NationStates Jolt Archive

So, yesterday we finally got the pilot episode of the new show from Joss Whedon - the creator of BtVS, Angel, Firefly and Dr. Horrible. The short-lived Firefly has gained the glory of being recognized as the best show ever among the most different viewers, BtVS became a subject of academic studies, an honor very few shows get, especially so early (not that I think anyone joins these liberal colleges for any other reason than to watch movies, but they surely got some taste). Angel and Dr. Horrible, well, didn't do bad either.

Dollhouse has been long awaited by pretty much everyone who has seen any of the above, but here's the question: will it be the new big thing? Will it get the distinction of Buffy, or will it be a highly liked, but quickly canceled show like Firefly? Generally, what is your opinion of it, and what do you think of its future?


So far, I've been very intrigued, but not particularly impressed by the first episode. It's not the coolness of Angel's pilot, and not the instant quotes package of Firefly. More like the first episode of a regular show like 24.
But what does this indicate? Did Whedon cave in to executive pressure of Faux, or is it merely signs of growing up and starting a serious show on a serious note? And, either way, do you like it?

Why oh why must you bring such sadness upon me!
The mere mentioning of Firefly tears my eyes and trembles my voice.
It´s presence was as revered as the life giving sun and as fleeting as the time of yesteryear.

Anyway, srs bznis time.
It has the making of a good show.
A regular, much done, sci-fi, but with some touch of Whedon thrown in.
It may be that which could make it into something lasting.
Not Firefly exactly (what is??) but I would definitely watch it.

So far, I've been very intrigued, but not particularly impressed by the first episode. It's not the coolness of Angel's pilot, and not the instant quotes package of Firefly. More like the first episode of a regular show like 24.
But what does this indicate? Did Whedon cave in to executive pressure of Faux, or is it merely signs of growing up and starting a serious show on a serious note? And, either way, do you like it?

The episode that aired last night was actually the second episode filmed. The intended pilot for the show will air next week. Fox was not thrilled with the intended pilot, so Whedon agreed to film a new first episode.

don't know as it was not shown here and who know's who will pay to air here

So does it have teenage looking chicks getting into fights and kicking ass?

don't know as it was not shown here and who know's who will pay to air here
The greatest invention of the XXI century: BitTorrent.

edit: Also, you can watch it right on fox.com. In low quality or in HD.


So does it have teenage looking chicks getting into fights and kicking ass?
How could it not, you know who's the producer.

The first episode was medicore at best, like 95% of Firefly. Unfortunately, Firefly fanboys will keep it going for at least two seasons.

its a little creepy but ill give it a good solid chance.

How could it not, you know who's the producer.

And I'm not against it in principle. I just think public school - his specifically - made him a one trick pony.

Still, he could have gone to Harrow and be making gay porn I suppose.

The first episode was medicore at best, like 95% of Firefly. Unfortunately, Firefly fanboys will keep it going for at least two seasons.

Must...refrain...from...taking.......bait...

I didn't think it was quite as good as some of his shows, but that's a very high standard and it's also just too early to say for sure. I'm sure I'll end up loving it, just like everything else Joss has done. (Though, I'm going to try to promise myself not to grow too attached to any of the characters for reasons obvious to anybody familiar with his work... :()

The episode that aired last night was actually the second episode filmed. The intended pilot for the show will air next week. Fox was not thrilled with the intended pilot, so Whedon agreed to film a new first episode.

Oh no, not again...

The first episode was medicore at best, like 95% of Firefly. Unfortunately, Firefly fanboys will keep it going for at least two seasons.

*Kills you with my brain*

*Watches your soul sink downwards to a special level of hell*

*Kills you with my brain*

*Watches your soul sink downwards to a special level of hell*

There's a special level of hell for the bizarre degree of blind fanaticism associated with Firefly.

I didn't watch it.

I'm also not familiar with Firefly, BtVS, etc., except in the vast number of quotes and plot points that TVTropes spilled for me. Everyone seems to insist that they are, like, totally the best thing ever, even though I've never met anyone in real life who's admitted to watching any of those shows. I wonder why the entire population of North America only feels comfortable admitting that under false names. ;)

The episode that aired last night was actually the second episode filmed. The intended pilot for the show will air next week. Fox was not thrilled with the intended pilot, so Whedon agreed to film a new first episode.

Oh, there's a surprise. I'm betting the rest of the season gets aired out of order too, ending with the cancellation of the series, a movie, and some tie-in comics.

Why, Joss? This thing you have with Fox, it's not healthy. I know, I know. You think you provoke them, that you make Fox hit you....

There's a special level of hell for the bizarre degree of blind fanaticism associated with Firefly.
I don't like agreeing with you, especially when I'm sure you're just trolling for the Hell of it, but seriously. Why the fascination with that show?
It had some amusing dialogue, but the rest of it was uninspired and rather tedious. And don't get me started on how ridiculous it is that the most powerful, yet dull, person in the Universe is continually the damsel in distress.
I didn't watch it.

