#90s tension

[mindibindi]

hey! sorry for bothering you, but i as a fellow x-phile i would like to ask how credible it is that gillian anderson and david duchovny hated each other back in the day? there are probably quotes or something but i can't really judge anything this late after the fact. i did watch the show when it aired but i was too young to get into internet culture. anyway, i'm hoping for some wisdom from fans who remember this. :) thank you!

Hey Anon,

It’s no bother and thanks for the ask. And actually, after the fact is a good position from which to view this matter since, as we all now know, Gillovny’s story has a happy ending. I was around for the original run too but internet culture was very different then. Not everyone was constantly online, I certainly wasn’t. The internet was expensive and hard to access so I got a couple of hours per week tops, which I mostly used to read fanfic. (Fanfic for this show/ship was basically my fanfic writer origin story: I was like WHAT OTHER PEOPLE DO THIS TOO???!!! And btw: readers complain these days about the pressure to respond to fanfic. Back in the day, you had to compose a whole fricking email if you wanted to badger your fave author for more. And there was certainly no easy kudos button option to make you feel like you’d done your bit to encourage community. Anyway.)

There were fan sites, message boards and lots of different fanfic archives. And sure, there was some gossip but it still mostly came via old print media. Pre-social-media, there wasn’t a direct line to celebrities or any great expectation placed on them interact with fans in regular, intimate ways. The advent of social media has created these parasocial relationships in which (some) fans think they know or have a right to far more than they do. Back in the day, and istg this is true, I posted a picture of DD with Blue in the surf on some now defunct message board. The moderators removed it and v kindly said: nope, against our guidelines, no images of private moments taken without the person’s consent. I mean…. talk about boundaries! My baby fangirl ass was properly chastised and learnt a valuable lesson. I think we can learn a thing or two from early internet culture and original fans, some of which are still knocking about this site.

Anyway, all of this is to say, I don’t have any special insight here. The only people who know in any great detail what truly went on in DD and GA’s relationship is them, and maybe a few people in their immediate vicinity. But XF fans are lucky enough to stan two very honest, emotionally thoughtful people who have shared with us some of the challenges they faced during the show’s original run. And, for better or worse, when people tell you who they are, I tend to believe them. Yes, there are other fans that can probably provide you with quotes and timelines and (wild) speculation, but I think I know enough to give a fairly objective opinion on what I think actually occurred. For me, the most pertinent quote here is Gillian’s characterisation of their relationship as being like “a forced marriage”. I take this to mean that, like any marriage, there was great intimacy, respect, cooperation and commitment. Maybe even love. But there was also a lack of choice that caused tension, despite multiple positive relational elements.

“Tension” is a word that has also been applied to their late-90s relationship and I think it’s probably more accurate. I don’t think they HATE hated each other. But I think they probably had fleeting moments of feeling: OMG this person is getting on my last sane nerve, I cannot stand to be around them another fricking second. I think the protracted and concentrated intimacy of their circumstances gave rise to SOME super understandable negative feelings that ultimately, did not define the true nature of their relationship, either then or now. I don’t think those feelings were all there was, even back then. I don’t think these two were epic lovers any more than they were bitter enemies. I think they were just two human beings attempting to function under super intense scrutiny and an extremely gruelling work schedule. And that at times resulted in tension or irritation which they found ways around. Talking to each other only as Mulder and Scully may sound terrible to some but I think it’s a rather ingenious way to conserve their energy for their jobs. It shows an incredible commitment to their characters, to the show and to the contribution the other was bringing to that celebrated dynamic. They knew it was important so that's where they focused.

We have all had times in relationships where we’ve needed some space, even from someone we like, love, respect and value. If anyone was struggling to understand this dynamic between DD and GA then recent experiences of lockdown should have provided some insight into this kind of intense forced intimacy. Now, I have never been married but I’ve lived with people and that experience will make you loathe how a person walks, breathes, sleeps, eats, does the smallest, most insignificant things. It’s not the permanent state of your relationship. It’s just a passing reaction. It does not matter how much you might like or appreciate this person. In one bright flash, they become the most infuriating person to ever walk the planet. Then you go into another room or go to work and the feeling fades. But what happens when you can’t get away, you actually can’t get the sort of space a healthy relationship needs? We all saw how lockdown increased the pressure on all relationships, especially partnerships and marriages. There was pressure within and without and people reacted naturally to profoundly unnatural circumstances. That’s all that happened here.

