The Callan File is a massive brick of a book, which contains detailed summaries, cast information, and analyses of every Callan series in existence (including the Sunday Express stories). Worth a buy for the devoted fan! I actually started reading the short stories precisely because this book mentions that Meres crossdresses in "File on an Angry Actor" XD.
Awwww man, I've been thinking about Hunter/Callan ever since I listened to the audio dramas. Hunter is such a Daddy!Dom, and it's clear from "File on a Deadly Deadshot" that he sees Callan/Meres as surrogate sons, since he lacks any children or close family members. That whole Purdy shotgun scene reminds me of a father passing down a beloved heirloom, and then there's a bit of Hunter/Meres in the way that Hunter refuses to let Meres lead a mission because he knows Meres's inexperience will get the boy killed. Thing is, I'm not sure how to turn that fatherly affection into a sexual relationship? So far, Hunter in the audio drama is too reserved and formal. The producer needs to give us some teasing, flirtatious Hunter, a la "File on a Deadly Farm" before I can see him fucking Callan over his desk ^_~. (But Colonel Leslie would totally fuck Callan over his desk - that man is a god damn sadist. Probably why he got along so well with Meres. Remember Roskovitch post-interrogation? All sweaty and roughed up, with the two of them grinning evilly).
Have you watched the Callan (1974) movie? That Hunter/Meres gives off major Daddy!Dom/baby!boy vibes ^_~. There's a cute bit where Hunter admonishes Meres, "Toby, we weren't all born in the bastions of privilege."
You should write a fix-it fic for "File on a Jolly Miller"! There's definitely room for a hurt/comfort epilogue - maybe Callan drags Meres home to patch him up? So Meres doesn't have to deal with the humiliation of reporting back to Hunter.
Ugh, I hate how they kept the misogyny in "File on an Awesome Amateur". I was really hoping that, with all the extra scenes featuring Liz, the producers would give Cynthia's characterization a makeover... or at least provide her with an action scene. Nope! Same old sexist caricature. They didn't even talk about her much in the commentary. I'm very disappointed. Now I just want a story with Cynthia, Jane, and Liz being badass and figuring everything out before the guys. (In a modern reinterpretation, I can totally see Jane as Hunter, Liz as an analyst/codebreaker, and Cynthia as senior field agent). The only improvement they made is in the ending, when Callan complains that Cynthia is against "birds getting belted" and Hunter gives Cynthia the last word by saying she meant it as a "question of honor", though IDK if that's just playing off sexist stereotypes again of women being too fragile/delicate to defend themselves *sigh*.
I agree with your criticism of the audio dramas. The VAs are very different from the TV series, especially Callan and Meres. Meres especially sounds like he's 12 years old. I have no idea what his VA was going for - Callan's kid brother? Either way, it robs Meres of all the menace and sadism that Anthony Valentine brought to the character. On the other hand, Callan sounds really... how do I describe it... thuggish? Uneducated? Kind of like a meathead? I know that's pretty uncharitable, but his VA went too far trying to make him sound like a boy from the streets. Edward Woodward certainly gave Callan that working-class twang, but he also emphasized how clever and quick-minded Callan is through his snappy dialogue, which I never got out of the audio drama's VA. IMO, Hunter's VA is the best, as he captures the cold condescension of the aging staff officer perfectly, while providing a glimpse of the cracks in Hunter's armor in "File on a Harassed Hunter".
OMG I missed that campy comment by Meres! When did he mention the West End clubs? And what could he possibly be referring to? ^_~ I want "File on a Gentlemen's Club" that's set in one of Meres's BDSM dungeon parties, ROFL.
You must be more knowledgeable about alcohol than I am - what does Meres's choice of a gin and tonic vs. Callan's choice of Chivas Regal say about the two?
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Date: 2019-07-17 10:51 pm (UTC)Awwww man, I've been thinking about Hunter/Callan ever since I listened to the audio dramas. Hunter is such a Daddy!Dom, and it's clear from "File on a Deadly Deadshot" that he sees Callan/Meres as surrogate sons, since he lacks any children or close family members. That whole Purdy shotgun scene reminds me of a father passing down a beloved heirloom, and then there's a bit of Hunter/Meres in the way that Hunter refuses to let Meres lead a mission because he knows Meres's inexperience will get the boy killed. Thing is, I'm not sure how to turn that fatherly affection into a sexual relationship? So far, Hunter in the audio drama is too reserved and formal. The producer needs to give us some teasing, flirtatious Hunter, a la "File on a Deadly Farm" before I can see him fucking Callan over his desk ^_~. (But Colonel Leslie would totally fuck Callan over his desk - that man is a god damn sadist. Probably why he got along so well with Meres. Remember Roskovitch post-interrogation? All sweaty and roughed up, with the two of them grinning evilly).
Have you watched the Callan (1974) movie? That Hunter/Meres gives off major Daddy!Dom/baby!boy vibes ^_~. There's a cute bit where Hunter admonishes Meres, "Toby, we weren't all born in the bastions of privilege."
You should write a fix-it fic for "File on a Jolly Miller"! There's definitely room for a hurt/comfort epilogue - maybe Callan drags Meres home to patch him up? So Meres doesn't have to deal with the humiliation of reporting back to Hunter.
Ugh, I hate how they kept the misogyny in "File on an Awesome Amateur". I was really hoping that, with all the extra scenes featuring Liz, the producers would give Cynthia's characterization a makeover... or at least provide her with an action scene. Nope! Same old sexist caricature. They didn't even talk about her much in the commentary. I'm very disappointed. Now I just want a story with Cynthia, Jane, and Liz being badass and figuring everything out before the guys. (In a modern reinterpretation, I can totally see Jane as Hunter, Liz as an analyst/codebreaker, and Cynthia as senior field agent). The only improvement they made is in the ending, when Callan complains that Cynthia is against "birds getting belted" and Hunter gives Cynthia the last word by saying she meant it as a "question of honor", though IDK if that's just playing off sexist stereotypes again of women being too fragile/delicate to defend themselves *sigh*.
I agree with your criticism of the audio dramas. The VAs are very different from the TV series, especially Callan and Meres. Meres especially sounds like he's 12 years old. I have no idea what his VA was going for - Callan's kid brother? Either way, it robs Meres of all the menace and sadism that Anthony Valentine brought to the character. On the other hand, Callan sounds really... how do I describe it... thuggish? Uneducated? Kind of like a meathead? I know that's pretty uncharitable, but his VA went too far trying to make him sound like a boy from the streets. Edward Woodward certainly gave Callan that working-class twang, but he also emphasized how clever and quick-minded Callan is through his snappy dialogue, which I never got out of the audio drama's VA. IMO, Hunter's VA is the best, as he captures the cold condescension of the aging staff officer perfectly, while providing a glimpse of the cracks in Hunter's armor in "File on a Harassed Hunter".
OMG I missed that campy comment by Meres! When did he mention the West End clubs? And what could he possibly be referring to? ^_~ I want "File on a Gentlemen's Club" that's set in one of Meres's BDSM dungeon parties, ROFL.
You must be more knowledgeable about alcohol than I am - what does Meres's choice of a gin and tonic vs. Callan's choice of Chivas Regal say about the two?