Apr 3, 2020
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Day 11 Favourite Simon Moment: 2x1, fo sho.
In S1 his arc with Sally separates him from the others and the direction of his character wavers in real darkness; the Superhoodie plot goes the other way and blands him up to being more like your classic nerd wish fulfilment.
2x1 is a focal episode for him which walks a great line where you see how odd and broken he is (‘I’ve never been so happy!’), but also how devoted and loyal he can be. Here, he’s active - Simon was generally quite a passive guy, but I felt there were times where this meant there was less dramatic tension, particularly with Sally (like the fight in S1.5 where she hits him, or her filming their kiss in 3.8… You need Simon as your primary character to really make a choice here, not just react to Sally’s.)
He’s also vulnerable, which I think is underestimated – the Superhoodie plot didn’t work for me in part because it erases a huge portion of vulnerability from Simon. Part of what was endearing about him was his social ineptitude, and the S!H plot tilted the power dynamics to the point where he’s manipulating the lives (and deaths!) of everyone around him. Taking away the awkwardness of earlier Simon meant Superhoodie didn’t really have much personality.
(I also found it hard to warm to Alisha for much of the show for the same reason – she’s rarely shown as socially vulnerable. There’s suggestions in the earlier episodes of S1 that there’s hidden depths to her: ‘You’re so messed up!’ – but in general, the show seems more invested in showing how men feel about Alisha than about how Alisha feels in herself.
We see her nervous around Simon post 2x4, but there’s no real dramatic tension about whether or not he’ll return her feelings, so this mainly gets reduced to her dislike of Jessica in 2x5 and no-duh moments - apparently Simon wouldn’t be ashamed to be seen with her, and thinks she’s pretty!
I think some of the reason Nathan and Kelly were so memorable is that they too could be very vulnerable – they were aggressive, but the show wasn’t presenting them as cool or even attractive a lot of the time. It’s interesting that Curtis never really had much in the way of vulnerability either until S3, and seems by far the least popular character.)
It’s also nice as an exploration of gender – Simon here isn’t particularly fitting into the mould of the ideal male by his own terms e.g. strong, stoic, dominant, protective. Kelly’s protecting him from Curtis. Lucy is neutralised not by physical aggression, but by Simon apologising to her and showing compassion and understanding. The resolution of the episode is also in some ways an opposite to 2x4, which presents that Simon and Alisha’s relationship could never begin independent of manipulation (‘If I don’t die, she doesn’t fall in love with me’) and a more traditional gender approach (‘I have to save her!’); by showing that, in contrast to Simon’s expectations, emotional honesty and telling the truth, even if reveals his own self-loathing is what truly solidifies his place within the group, shown in the ‘I just want to be your friend’ scene: Nathan and Curtis are totally blindsided and unable to retort for once, genuinely flattered by Simon’s sincerity.
Honourable mention: 2x2 is also sweet, I’d have liked a little more exploration of the power reversal, but there’s a real sense of group membership - Kelly and Simon chatting in the club, Simon being first to try and cover for Nathan.
2x5 again had potential not fully realised (Jessica is probably the healthiest relationship Simon ever had a chance at) but you see Simon has developed a real spine, even standing up to both Alisha and Nathan – I’d probably pinpoint this as the most equal Simon becomes within the group, prior to the change of direction in 2x7 after the time jump.
2x7 I hate the corny ‘gonna kill Jesus!’ bit, but this is probably the last moment of self-acceptance for the Old!Simon (‘it will always be part of me’) which thematically works so much better than the tell-don’t-show-y: ‘I’m not that person anymore !’
Misfits + laughing at Nathan’s joke (and a bonus Alisha entertaining Kelly and Curtis)
Alisha + characterisation being reduced to damsel in distress (bonus points for repeatedly going back to the well of rape or sexual humiliation prior to her Learning A Lesson; and for dropping the hopes of equality for her and Simon in 2x5)
Simon/Alisha + lazy writing 2
Concerned that all the interaction between your pairing prior to their hookup has been relentlessly negative?
Rather than focus on any similarities of character such as a complete disregard for consent or god forbid, any conversations between them; why not enlist your other characters as cheerleaders for your OTP? (Bonus points as this means avoiding that pesky Bechdel test or say, any kind of reaction to the bloody murder of one half of your ship from her best friends?)