a child, were you popular? Who were your friends, and what were they like? I was not popular, and my friends were pretty generic. In fact I don't remember them.

When and with whom was your first kiss? I think it was during a fireworks show with a girl named Krissy? I was like..16. I know, late bloomer, whatever. Girls thought I was cute, but I tended to make them cry before the whole kissing thing.

Are you a virgin? If not, when and with whom did you lose your virginity? Hell no. Um. With that same chick, that same night, in my car. Man, that year was a good year for me.

Describe any influences in your past that led you to do the things you do today. Seeing my dad work so hard has lead me to wanna do better. So that I can help them out later in life.

Part 3: Past Influences What do you consider the most important event of your life so far? Moving to Ontario.

Who has had the most influence on you? I think Danny has. He… he got me through highschool really. If it weren’t for him, I probably would be dead? I picked fights that I couldn’t win and he was there to pull me out. He was there to keep me in line.

What do you consider your greatest achievement? Winning a state Debate tournament last year about something I had barely knew about.

What is your greatest regret? Telling my dad I was embarrassed of his job when I was 13.

What is the most evil thing you have ever done? Telling my dad I was embarrassed of his job when I was 13.

Do you have a criminal record of any kind? A small one, just for graffiti. But I don't mind because it was tasteful.

When was the time you were the most frightened?

One time I lost my parents in an airport. I was 7. Don’t really wanna talk about it.

What is the most embarrassing thing ever to happen to you? I got ripped to shreds in an argument once. In front of like 15 other people. It wasn't fun. I made a mistake. I was 13 and I let my emotions come out and it just.... It ended badly.

If you could change one thing from your past, what would it be, and why? Being born on Valentine's Day, only because people are asses about it.

What is your best memory? I went to this music festival in Marseille once last year. It was on the beach, with the bands further up the shore. It was really fun and just an all around good atmosphere. I wish I had brought Danny with me.

What is your worst memory? One night, when I was really young. Around 6 or 7, my dad’s brother was really drunk - he's a really aggressive man - and I had to watch him and my dad get into a fist fight because he tried to hit my mom. I don’t remember much of it now other than the yelling. And the fear? It was like a weight in my chest. I couldn’t move.

Part 4: Beliefs And Opinions Are you basically optimistic or pessimistic? I'm factual, so neither.

What is your greatest fear? For some reason, the thought of aliens really creeps me out. They aren't logical, I mean, I know it would make sense to assume there is life outside of Earth, but I don't know anything about them and that scares me.

What are your religious views? I'm not religious. People can believe what they want to, but I believe that what we see is what we get. Nothing more, nothing less.

What are your political views? I don't care? I'll vote for whoever makes the most sense to me.

What are your views on sex? Sex is great. Society shouldn't frown on it so much, fuck whoever you what.

Are you able to kill? Under what circumstances do you find killing to be acceptable or unacceptable? Eh. In self defense, I suppose I could. I mean. I don't condone murder or anything, but I also feel like if the circumstances are right?

In your opinion, what is the most evil thing any human being could do? I don't know. Every day people are doing new things that push the boundaries of evil. If I say something like “murder” today, someone will bomb a whole country tomorrow.

Do you believe in the existence of soul mates and/or true love? No? Humans aren't really meant to “mate for life.” We’re very polygamous creatures. Though in this day and age I suppose you could find someone who made you happy and get close enough?

What do you believe makes a successful life? Doing whatever the hell you want, no matter what other people think. You might not be successful in terms of a career, but you’d be happy? Isn’t that what success should be?

How honest are you about your thoughts and feelings (i.e. do you hide your true self from others, and in what way)? I mean, I don't talk a lot about myself, but if you ask me something I'll answer.

Do you have any biases or prejudices? People can be annoying.

Is there anything you absolutely refuse to do under any circumstances? Why do you refuse to do it? Lie to save someone's feelings, because what's the point, they're going to find out anyway.

Who or what, if anything, would you die for (or otherwise go to extremes for)? My mom. Without a doubt, my mom. Maybe my dad. If it’s a good day, Danny.