#e!analysis

[johnnys-helmet]

every once in a while i think about how johnny would have every reason to not be that great with kids, being (as far as we know) an only child who doesn't have kids of his own and probably wasn't around kids often before becoming a paramedic and roy has every reason to be great with them as a father of two who's been a firefighter much longer than johnny...and yet johnny is fantastic with kids, even moreso than roy. he's gentle and funny and sweet and patient and he loves them, and he'd make a great father. his niece and nephew adore him and he adores them. he's just such a good man.

[johnnys-green-pen]

Random E! Thoughts: S6E24 - All Night Long

ping pong table!

Johnny, complaining about the TV and watching anyway

Johnny’s new obsession being fueled by “I can do that better” is relatable, tbh

Johnny having edited his high school newspaper apparently

“I’ve never known you to sit down and stay with anything” - admittedly, Chet has a point

Chet has a Lot of points in this scene

Say about him what you will, but Chet really does know Johnny well by now

Roy’s disoriented turn after Johnny blows past him and really didn’t care about his ping pong win

Okay, the jazz guys. They’re, like, really gay-coded, right? That’s not just me with my perpetual rainbow goggles? Right?

One of the reasons why I’ve been putting off this post is because Johnny writing is so damn perfect

I cannot put into words just how fucking hilarious I think this B-Plot is, as a writer

All the reaction images a writer could need, in a few short scenes!

Johnny being extremely fixated on writing something and even HE doesn’t know what he’s doing

Roy being snarky about it

Johnny being annoyed that Roy doesn’t appreciate his artistic genius

Henry just wanting to have a nap

I think it’s fun that Chet is a lot more interested in what Johnny’s doing than Roy is. 

Johnny pausing mid-typing because Chet jarred an idea loose

“the coffee calling the pot black”

This entire episode is extremely over the top, but it’s also absolutely fucking brilliant

The kind of episode that I’d be wary about quoting in a character analysis, but fuck if I wasn’t laughing the whole way through

Last chance in the series to appreciate Sam Lanier doing his dispatch thing!

Marco’s Spanish coming in useful in this episode is a rare treat

Johnny having picked up some Spanish is a new one, but I think it suits the character - he’s been working with Marco for six years, they’re bound to encounter a lot of spanish-speaking folks, of course Johnny would want to pick up a couple phrases at least.

That scene at Rampart with them working frantically to save the poor woman

Sudden silence with the consistent beeping in the background. No music, no nothing, just that long, meaningful beep and Johnny looking miserable about it. Ow.

Johnny completely wired about his new hyperfixation (probably specifically because that rescue before went horribly and he can’t sleep when he’s stressed, if I had to guess) and choosing writing over sleep is incredibly relatable

Henry magically got Johnny’s pillow without ever moving, which I think is absolutely hilarious

And, in classic E! fashion, Johnny just can’t win.

[hitchcock-winter]

Can we talk about the contrast of these gifs?

Johnny:

And Roy:

Like, I know they were just single moments but I think it also points to the fact that Johnny’s first instinct is to always say yes and Roy’s is to say no.

Johnny, spontaneous and eager to please and impress and generally agree

And Roy, calculated and holding on to his routines and control and contemplating before agreeing to anything

And both of them, rubbing off on each other just enough to make Johnny a bit more thoughtful and Roy a bit more spontaneous (okay maybe this is headcanon but I don’t care)

[johnnys-helmet]

for the ship meme - the classic! Johnny/Roy

OUGH what reasons AREN'T there to ship johnny and roy?

they know each other so well by even the first few seasons that they can have entire conversations with just a look between them

their concept of personal space is so fluid and they're constantly in each others' bubble

they share WAY too many of those looks where you just know there's chemistry

the way johnny constantly frets over roy despite johnny being the accident prone one who always downplays his own injuries, making a big fuss over small injuries when roy is involved? oh yeah. inject it into my VEINS.

johnny constantly missing out on girls despite being drop dead gorgeous and always coming to roy for comfort...something smells fruity here

johnny spending more time with roy than the only member of his family he seems to have left

HE'S OVER AT THEIR HOUSE. ALL THE TIME.

there is something queer going on during those fishing trips

THAT interaction in what's a nice girl like you doing

roy's desperation any time johnny is in mortal peril gets me right in my gut

they're such a handsome couple too

and to finish off this long list that surely could be expanded upon, just sit back and think of all the really cute things you can do with them in a world where homophobia doesn't exist. especially with the kids and their two dads!

