» The Sentinel Options

[Elle Renee]

Voce, in the final episode, Blair finishes his first draft of his dissertation, in which he's identified Jim by name. Naomi comes to visit, and he won't let her see it, claiming that he's not sure if it's any good. Naomi tries to help by emailing a copy to a publisher friend of hers, so he can help Blair with whatever might be wrong. The publisher goes crazy over it, and wants to publish it with a huge advance. Blair tries to keep it quiet and tell the publisher NO, but the publisher keeps upping the advance. Jim, of course, finds out, and is predictably furious.

The publisher ups the advance to $1 million, and Blair's tempted, but he still says no. Then the publisher issues a press release about their "new bestseller" (which he still doesn't own, btw, so the press release is waaaaay premature), the press runs with the story, and suddenly they're all in Jim's face about his Sentinel abilities. Jim is furious with Blair. The university loves Blair for bringing them so much positive attention. Blair doesn't know what to do.

There's some discussion on why Blair used Jim's name (he just says he doesn't know), and when he thought he'd actually be able to publish this (again, didn't know). After lots of thought, Blair comes to a decision.

He holds a press conference (Jim and Simon watch it on TV) where he says:

"Hi. Thank you all for coming. I just have a short speech prepared here. Um... In our media-informed culture, a scientist receives validation by having his or her work published and after years of research there is great personal satisfaction when that goal is reached. However, my desire to impress both my peers and the world at large drove me to an immoral and unethical act. My thesis "The Sentinel" is a fraud." [Here his voice breaks.] "While my paper does quote ancient source material, the documentation proving that James Ellison...actually possesses hyper-senses is fraudulent. Looking back, I can say that it's a good piece of fiction." [by now, he's almost crying.] "I apologize for this deception. My only hope is that I can be forgiven for the pain I've caused those that are close to me. Thank you."

He's immediately fired, and loses his position as a grad student. He later runs into Jim, who thanks him for doing that, and for everything he's done over the past three years. In the end, Jim, Simon, and all the Major Crime guys invite him to join them for real, as a cop. He agrees to enroll in the Academy, but still refuses to cut his hair.

For a transcript of this episode, go to this place.

[freeyourmind]

And the above? Is why I can't really watch that episode. It's very emotional and makes my eyes damp. That speech? One of the bravest things Blair ever did for Jim.

[cynicat x]

Oh, and there's some kind of crime, assassination, blah blah plotcakes but who even paid attention? It was an awesome wrap up. One of the few finales that really tied things up nicely. BUT, it sure opened the door for a bazillion possibilities of what could have, should have, would have happened next. Fanfiction writers have had a field day with Blair as cop/not-cop.

One of the bravest things Blair ever did for Jim.

Pure, sweet, true love. Only explanation. Can I get a Ho Yay from the congregation? Amen.

[Elle Renee]

That speech just broke my heart. It was Blair's barely contained tears that broke me. He gave up everything, everything he ever wanted, trashed his entire career to protect Jim. Sure, Jim invited him to join the force for real, but that wasn't Blair's dream. That wasn't what he'd worked for since he was sixteen.

I've read a lot of fanfic that has Blair quitting the Academy because he doesn't want to use his gun (which is wrong, I think-- I've seen several eps where he's been prepared to shoot people). I haven't seen much with Blair as cop. I do think Blair would like being a cop, eventually.

Maybe I need to write some post-TSbBS fic. I'm all upset now.

Flight was on yesterday! Watched it last night, for the first time. Man, that look in Blair's eyes when he tells Jim he's not going to Borneo... that is True Love.

So Blair gave up Borneo, and eventually his career, for Jim. Anything else? What's Jim given up that's remotely comparable? His privacy, maybe? Is that on the same level as Blair's sacrifices? Maybe his active acceptance of his Sentinel abilities in Flight rises to that level?

Hmm. You could look at it like Blair didn't sacrifice for Jim, but for the Sentinel. And Jim gave up the chance of a normal life for the Sentinel. Neither planned for their lives to take those paths, but they chose to give up what they wanted so the Sentinel could protect the city. Viewed like that, it makes me feel better about Blair's actions. I don't want Blair to be the only one who changes his life.

[Bitterswete]

In my perfect world, Blair's reputation is salvaged when the truth comes out. (Since he never sent the manuscript to the publisher, and didn't give them permission to release it to the public, how can it be fraud? In order for it to be fraud, you have to deliberately set out to mislead everyone, which Blair obviously didn't do.) Blair then sues the publisher and the university, and ends up with a ton of money. He then decides he's had enough of the academic life and accepts a position as a paid consultant with the CPD. However, he's still invited on the occasional expedition.

If we ever get a SENTINEL movie, this is how I want things to be when it starts.

This post has been edited by Bitterswete: Jan 6, 2004 @ 11:14 am.

[Elle Renee]

Bitterswete, I would so love that. I want him to be vindicated.

Sentinel movie? Ahhhhh. I wish. And maybe it'd be successful enough that they'd bring back the show. Like Firefly. Ah, happy dreams. :)

[freeyourmind]

Elle are you a Firefly fan? Becasue I am, of the highest order. Did you see RB in one of the unaired episodes? He was great. I had fun briefly in imagining him as a descendent of Jim's since it's set five hundred years in the future.