Now, it must be pointed out that even during periods of the original run when their relationship was supposedly suffering, there is footage of them having fun on-set and ruining takes by making out. This supports the idea that any “hate” was an understandable but impermanent reaction for both. Actually, I think it is highly admirable that they were able to collaborate together and remain individually sane while experiencing such relational tension. It shows incredible personal fortitude and professional commitment. They stayed focused and pragmatic and, to me, there is never any indication that their personal struggles impacted the final product. In fact, I believe they actually enhanced Mulder and Scully’s relationship in those middle years of the original run when they too were experiencing some growing pains in their relationship. I’m thinking of the raw emotion in that end scene of “Elegy” and the palpable impatience and antagonism in “Gethsemane”. I’m thinking of the division and sadness in the hospital scene in “The Red and the Black” and throughout “The End”. Like Mulder and Scully, David and Gillian have some fundamental similarities and some very distinct differences. For the first few years of the series they were living very different lives. It took them time to attune to each other, just as it took Mulder and Scully time to fully absorb the many intricate dimensions of their relationship. As DD and GA grew older, their lives became more similar and their understanding of each other likewise grew. And honestly, I think it’s somewhat hypocritical and inhuman to appreciate the many complex beats of the M/S relationship as it plays out on-screen, but then judge their real-life counterparts as they tread an equally complex path towards true understanding, appreciation and love.

I haven’t watched TXF in years and in my recent rewatch, I was surprised actually at just how combative this relationship could be. I had only remembered all the sweet, shippy bits! But (and I should not really have to point this out) that's also what is so compelling to watch. The conflict. The contrast. The difference (not just in height, although their physical difference does act as a powerful symbol of their mismatched but ultimately complementary dynamic). The difference and yes, even at times tension, between David and Gillian only adds to a dynamic that so many have tried and failed to emulate (RIP to any reboot of this show. This show IS DD and GA’s chemistry. End of.). I can’t be mad or disappointed about Gillovny’s 90s tension, so carefully navigated by both actors, because fuck me does it work for the MSR angst! D’you think we’d have so many delicious angsty fanfics if these two had been sunshine-y, tension-less best buds every step of the way?? Not only is some tension an understandable human reaction that I believe they have every right to, it adds dimension to an epically URSTy relationship that could have gotten boring (and kinda did towards the end, let's be real). There is an added, honest, brave truth to the moments of impatience, frustration, disagreement and division in the M/S relationship because DD and GA experienced these things themselves in the context of their equally intense working relationship. I think the actors continued to mine their own tension and express it through Mulder and Scully, which again is a super creative and healthy way to protect their working relationship and serve the M/S relationship. A relationship in which they were invested, but also a relationship that was central to the show and important to so many fans.

In time, the more intense M/S moments lost their bite. The relationship became softer, less combative, more appreciative. The LA move decreased the actor’s isolation and gave the show a new tone. Gillian is on record saying how strange it was for her when David disappeared in later seasons. And we all know the story of the 10 min post-"Existence" embrace (if you don’t let me know). So this story has a neat and satisfying ending even if Mulder and Scully never really got theirs. As evidenced by the second movie and reboot, nothing was destroyed. The chemistry remains (even if it’s not served by quality plot, development, context and characterisation). These human beings and artists did their best under difficult circumstances. They protected the work, the characters and their relationship. In fact, I would venture to suggest that the wild appreciation they show for each other now, the enduring chemistry we see on-screen and the palpable enjoyment they feel at the other’s presence any time they get the opportunity to reunite is in part due to how they navigated their early years as mismatched colleagues thrown together and expected to work closely under immense pressure. Thanks to David and Gillian, hate never took root. And now, in DD’s words, all that’s left is the heart.

#txf #the x files #msr #mulder x scully #fox mulder #dana scully #gillian anderson #david duchovny #gillovny #90s tension #ask #ask a question of me and you will get an essay #any aunty fangirls with further info or thoughts are free to chime in #but hate will be blocked

[darcania]

For all of the flaws in X-Men Evolution there was a lot it did very well, and letting Wolverine be this grumpy father figure to most of the X-Men was one of them.

