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Post by California gal on Sept 12, 2011 13:39:40 GMT -8
A couple of the other threads made me start thinking about this.
As much as I admire Jim/RC and am a proud member of Jim's Jewels, I believe my favorite aspect of the Wild Wild West is the chemistry between the two leads. Regardless of what the two actors are and were like in their personal lives, apart and together, on the small screen they blend together like... well peanut butter and jelly. You can make a sandwich with peanut butter on one slice, jelly on the other, eat them one slice at a time, and they are good. But put them together and you have something delicious. ;D
Many of my favorite scenes are when Jim and Artie are together, and it's one of the reasons why TNOT Circus of Death is high on my list. They spend so much time together on the train (and at the mint). I love what I call the "white shirt scenes" in this episode. they are talking--working--together about their case, and come up with the same conclusion. Not an unusual situation, even when they don't talk it out. They know each other, how each other thinks and acts.
In Murderous Spring, it shows when Artie enters Jim's room, and later at the lake. Red-Eyed Madman, when Jim is forced to shoot at the ax Artie is holding. Casual Killer, when Artie tries to rescue Jim from the bullies. Surreal McCoy when they duck behind the wagon and exchange rather "dry" comments. Firebrand, when Artie, as the Frenchman, shows up to save Jim from the firing squad.
On and on. Any time they are together, for me, the screen lights up. It's why the season 4 episodes without RM are dull, for the most part, in comparison to the ones where he and RC appear together.
Chemistry between leads, especially of the same gender, on the screen is not that common. Kelly Robinson and Alexander Scott in "I Spy," Starsky & Hutch quickly come to my mind. There are others, but I'm not remembering them right now.
So what I'm saying, I guess, is when I watch The Wild Wild West, I keep my eye on both guys, together or apart. Because as Artie said, they always do work together... separately. The Wild Wild West isn't nearly as wild when they are not together.
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Silver
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Post by Silver on Sept 12, 2011 13:54:16 GMT -8
So very true, Calgal! That rare sort of chemistry is the one thing guaranteed to draw me to a show. It was what make Skiffy's The Invisible Man so good. I-Maniacs were/are wont to list the partnership of the two main characters as a character in and of itself.
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Paradox Eyes
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Post by Paradox Eyes on Sept 12, 2011 15:11:43 GMT -8
I totally agree with both of you! No matter how different the individuals are, if the chemistry is great, it can't be beaten. Look at Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock. Who would have guessed in that first episode that their friendship would become such a legend. Yes indeed... our Jim and Artie, so different and yet so perfect together!
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 12, 2011 20:41:34 GMT -8
Someone just gave me some cold water on the train...
*whistling*
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Post by snish on Sept 13, 2011 4:18:53 GMT -8
Oddly enough, I despise peanut butter and jelly... but I love Jim and Artie together!
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Silver
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Post by Silver on Sept 13, 2011 5:31:02 GMT -8
Oddly enough, I despise peanut butter and jelly... but I love Jim and Artie together! Oh, well, if you don't like peanut butter and jelly, how about tuna and horseradish? There's an unlikely-sounding combination that goes fabulously!
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Dieter
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Post by Dieter on Sept 13, 2011 7:21:52 GMT -8
YUK!! ;D I like tuna, but not horseradish. Pb&j I do like alot!! I eat peanut butter strait out of the jar with a spoon still too every time I make my kid sandwiches. ;D
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Dieter
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Post by Dieter on Sept 13, 2011 7:23:40 GMT -8
Btw---I agree with all you said about their great chemistry too. They were like brothers on the show and that made the series even more enjoyable how they interacted with each other!!
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Post by California gal on Sept 13, 2011 8:09:42 GMT -8
YUK!! ;D I like tuna, but not horseradish. Pb&j I do like alot!! I eat peanut butter strait out of the jar with a spoon still too every time I make my kid sandwiches. ;D I haven't done that for a long time, but when I was a kid, I think we ate more peanut butter on a spoon than on a sandwich!
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 13, 2011 8:14:20 GMT -8
And I used to know someone who ate PB & tuna sammiches. *shrug?*
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Dieter
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Post by Dieter on Sept 13, 2011 8:23:53 GMT -8
A friend of mine likes to bbq peanut butter cheeseburgers!!! It sounded bizarre, but I tried it and it was really quite good!!