[johnnys-green-pen]

Random E! Thoughts: S7E03 - Deadliest Passage

Another one of those movies I have relatively little to say about, but I do have some thoughts I rather like.

The entire scene where Johnny and Roy get out of the car - Roy’s snarky “he does his best work in tight situations”. Johnny struggling with his jacket until the Seattle guy helps him. Roy going “need any help there?” 

Them walking into the station a few scenes later, Johnny carrying all the bags and Roy none, before magnanimously going “can I give you a hand” and taking one single bag - the smallest. 

They are wearing seatbelts in the back of the medic’s truck - FINALLY.

Johnny seems so utterly done when he hears more about how Seattle does things - especially because he’s been after better triage for years at that point.

Makes it make more sense that the next movie after this one is Greatest Rescues, where he gets promoted; I assume things like that (and presumably Roy not wanting to put it off any longer) made the choice a lot easier.

Johnny getting the choice between helping with a cow and getting a date and immediately choosing to help. 

Speaking of: Johnny and Roy being told to stand by and watch, just to last not even five minutes before doing the thing anyway.

Johnny sees the slightest bit of bickering between Rocky and Swede and immediately intervenes. 

[johnnys-green-pen]

Random E! Thoughts: S7E02 - Survival On Charter 220

Yet another movie with another new station and crew I don’t care about

This time they even have paramedics that kinda look like Johnny and Roy - or try to, anyway. The dark-haired one has Johnny’s exact season 1 hairstyle. And they are both Insufferable.

The new doctor is adorable, at least. She’s adorable in the San Fran movies and she’s adorable here. 

Also, let’s appreciate that Morton is giving people shit about their bedside manner now. Character growth!

(not that it actually means shit, but fwiw the movie does pass the bechdel test! Molly and Dix are talking about apartment stuff)

Also, we get some more glimpses at Dix’ 1960′s Selectric I typewriter. 

I’d love to have one like that but they’re Expensive ™ and I really don’t need another typewriter anyway

I adore old planes, so that’s one part about this movie that’s fun

20 minutes into the movies the main characters finally make an appearance

At least they start us off with a fun conversation with these two

I do love Roy’s “amazing how a guy can become dependent upon his partner” line

Johnny borrowing Joanne’s car is Wild

First off, she let him, which. WHY.

Second, hey, Johnny finally got a dog he was allowed to keep!

Third, why the hell didn’t he take his own car

Also, Johnny apparently didn’t replace his TV set after he brought his own to the station after the whole “blowing up the TV nonsense” in season 6

Johnny’s pretty “oh shit” expression when he realized he blabbed about Roy’s TV being broken

Roy is so done

Rich Lady And Her Boytoy/Attorney wasn’t a sideplot I wanted or needed, especially because they are insufferable and we are never given any kind of reason to care about them

As insufferable as the paramedics are in isolation, the found family stuff is pretty damn adorable

I love how the kids want the guy as their new dad and they’re Gonna make it happen

Roy’s talking about it being a slow day again while they’re “restocking” at Rampart, because Roy will never ever learn. I hope his crew has his head about it until he wises up once he makes Captain

53 minutes in, we finally get to the main plot

If I remember this correctly, they actually did get permission to wreck a condemned neighborhood for the plane crash scenes - so let’s take a moment to appreciate all the amazing practical effects that E! had going on, their commitment to amazing explosions and fires and the sheer skill, work, and budget involved. The effects still hold up 50 years later, and I think that is amazing. 

Also, Morton and Molly getting to be on the triage team for this one is great

Everybody’s highlight: Johnny getting knocked out cold by a goddamn plane - essentially, anyway

In true E! fashion, they’re even more allergic to lean into the whump than usual - you can’t tell me Roy wouldn’t have been extremely concerned. The show never takes head injuries lightly, and it’s baffling that they’re starting now. Ah well, another one for the fics.