I know one of the first fics I read had Blair as a paid consultant to the PD. I havent' read many where he's a cop either. They might mention it for a moment but I don't think any i've read had that as the main focus of the story. I think I've read more where he gets harassed at the academy because everyone knows who he is and everyone thinks he lied so they don't like him and don't understand how he got in the academy.

Also wasn't the idea that once Blair finished the academy he would become Jim's partner? Would he have been a detective? Aren't most academy graduates rookies and do patrol like stuff? I guess maybe they woud have taken in consideration his three year ride along with Jim.

Now I need to go read some fic, some good sweaty fic.

[Elle Renee]

freeyourmind, hell yeah I'm a browncoat. :) I used to post over in the Firefly forums, but I haven't for quite a while. I did see the RB Firefly episode (bad guy Jim! gaaaaah!) but only in not-very-good quality on my computer. My DVDs should be coming in any day now.

I read one fic with Blair as a full-fledged cop. He was going out to work crowd control at a protest, without Jim. Jim was all twitchy about letting Blair go out alone, and Blair protested that he couldn't have Jim taking care of him all the time. It was neat, showing that Blair could succeed in Jim's milieu.

Also wasn't the idea that once Blair finished the academy he would become Jim's partner? Would he have been a detective? Aren't most academy graduates rookies and do patrol like stuff?

That's what I'd think. It takes a while to make detective, right? Although I guess you're right about the three-year ridealong, with all the detective and undercover work Blair did for them. (unpaid! I'm still annoyed about that.)

Now I need to go read some fic, some good sweaty fic.

And the congregation said HOYAY!

[Bitterswete]

I've actually read quite a few fics where Blair is a cop, and the story focusses on him working his first case, or dealing with hard noses who saw the press conference, etc.

As for whether Blair could become a detective straight out of the Academy, I have no idea. I've actually seen shows and movies where "uniformed" officers get assignments where they wear plain clothes and do detective work, but they aren't officially detectives. Now, whether or not that actually happens, I don't know. Still, I'd like to think Simon could pull some strings to get Blair assigned to Major Crimes, even if he wasn't officially a detective yet.

[cynicat x]

Is anyone still watching? I keep thinking I'll get sick of this show, but it just doesn't happen. I don't know what it is...

[fryj]

Yeah, I'm surprised at how quiet this thread is at the moment. What episode is airing these days? I'm not in an area that is running them, but I enjoyed the commentaries of people who were watching every day.

[freeyourmind]

*raises hand*

I'm watching! Well, when I'm up at 8am which has happened for the past 3 or 4 days. Yesterday 'Smart Alec' was on and today it was the episode with wacky Naomi and her psychic friend.

Blair always looks embarrassed and apologetic when his mom shows up. It's like he's thinking, "Okay, I know she's unusual but it was just her and me against the world for so long and I love her and she just wants what's best for me."

Although I wouldn't mind watching the episode where she first showed up because I want to see Blair drive that truck again and I laughed at how Jim was looking at her until Blair was like, "Come on man, that's my mom!"


In terms of fanfic anybody ever read this story about Blair and it had Magnum P.I. in it and it was angsty and stuff? I know I read it but I couldn't find it the other day when I was searching for it and well, I get distracted by all the stories, especially ones I've read before and then I click on them and read them over and lose all focus.


Edited to add: Anyone read Martha's crossover with TS and SG? It's called 'Lovely' and it's a great story. She's got a nice chunk of a sequel written too and she's got the group from 'Angel' involved. Come on, Wes, Daniel, Blair? Jack, Jim, Angel? What's not to love? It's a kick ass story written very very well. I figure if i'm obsessed and loving it some people here might like it too.

This post has been edited by freeyourmind: Jan 29, 2004 @ 4:14 pm.

[cynicat x]

Blair always looks embarrassed and apologetic when his mom shows up

Yeah, but he does love her. One of my favorite scenes in this episode is when Blair gets in Charlie's face saying that his mom is hurting. He then says "I got a real problem with people who hurt my mom". Naomi might be unconventional, but Blair was more than willing to kick some ass in order to protect his mother. What a good boy.

I've read a few Magnum stories. I'm not sure which one you want, but here's a list of crossover stories from the Cascade Library . Hope that helps!

Today's episode is Disappearing Act, where the guy who used to work for the mob turns up alive after everyone thought he was dead. The subplot is Blair trying to find a gift for Sam's birthday within the "48 hour window". The window that everyone inherently knows...except for Jim.

[Zanne]

Anyone read Martha's crossover with TS and SG? It's called 'Lovely' and it's a great story. She's got a nice chunk of a sequel written too and she's got the group from 'Angel' involved. Come on, Wes, Daniel, Blair? Jack, Jim, Angel?

Where's the sequel? Is it up, yet? I couldn't find anything.

[patty1h]

Where's the sequel? Is it up, yet? I couldn't find anything.

I remember reading a few months ago that Martha has a blog where she's posting snippets of the sequel to "Lovely". Unfortunately, I don't know where the URL. Perhaps someone else knows?