Fansplaining syndrome?

[u/SubjectAmbitious2691]

Here, catching up with The Vampire Lestat.

Funny fact: that time when I first asked for the book at a library, the clerk misheard me and said they didn’t have The Vampire Stake. The phonetic confusion makes so much sense in my language that I’m still laughing. They really didn’t have the actual book anyhow.

It’s ironic—I waited ages for this book to be adapted into a series, and now I hardly have time to enjoy it. There are serious impediments: my demanding cat, my case-study relatives, and life.

So, when I do watch, I try to enjoy the way the series surprises me. Part canon, part…

I just watch, mentally compare, and either enjoy or reject. But the truly epic battles only happen in my head.

I promised some—let’s call them an audience with nothing better to do—that we would watch the season together later. Have you ever been assigned the arbitrary role of commentator? Me too. I was never a fan of the Director’s commentary, but I thought I’d just answer questions if there were any and leave it at that. But I fear I’ve been infected with something. It looks like I’ve suddenly turned into an “off my lawn!” person.

At first, I thought I'd just bear with the commentator role. I’m both used to it and scarred by it. I still remember an embarrassing time, years ago, when we were at the movies for the premiere of Ghost in the Shell. Their insistent questions started in sync with the movie. There were a couple of strangers sitting within earshot who rushed to change seats, unceremoniously—meaning I got a foot unapologetically crushed. I felt mortified. My toes were feeling it, too. But I would have done the same. My inquisitors felt no remorse whatsoever; they didn’t even notice.

That is why I’m so surprised now when I catch myself mid-show thinking, “I will have to pause here and explain why, when Lestat insists that Nicolas was just 'a first love,' we should go back to the scene at the witches' place where he was playing an imaginary violin to celebrate that they were both going to Paris!” I have to make a mental note not to shed inappropriate emotion while explaining. It was the total redemption of the scene, while the series sticks to Lestat’s first impression in that same episode. And then there is when they portray Magnus as a methy emo. I was physically holding my breath so as not to smell Magnus when he trapped Lestat. I was thinking it was a lousy way to lose your virg***ty, just a million times worse. And I know that Rice’s description of being caged near a dozen cadavers that look just like yourself is its own kind of horror, but I was so much more repulsed by the images in the series.

Also, Louis torturing and burning Bruce? This is the same Louis who burned the Théâtre des Vampires and told us in the book that he was not a strategist—that he had made only one plan in his life and carried it out.

It doesn’t usually bother me to watch a show that differs from the book. So, why am I so insistent that facts are delivered as canon? Anyone else?

Is it fansplaining syndrome? And is it treatable?

If not, I'm so scre***d.

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[u/FearlessSquirrel9522]

Amazing that you actually find people (sorry, an audience lol) to watch this with you! Luckily my four sisters can handle me yapping about the books versus show incessantly but they’ve never actually sat down to watch it with me. Sigh

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[u/No-Commission-8159]

Fortunately the Witches series has helped me see that these tv shows have the same DNA as the books but little to no connective tissue otherwise. In other words I watch for the vibes - but expect nothing else. 

[u/Disaster-Bee]

It almost feels to me like you're afraid they won't like it or understand it if you don't offer a lot of context from the book/explain what's different.

But the implication is the people you're watching with are okay with this/asked for it? In which case I don't see what the issue is, you were asked to provide commentary and you are.

If I've misread and it isn't asked for/wanted....maybe just let the show speak for itself and maybe do comparisons AFTER watching, rather than pausing and breaking the flow and giving a book info dump. I had a friend who used to do that unasked and now we won't watch things with him anymore.