[johnnys-green-pen]

Random E! Thoughts: S7E01 - The Steel Inferno

… I am back with these things

You can see my opinion on that movie by how damned long it took me to get around to watching it again for the analysis post

The movie just… drags on. A lot. 

ANYWAY, let’s do this

Well at least that random fireman’s girlfriend is admittedly really cute

Don’t like the fact that we’re mostly following an entirely new group of people in this one, and the Johnny Equivalent is Very Bland

The “get a haircut” parallel only drives it home

fucking backdoor pilots - or at least I think it was supposed to be one

appreciate the female vice president, I guess

Johnny being a snarky lil’ smartass about meetings is adorable though

also, Johnny falling asleep during meetings is a pretty interesting character tidbit

which also happens to be a huge mood

As a Trekkie, the most baffling thing about the movies is the sudden appearance of a very young Q.

In TWO different cities!

I now have a headcanon that this is the Actual Q on holiday, for my own personal amusement

As always, I appreciate Sam Lanier and his gorgeous old tech

Kel out in the field is one of the absolute highlights of this movie

Johnny stealing hubcaps for the greater good

(quite skillfully, no less)

That scene with the guys catching a bit of a break is kinda cute though

And the elevator rescue is the one good part of this

Woefully under-utilized of course

Johnny seems super out of it and woozy for a bit there

and struggling with belaying them down quite a bit

And then, not one single thing comes of it

This movie... :’)

So, yeah - there’s maybe ten minutes of damned good TV in there - unfortunately, 1.5 hours is a long time to sit through to get to them.

[johnnys-green-pen]

Random E! Thoughts: S6E18 - Firehouse Quintet

Poor Chet getting relegated to the bench for all six basketball games

That gorgeous pan across the HQ

Morton playing basketball

... uh, well, Morton having played basketball

I love it when that guy just gets to casually interact with the lads

There’s at least two or three accidental Johnny pantyshots in this episode due to how damn short those shorts are. 

Johnny moving like a gangly teenager in PE class the entire time during that practice session

Johnny falling, and the way Mike pulls him back up again with one hand

Roy jinxing them by calling it “a light shift” in the evening

Morton’s jaunty little wave after they talk to him

That one section of ceiling lights being out gives the usual Rampart corridor a whole different vibe

There is a lot of underwear in this episode. So much underwear.

“very little sleep is better than no sleep”: wise words to live by.

Roy snoozing

Johnny having given up and sitting cross-legged on the bed hugging his pillow

Cap’s paint-stained old clothes

All the grumpy Cap faces

“can I help you??”

The plumber showing up is peak comedy

Johnny complaining about them running a stop sign while pushing Chet’s car

Also, Johnny’s hair bouncing with every step

Johnny’s horrific farmer’s tan

I adore how they filmed the game

It’s not necessarily graceful or pretty, it’s got severe “we put a camera at the sidelines of a high school game” energy, but I love it

Also, the way they didn’t turn off the mics, so there’s just so much Randy Mantooth Breathing Heavily in the background

How do you know I’ve watched way too much of this show? I can recognize who’s mic’d up with a live mic based on breath sounds alone. 

Yes, they definitely needed four people to help one Roy to the bench

especially since he gets to the locker room on his own perfectly well

Johnny and his water bottle

His “mnnnnghgh” noise as he tries to drink from it

Him hitting Cap with the water instead

in a very unfortunate spot

Cap’s incredibly Done expression

Johnny’s incredibly guilty glances over at him

Somehow Johnny always manages to look SO much younger whenever he interacts with Cap

Cap casually slapping Chet’s ass

Half time two seconds after Chet gets to join in

This is the second time Chet suddenly develops semi-magical sportsball powers (the first one being 4.19 It’s How You Play The Game), which amuses me endlessly

The timeout

Johnny just needing a few seconds to Suffer first

one of those pantyshots in that scene, btw

Roy being utterly baffled and a little hurt when he sees that score

Their mildly unhinged whooping, group hugs and half-carrying Chet after they won