I'm also not familiar with Firefly, BtVS, etc., except in the vast number of quotes and plot points that TVTropes spilled for me. Everyone seems to insist that they are, like, totally the best thing ever, even though I've never met anyone in real life who's admitted to watching any of those shows. I wonder why the entire population of North America only feels comfortable admitting that under false names. ;)
They're more popular on the internet than in the real world, like anime and cartoon porn.

Why the fascination with that show?
It had some amusing dialogue, but the rest of it was uninspired and rather tedious.
I agree. The problem is, there wasn't any better one.

I didn't watch it.

I'm also not familiar with Firefly, BtVS, etc., except in the vast number of quotes and plot points that TVTropes spilled for me. Everyone seems to insist that they are, like, totally the best thing ever, even though I've never met anyone in real life who's admitted to watching any of those shows. I wonder why the entire population of North America only feels comfortable admitting that under false names. ;)

What's probably actually happening is that most people you hang out with don't watch these shows, but the sort of people who use the internet are more likely to watch these shows.

I know I'm quite vocal in trying to get my friends to watch them. During a visit, I at least got my brother fanatically devoted to Firefly, Buffy, and Angel, and now he spreads the word as well.

I don't like agreeing with you, especially when I'm sure you're just trolling for the Hell of it, but seriously. Why the fascination with that show?
It had some amusing dialogue, but the rest of it was uninspired and rather tedious. And don't get me started on how ridiculous it is that the most powerful, yet dull, person in the Universe is continually the damsel in distress.
Yeah, I'm also interested in knowing why everyone insists it's the greatest thing ever. Despite not having watched it, reading about it online hasn't imbued me with a maddening desire to seek out the DVD set in the slightest.


They're more popular on the internet than in the real world, like anime and cartoon porn.
Makes sense. I guess most of the demographic that enjoys websites like this one also enjoys those shows, whereas older or younger demographics (which make up most of the real world) don't.

Never heard of it.

I don't like agreeing with you, especially when I'm sure you're just trolling for the Hell of it, but seriously. Why the fascination with that show?
It had some amusing dialogue, but the rest of it was uninspired and rather tedious. And don't get me started on how ridiculous it is that the most powerful, yet dull, person in the Universe is continually the damsel in distress.

I don't want to threadjack this to make it about Firefly, but here's my thoughts. Personally, I didn't find a single minute of any of the episodes or of the film even vaguely tedious or feel that it ever dipped below the highest standards. I found each of the characters to be well developed, that they interacted well, and that the interaction between the main characters was as much a driving force for each episode as the main plotline, with humour and running jokes between the characters, making them more believable, which is important for me to enjoy a series, and something I haven't found in much sci-fi, where characters and their relationships are often not very well developed and rather peripheral to the action.

And I personally think River Tam in particular is a great character, well written, brilliantly played by Summer Glau (and yes, I do find her attractive too but thats not the point :p)

Yeah, I'm also interested in knowing why everyone insists it's the greatest thing ever. Despite not having watched it, reading about it online hasn't imbued me with a maddening desire to seek out the DVD set in the slightest.

The entire series is available for free online if you ever want to check it out without having to pay for it. (I know Hulu has it if you're in the US)


I don't want to threadjack this to make it about Firefly, but here's my thoughts. Personally, I didn't find a single minute of any of the episodes or of the film even vaguely tedious or feel that it ever dipped below the highest standards. I found each of the characters to be well developed, that they interacted well, and that the interaction between the main characters was as much a driving force for each episode as the main plotline, with humour and running jokes between the characters, making them more believable, which is important for me to enjoy a series, and something I haven't found in much sci-fi, where characters and their relationships are often not very well developed and rather peripheral to the action.

Indeed.

And I personally think River Tam in particular is a great character, well written, brilliantly played by Summer Glau (and yes, I do find her attractive too but thats not the point :p)

Summer Glau is gorgeous. I need to catch up on the Sarah Connor Chronicles...

The greatest invention of the XXI century: BitTorrent.

edit: Also, you can watch it right on fox.com. In low quality or in HD..

hey this is Australia we still not seen the end of stargate or any new BSG

-snip-

All this^

And as to not further make it into a threadjack I will mention another show as well.

I first heard of Whedon in regards to Buffy,
and since I did not particularly enjoy that show I never thought of watching Firefly either.
It did not help that the channel that showed his shows made terrible teaser and trailers.
However, loving sci-fi as I do, I would be bound to run into it again.
The next time that happened, I could read a lot about it, and found it meeting my standards.

If you really have not watched it, I highly recommend it.
Granted of course that you enjoy sci-fi in the first place, otherwise it is rather moot.

Everyone seems to insist that they are, like, totally the best thing ever, even though I've never met anyone in real life who's admitted to watching any of those shows. I wonder why the entire population of North America only feels comfortable admitting that under false names. ;)
There is a very small circle of people IRL who know I've ever intentionally watched a TV show. Not only none of these are my coworkers or relatives, but none of these has even ever seen any of my coworkers or relatives.
I'm not going to deny that I watched and liked these if asked directly, though (I never lie directly - if I want to mislead people, I give them wrong hints; it's safer and works better), but act coldly enough and change subject quickly enough to make it forgotten.