#yes it can be argued that most of his adaptations could be described this way #but i think evolution did this dynamic the best #in the 90s he had his moments too #but the tension with jean seemed to over shadow that #here he just got to be a dad with 30 quirky kids he didnt ask for but loves anyway #also don't mind me I'm just rewatching shows from my childhood rip #x men #xmen #xmen evolution #x-men #x men evolution #rogue #logan #wolverine

[cactiaintracist]

the only correct way to write proper high-stake sci-fi finale is to get 3 very gay men and ask them to improvise the most camp, slutty and intense game of catch (also helps if one is trouser-less)

look, they knew exactly what they were doing

the tension, oh gawd the tension

15's face kills me everytime

honestly show me a scene with a better sequence of events (bet you can't), I'll wait right here

#honestly they couldn't have had a better climax to that episode #also 90% of those moves were completely unnecessary #they didnt have to go that hard but they did #the pure tension in that scene #absolutely slayed #no notes #also nph was right ncuti's one handed cartwheel was awe inspirng #also very impressed by tennants roly poly idk why didn't think he had it in him #it's also kind of hilarious how none of them could actually catch the ball so they had to fake it #also dt is not gay but he's an honorary part of the queer community so it's okay #give them only 2 sets of clothes and ask them to share #they gotta make up the expenses for that avengers building somehow #honestly 15's ass could probably run the ecomony #doctor who #dw spoilers #the giggle #the toymaker #14th doctor #15th doctor #neil patrick harris #david tennant #ncuti gatwa #gifs

[bevioletskies]

heart & li ming + favorite moments (in no particular order)

“Do you want to go Loy Krathong together?”

#moonlight chicken #moonlight chicken the series #heartliming #heart x li ming #asianlgbtqdramas #geminifourth #gemini norawit #fourth nattawat #heartlimingmoments #mygifs #the shyness and tension in this scene is so good #also i still don't know how to color 90% of the scenes in heart's house lmao

[littlespoonevan]

the thing about romcoms is just- it's never meant to be 'is it believable?' but instead 'do you believe it?' do you believe these two characters are actually falling in love with each other??? do you believe their chemistry??? do you believe whatever obstacle is thrown in their way is legitimately something that might keep them apart for a time and not something that could be solved with one conversation?? do you believe that they believe they need to fake date for this very specific reason??? do you believe the reason why they're 'enemies' at the start, no matter how silly a misunderstanding it may be??? do you believe the grand romantic gesture fits the characters and is actually how one character would show their love to the other?? like!!!! it's about empathy and authenticity and feeling what the characters feel so strongly that even if it's a trope or a cliché it doesn't matter because you believe it

#this is what separates a good romcom from a bad romcom for me #if the conventions of the genre are used in a way that feels authentic to the characters then it'll never feel cheesy #one of my biggest pet peeves is some of the romcoms of the last decade who have this real 'we're not like other romcoms' energy #where they try to act like they're Different and move away from the usual tropes but it's shit bc that's not the point!!!! #those tropes and conventions are staples of the genre for a reason #it's how you utilise them and incorporate them that matters #like fuck me i hate action movies but i know if i go see one there's a 99% chance there'll be a car chase scene #bc that's usually a staple feature of an action movie and i mean idc but that's fine bc i know it has a function in the story to increase #the tension #and even at that someone who really loves action movies could probably tell me the difference between a good car chase scene & a subpar one #in the same way that just saying something is fake dating doesn't automatically make it good #but if i believe it and i'm in it with the characters? oh boy i'm about to feel so dELIGHTED for the next 90 minutes thank you so much #anyway i'm rewatching the lost city and every second of this movie is so silly in a fun way and fantastical but oH BOY DO I BELIEVE IT #mine

[fanofspooky]

Horror sub genres #19

Psychological Horror:

High Tension - Ten Cloverfield Lane

The Silence Of The Lambs - Influencer

Get Out - The Babadook

#horror #horror movies #horror movie #movie #movies #gifs #gif #horror gif #horror gifs #my gif post #my gif #my gifs #horror movie gif #horror movie gifs #horror edit #horroredit #influencer 2022 #the silence of the lambs #silence of the lambs #10 cloverfield lane #ten cloverfield lane #high tension #get out #get out 2017 #get out movie #the babadook #Babadook #2020s horror #2010s horror #90s horror

[cc-tinslebee]

biblically accurate college banksway

#IM SORRY #the Vincent LaRusso college short. is so traumatising. #as a film major I’m confused to this day #but it does reinforce my belief that Vincent LaRusso is 90s Robert Sean Leonard because he can’t stop himself from having homoerotic tension #sir #the mighty ducks #adam banks #charlie conway #banksway #chadam #adam x charlie #oh look cc’s posting about tmd again #joshua jackson #scream 2 #Vincent larusso

[disease]

TRICKY | PRE-MILLENNIUM TENSION [1996]

#tricky #adrian thaws #downtempo #trip hop #90s #pre-millennium tension #album art #hands #music #u

[tha-wrecka-stow]