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Silver
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Post by Silver on Sept 13, 2011 8:23:59 GMT -8
My family was into a combination that I can't even stand the smell of! Peanut butter and banana. *EWWW*
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Post by California gal on Sept 13, 2011 8:27:26 GMT -8
I like PB&J of course, almost any kind of jelly or jam. Also like peanut butter and honey. My mom would take the PB jar when it was down to maybe a third, pour some honey in and mix it up for sandwiches.
I also like peanut butter and apple butter sandwiches. My PA Dutch heritage shining through.
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Sept 13, 2011 9:52:50 GMT -8
Apple butter has a place of honor in my MIL's home. She brought Wade a jar, but he forgets about it. He is a PB and Strawberry Jam guy...and so am I!
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Post by snish on Sept 13, 2011 11:43:57 GMT -8
I actually used to like peanut butter and... lettuce. Yes, lettuce. I liked the texture contrast, I guess. (And, you know, there's a certain amount of "texture contrast" with Jim & Artie!) I love apple butter too, although not necessarily with lettuce. Or peanut butter.
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Post by California gal on Sept 13, 2011 14:19:22 GMT -8
Not to interrupt this delicious discussion (I love peanut butter cookies too), but there's another kind of chemistry in TV shows and movies, and that's between the good guy(s) and the bad guy.
Brisco County Jr. and John Bly had a certain chemistry. And so does Jim West and Dr. Miguelito Loveless. As Jim suggested in Murderous Spring, Loveless "needs" him as an adversary, and that the line between love and hate is sometimes very thin. Jim enjoyed the contests with the good doctor despite himself.
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mrcrf
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Post by mrcrf on Sept 13, 2011 16:45:18 GMT -8
Many of my favorite scenes are when Jim and Artie are together... That’s exactly why “The Night of the Big Blackmail” is one of my favorite episodes. “There’s a magic that happens, every now and then, between two performers.” -- Ross Martin “We hoped it would be the start of a great relationship--and it was.” -- Robert Conrad
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Post by California gal on Sept 13, 2011 16:51:13 GMT -8
Season 4 is my least favorite season, primarily because RM was missing from so many eps. But Big Blackmail is one I watch because of the interaction between the pair. They work together a lot. I particularly like the scenes when Artie is extracting the box from the massive safe and has complete trust that Jim will keep that big thingy from smashing into the back of his head!
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Sept 13, 2011 18:34:30 GMT -8
Many of my favorite scenes are when Jim and Artie are together... That’s exactly why “The Night of the Big Blackmail” is one of my favorite episodes. “There’s a magic that happens, every now and then, between two performers.” -- Ross Martin “We hoped it would be the start of a great relationship--and it was.” -- Robert Conrad Nice quotes from the boys. I love that interview.
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 13, 2011 20:27:03 GMT -8
I like Artie flirting with the cook lady -- the bit about her nose crinkling when she says 'supervisor' and her going allllllll fluttery. hehehe!
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 13, 2011 20:34:16 GMT -8
Where would I find that interview, Apple?
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Post by snish on Sept 14, 2011 4:12:38 GMT -8
Not to interrupt this delicious discussion (I love peanut butter cookies too), but there's another kind of chemistry in TV shows and movies, and that's between the good guy(s) and the bad guy. Brisco County Jr. and John Bly had a certain chemistry. And so does Jim West and Dr. Miguelito Loveless. As Jim suggested in Murderous Spring, Loveless "needs" him as an adversary, and that the line between love and hate is sometimes very thin. Jim enjoyed the contests with the good doctor despite himself. Oh, I could write you a whole dissertation on why Dr. L doesn't really want to kill Jim even though he keeps insisting that he does. It's more than the usual "life would be dull without a good adversary." Loveless hates Jim with an enormous rage because he wants to be Jim and he can't. Jim is everything the good doctor is not. Loveless wants to control the object of his obsession, not kill him. But that's impossible too, because if you truly control Jim, then Jim ceases to be Jim and would lose his fascination. Okay, enough psychology for one morning...
