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ladybug_archiveNetflix has all of the Monkees episodes!
I've been pondering on the different stages of Micky's character. I've thought about it before and posted about it, but one thing I haven't described much is the middle level. And I think my other musings this time are mostly new angles too, or explaining some things better than before.
- Season 1, Straight hair, heavily parted to the right: There's a certain boyishness that you're going to see very seldom after this, so enjoy it while you can. If there was ever a point where Micky seemed like a teenager, it was in season 1. He enjoys a good laugh or musical romp, but he can be serious too, and he's always coming up with plans out of their disasters. They don't usually work as he hopes, but in theory they're very good ideas. Micky is a complex character, and as the icon says, he's "Brilliant, hilarious, sarcastic, and generally brave and unselfish." I still don't understand Mike's claim that he is crafty and selfish. The overbearing selfishness doesn't come until later, when his character goes down the drain. In season 1, Micky doesn't seem any more selfish than anyone else, unless you're going to take seriously some of his cracks about leaving people in danger. But they're definitely jokes here, unlike later.
Season 1 Micky is much more likely to be exasperated at Peter and tease him. Alternately, depending on his mood, he's the one to pat Peter on the head or shoulder after some of Peter's ridiculously naive and not-thought-out comments. In spite of his teasing and ragging on Peter, he knows Peter is just innocent and sweet.
-Season 2, Fluffy/wavy hair, sometimes parted to the right, sometimes straight down the middle: Micky is more serious and grown-up for the most part. You won't see much of that boyishness anymore, save for a brief, hilarious outburst in the season opener #33, It's a Nice Place to Visit. That episode, #36, Monkee Mayor, #40, Monkees Marooned, and #52, The Devil and Peter Tork, are probably the best fluffy-haired season 2 episodes where he largely retains his season 1 traits. On the other hand, sometimes he acts oddly, a precursor to his behavior in the third category. Leaping into Davy's arms upon seeing a skeleton where Peter was sitting in #57, The Monkees Blow Their Minds, is hilarious, but compared with season 1 Micky it still looks OOC. Further erratic behavior, making him look downright unintelligent, is prevalent in #49, The Monkees Watch Their Feet. Peter even comments on it and the tables have turned, with him ragging on Micky.
- Season 2, Curly hair: This is a mixed bag. Sometimes, especially in episodes #43, #44, and #45, you'll see a Micky who is much more like his season 1 self, resourceful and intelligent. Other times, such as in #47, #50, and #51, you'll see a Micky who has gone overboard with his randomness to the point where he is a disconnected, childish, selfish blur. This Micky is outright painful to watch. Gone is the determined plan-thinker. He's willing to abandon Peter and Davy to the vampires in #50, Monstrous Monkee Mash, and tries to convince Mike to let them leave. That episode is probably his worst moment.
In these episodes, Peter is often portrayed as being more intelligent than Micky and will sometimes take jabs at him. On the one hand, Micky is probably deserving of it, far more than Peter ever was in season 1. On the other hand, it's just wrong to hear Peter insulting people and getting a laugh out of it.
I think everyone's personalities except Mike's suffered in season 2, really. Mike lost a lot of that adorable dorkiness, but he became more cynical and serious and an even better leader for the group.
I've been pondering on the different stages of Micky's character. I've thought about it before and posted about it, but one thing I haven't described much is the middle level. And I think my other musings this time are mostly new angles too, or explaining some things better than before.
- Season 1, Straight hair, heavily parted to the right: There's a certain boyishness that you're going to see very seldom after this, so enjoy it while you can. If there was ever a point where Micky seemed like a teenager, it was in season 1. He enjoys a good laugh or musical romp, but he can be serious too, and he's always coming up with plans out of their disasters. They don't usually work as he hopes, but in theory they're very good ideas. Micky is a complex character, and as the icon says, he's "Brilliant, hilarious, sarcastic, and generally brave and unselfish." I still don't understand Mike's claim that he is crafty and selfish. The overbearing selfishness doesn't come until later, when his character goes down the drain. In season 1, Micky doesn't seem any more selfish than anyone else, unless you're going to take seriously some of his cracks about leaving people in danger. But they're definitely jokes here, unlike later.
Season 1 Micky is much more likely to be exasperated at Peter and tease him. Alternately, depending on his mood, he's the one to pat Peter on the head or shoulder after some of Peter's ridiculously naive and not-thought-out comments. In spite of his teasing and ragging on Peter, he knows Peter is just innocent and sweet.
-Season 2, Fluffy/wavy hair, sometimes parted to the right, sometimes straight down the middle: Micky is more serious and grown-up for the most part. You won't see much of that boyishness anymore, save for a brief, hilarious outburst in the season opener #33, It's a Nice Place to Visit. That episode, #36, Monkee Mayor, #40, Monkees Marooned, and #52, The Devil and Peter Tork, are probably the best fluffy-haired season 2 episodes where he largely retains his season 1 traits. On the other hand, sometimes he acts oddly, a precursor to his behavior in the third category. Leaping into Davy's arms upon seeing a skeleton where Peter was sitting in #57, The Monkees Blow Their Minds, is hilarious, but compared with season 1 Micky it still looks OOC. Further erratic behavior, making him look downright unintelligent, is prevalent in #49, The Monkees Watch Their Feet. Peter even comments on it and the tables have turned, with him ragging on Micky.
- Season 2, Curly hair: This is a mixed bag. Sometimes, especially in episodes #43, #44, and #45, you'll see a Micky who is much more like his season 1 self, resourceful and intelligent. Other times, such as in #47, #50, and #51, you'll see a Micky who has gone overboard with his randomness to the point where he is a disconnected, childish, selfish blur. This Micky is outright painful to watch. Gone is the determined plan-thinker. He's willing to abandon Peter and Davy to the vampires in #50, Monstrous Monkee Mash, and tries to convince Mike to let them leave. That episode is probably his worst moment.
In these episodes, Peter is often portrayed as being more intelligent than Micky and will sometimes take jabs at him. On the one hand, Micky is probably deserving of it, far more than Peter ever was in season 1. On the other hand, it's just wrong to hear Peter insulting people and getting a laugh out of it.
I think everyone's personalities except Mike's suffered in season 2, really. Mike lost a lot of that adorable dorkiness, but he became more cynical and serious and an even better leader for the group.
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Date: 2011-03-06 05:53 pm (UTC)Yeah, season 1 Micky sounds... just like Newkirk, honestly. XD With that in mind, the idea of Newkirk abandoning his friends to vampires (or anything else, for that matter) is absolutely unthinkable, and in that perspective, Micky's behavior in the Monkee Mash ep is downright disgusting. -.- Writers' fault, naturally...
**blinks** what happened to Davy in season 2? Maybe I need to see more, but I didn't think he changed all that much...
no subject
Date: 2011-03-07 03:54 pm (UTC)For The Monkees, it's the unedited DVD releases, same as what I own. They're only available as DVDs, however.
I'm honestly not sure whether to blame the writers or Micky himself, honestly. In season 2 The Monkees deliberately strayed from the scripts and ad-libbed a lot more and got crazier.
I'm told by a big Davy fan that he did stupid things in season 2, whereas in season 1 he was often a voice of reason.