SWV Discography

#The Discography Series #Discography #Discographies #Soul And R&B #Soul #R&B #r&b/soul #1990s #90s #2000s #00s #SWV #sisters with voices #It’s About Time #New Beginning #Release Some Tension #A Special Christmas #I Missed Us #Still

[mistress-light]

My aunt invited my mother's family for lunch. Me preparing for the inevitable family drama:

#it always ends in big arguments and my smol head cannot take the tension and i just wanna drink my way out of there #i have zero problems with my dads fam lmao #a difference of night and day #mistress blabbling #and my grandfather and step grandmother are the worst #dude get's 90 this year and i'm still stuck with him and i feel so sorry for my mom #the way he treats her i just freaking......... #i cannot imagine my dad treating me like that

[philomelia]

brief hunger games verse notes... cassie was raised in the capitol until she was 14. her father was a district 3 man shipped out to help with the security of the games and her mother was a little tv psychic who capitalised on the capitol's love for a spectacle. in good favour with the officials, she convinced them to let her father stay in the capitol and eventually married him. when both her father and athena were arrested for smuggling food and resources to those in district 3, cassie's family had to flee the capitol to avoid being arrested with them. the four women underwent much hardship and trail in the forest around the districts, but they eventually were found by scouts from district 13 and brought back there. from there, cassie lives until she is 18, which is when katniss arrives.

#i think people would suspect cassie's mother of being a traitor and feeding information back to the capitol... #but to increase the tension... i think it'd be cleo who feeds information back bc her loyalties are still strong #and cassie eventually slaughters their mother to win coin's favour and reveals her mother to be a “traitor” when she never was one #one thing about cassie is that she'll commit matricide in 90% of her verses to protect her sisters

[jamesbranwen]

reading some takes on good omens is painful. "this story can represent queerness even if the writers didn't intend it." bro. bro look me in the eyes. the writers fucking intended it. i'm sorry the only queer literature you've consumed is 2010s young adult novels about two boys coming out to each other and going to the prom. but this story dissecting christianity is in fact a queer one. this story playing with gender is in fact a queer one. this story where the main characters are consistently facing homophobic microaggressions is in fact a queer one. please.

#the book is chock full of references to 80s/90s queer culture #and i understand why hashtag kids these days might not get that but seriously just. think a little bit while you read. #and this post is about the book but the series is also EXPLICITLY queer #im taking the word queerbaiting AWAY from you people #this is a story full of non-binary and non-straight people #non-binary people are queer #asexuals are queer #and also if the leads were a man and a woman there would be no fucking QUESTION this story that is structured like a romance and has #romantic tensions and confessions and tender longing moments #is a fucking romance jesus christ #this is why english lit is mandatory

[lizthacreator]

[LIZTHACREATOR] LIZ COSMETICS : LIP LINER SET

PLEASE DO NOT CLAIM AS YOUR OWN!!!

NO RECOLOURS

DO NOT UPLOAD TO ANY PAYSITES/ADFLY

TAG ME ON INSTA @lizthacreator

DOWNLOAD

#90s #90s makeup #2000s #makeup #lipliner #swv #RELEASE SOME TENSION SWV #explorepage #tumblr #sims 4 #my sims #brandysims #redheadsims #Black Simmer #simblr #sims 4 edit #sim #blender sims

[alphafightmusic]

Are y'all ready for Tension!? Literally have had this song on repeat non-stop. Queen Kylie SLAYS!

#kylie minogue #the one and only kylie #tension #padam padam #princess of pop #pop diva #pop music #uk #australia #cant get it out of my head #2000s #90s #80s #locomotion #Youtube

[disease]

GHETTO YOUTH [SLOWED] TRICKY ft. SKYLER SYNCLAIR KEETON [PRE-MILLENNIUM TENSION, 1996]

#audio #tricky #adrian thaws #downtempo #trip hop #dub #skyler synclair keeton #pre-millennium tension #90s #electronic #music #u #EDIT

[crookedkingdom]

"x ship is just like kanej except if they actually touched each other and they communicated with each other and kaz actually smiled!" ok so. not kanej then

#six of crows #kanej #i saw a post for a show that tried to make this argument and like. no #i haaaate that whole this ship is just another ship in a different font bullshit #90% of the time the characters are completely different with like only passing similarities #its ok to let things be different guys #if i want to see the same character/ship/whatever in a different font ill read fanfiction #also the disrespect to kanej as if their whole dynamic isnt just a bunch of tension and longing with no easy resolution bc of their traumas #text