The Thing About Eliot Is That I Think They Were Genuinely Trying To Write Him As Good-hearted But A Bit

The thing about Eliot is that I think they were genuinely trying to write him as good-hearted but a bit vapid, which is an okay writing choice -- it would make him an appropriate narrative foil for almost everyone else on the show, since most of the main cast are bitter, cranky geniuses (affectionate) -- but it never quite works that way because Hale Appleman has this attentive way of being present in every scene that makes him seem deeply thoughtful. This is because Hale is deeply thoughtful, and because he's so committed to the show and the role that he kind of can't act like someone who's not fully tuned in to his surroundings. So Eliot radiates this intense presence and consciousness in every scene, just in his face and body, and it makes him seem like a smart, thoughtful person.

What's good about this is that it fully makes the character; Eliot has arguably the strongest arc in the whole show, and it's almost entirely created by the way Appleman is inhabiting the character as if he sees everything and everything matters to him. What's bad about this is that sometimes the script forces people -- including Eliot! -- to talk to and about Eliot as if he's a loveable but slightly useless pet, and it's utterly infuriating because it comes off as irrationally condescending.

quentin coldwater: it's not sleight of hand if you're gonna use cgi. well i'm sorry, it's just that's insulting to anyone who's ever done any kind of close-up magic, so—

those girls:

I’ve gone so insane over the magicians again I’ve lagged out my tumblr- everything is taking so long to type- Anygays-

I’m so sorry to the people who follow me and now are experiencing another of my semi monthly logins just to witness my descent into madness im so sor-NO IM NOT

IM NOT SORRY AND YOU DHOULDNT BE EITHER

GO INSANE OVE RYOUR INTERESTS!! Also to the person who will get the pleasure of seeing us tmrw- good luck…

Am I hallucinating?