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Post by MissRedhead on Sept 14, 2011 4:47:47 GMT -8
How about Sherlock Holmes & Dr. Watson then Sherlock Holmes & Professor Moriarty? Personally I am very blessed to have a best friend with such a relationship like Jim & Artie's. Together we can do and overcome anything. Apart, we grow dull, like we see Kim w/o Artie. He's still Jim, but we can see part of him is missing. That's the way it is right now between my best friend and I. I've missed the entire summer and though I've had some great opportunities, I can only wish my best friend were here to share them! As to comparing us to Jim & Artie... I'd say we're each half Jim & half Artie :-P but still very different!
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Sept 14, 2011 5:44:12 GMT -8
Where would I find that interview, Apple? In the season 1 dvds. It was an interview on a Chicago station with Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, Red West. They were talking about the upcoming reunion movie. Do you have the dvds yet niecie?
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Post by California gal on Sept 14, 2011 6:39:53 GMT -8
Not to interrupt this delicious discussion (I love peanut butter cookies too), but there's another kind of chemistry in TV shows and movies, and that's between the good guy(s) and the bad guy. Brisco County Jr. and John Bly had a certain chemistry. And so does Jim West and Dr. Miguelito Loveless. As Jim suggested in Murderous Spring, Loveless "needs" him as an adversary, and that the line between love and hate is sometimes very thin. Jim enjoyed the contests with the good doctor despite himself. Oh, I could write you a whole dissertation on why Dr. L doesn't really want to kill Jim even though he keeps insisting that he does. It's more than the usual "life would be dull without a good adversary." Loveless hates Jim with an enormous rage because he wants to be Jim and he can't. Jim is everything the good doctor is not. Loveless wants to control the object of his obsession, not kill him. But that's impossible too, because if you truly control Jim, then Jim ceases to be Jim and would lose his fascination. Okay, enough psychology for one morning... I agree with your psychoanalyzing, snish. I've tried to show it in a couple of FF's. It's a difficult angle to portray. Jim felt somewhat lost when he thought Loveless was dead in Murderous Spring, and I think the doctor would as well if he succeeded in killing Jim. Look how many times he had the opportunity to just KILL Jim, rather than setting up elaborate devices or routines. Even in Bogus Bandits he rambled on and on with his gun pointing at Jim. Have to wonder if he really would have shot if Artie hadn't interfered.
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Post by artiesniecewannabe on Sept 14, 2011 7:41:06 GMT -8
Where would I find that interview, Apple? In the season 1 dvds. It was an interview on a Chicago station with Robert Conrad, Ross Martin, Red West. They were talking about the upcoming reunion movie. Do you have the dvds yet niecie? Oh, ok. I've watched it a couple of times, but admittedly don't have it memorized yet. (Give me time...)
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Post by snish on Oct 3, 2011 4:02:44 GMT -8
Oh, I could write you a whole dissertation on why Dr. L doesn't really want to kill Jim even though he keeps insisting that he does. It's more than the usual "life would be dull without a good adversary." Loveless hates Jim with an enormous rage because he wants to be Jim and he can't. Jim is everything the good doctor is not. Loveless wants to control the object of his obsession, not kill him. But that's impossible too, because if you truly control Jim, then Jim ceases to be Jim and would lose his fascination. Okay, enough psychology for one morning... Please, Snish, I would love to read a whole dissertation on Dr. Loveless/ James West & Artie/James relationship dynamics. So far, your analysis of the psychology, happens to coincide with my observations & opinions. Basically, you reinforced my thoughts on the matter. And yes, I like to psycho-analyze, makes for good story depth and content. So thank you Snish for your insights. ;D Dieter!!! "bbq peanut butter cheeseburgers"!!!! ? ewwwwww Oh dear, now I actually have to write it? At least you got the Cliff Notes version!
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mrcrf
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Post by mrcrf on Oct 30, 2011 6:14:49 GMT -8
Help! I’m about to wear a hole in my DVD from watching and rewatching “The Night of the Amnesiac.” Not the entire episode, but from “Jim!” forward--and, in particular, these moments after Artie brings down the curtain.
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Post by California gal on Oct 30, 2011 6:17:41 GMT -8
Yep, talk about chemistry. It really shows on the scales and then the fight. Even in the tag.
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mrcrf
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Post by mrcrf on Oct 30, 2011 9:30:12 GMT -8
We were probably watching the same episode at the same time. Ohww ;D
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