However, if I'm asked whether I've ever seen those Asian cartoons, I'm going to bash them all to death, and under no imaginable circumstances admit to having watched any other than on TV and with disgust.

Which will mean I haven't, because nearly everyone I know is sure I have no TV set. And it's true, among the truckload of electronics I got, including a CRT projector, there isn't a single TV set. The fact that I have equipment and software which allow me to watch more programs, anytime I want, in better quality than an average TV viewer gets, is kept unmentioned.


But there's one thing where I'd be tempted to break the rule and lie, if confronted. That is Nationstates. I've never seen anyone who has ever been on NS or on NSG in the real life, ever. Even in the mirror, because I'll never admit to it. If confronted directly, I'll perhaps ask "What is it?" or something like that. I'd rather admit... don't know what, than having watched a couple Asian cartoons; but I'd rather admit having watched a few Asian cartoons than ever playing NS. And I'd rather admit frequenting 7chan's /b/ than knowing what NSG is, because /b/ at least has some decency, in comparison.
So I've never really seen anyone who has been on NSG, and I never will.

Hope you get the point.

All this^

And as to not further make it into a threadjack I will mention another show as well.

I first heard of Whedon in regards to Buffy,
and since I did not particularly enjoy that show I never thought of watching Firefly either.
It did not help that the channel that showed his shows made terrible teaser and trailers.
However, loving sci-fi as I do, I would be bound to run into it again.
The next time that happened, I could read a lot about it, and found it meeting my standards.

If you really have not watched it, I highly recommend it.
Granted of course that you enjoy sci-fi in the first place, otherwise it is rather moot.

I've watched all episodes of Firefly (I was never a fan of Buffy). It was okay, but it wasn't great by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, in many episodes, it was simply shit. It had a certain charm, but charm won't make up for bad acting, hammy scripts or stupid plots.

I did like that Summer Glau chick though. She was visually pleasing.

I understand, however, that it is a purely subjective judgment.

I've watched all episodes of Firefly (I was never a fan of Buffy). It was okay.

I can live with okay. ,)

Unlike opinion, taste is taste, and not really as easy to change.
You like (and dislike) what you do for no other reason than your feelings.

[...]
Troll-ling, GTFO. We have enough of Dollhouse to bash here, don't shift the topic to old beaten-up Firefag-trolling.

If you want to stay in the thread, watch Dollhouse S01E01 and attack it.

There is a very small circle of people IRL who know I've ever intentionally watched a TV show. Not only none of these are my coworkers or relatives, but none of these has even ever seen any of my coworkers or relatives.
I'm not going to deny that I watched and liked these if asked directly, though (I never lie directly - if I want to mislead people, I give them wrong hints; it's safer and works better), but act coldly enough and change subject quickly enough to make it forgotten.

However, if I'm asked whether I've ever seen those Asian cartoons, I'm going to bash them all to death, and under no imaginable circumstances admit to having watched any other than on TV and with disgust.

Which will mean I haven't, because nearly everyone I know is sure I have no TV set. And it's true, among the truckload of electronics I got, including a CRT projector, there isn't a single TV set. The fact that I have equipment and software which allow me to watch more programs, anytime I want, in better quality than an average TV viewer gets, is kept unmentioned.


But there's one thing where I'd be tempted to break the rule and lie, if confronted. That is Nationstates. I've never seen anyone who has ever been on NS or on NSG in the real life, ever. Even in the mirror, because I'll never admit to it. If confronted directly, I'll perhaps ask "What is it?" or something like that. I'd rather admit... don't know what, than having watched a couple Asian cartoons; but I'd rather admit having watched a few Asian cartoons than ever playing NS. And I'd rather admit frequenting 7chan's /b/ than knowing what NSG is, because /b/ at least has some decency, in comparison.
So I've never really seen anyone who has been on NSG, and I never will.

Hope you get the point.

My point exactly.

After telling my family about NS (when I first joined, years ago) and having them subsequently attribute any negative behavior I displayed to it, I decided that maybe people had something against online games of that variety, and have never talked about it since. Indeed, I'm unlikely even to talk about what nation I used to have on here, to those who haven't already figured it out.

On the other hand, nobody seems to have any qualms mentioning, say, CSI in casual conversation, or Star Trek, or any more mainstream (by now) shows. Maybe they just don't want to be associated with the kind of fans who've shown up in this very thread. :tongue:

Troll-ling, GTFO. We have enough of Dollhouse to bash here, don't shift the topic to old beaten-up Firefag-trolling.

If you want to stay in the thread, watch Dollhouse S01E01 and attack it.

I have watched it, and I said on the previous page that it suffered from the same weaknesses Firefly did. It should realistically be cancelled, but it won't be, because there's so many Firefly fanboys these days.

I have watched it, and I said on the previous page that it suffered from the same weaknesses Firefly did. It should realistically be cancelled, but it won't be, because there's so many Firefly fanboys these days.

I'm very curious to hear what you think is a better show.

On the other hand, nobody seems to have any qualms mentioning, say, CSI in casual conversation, or Star Trek, or any more mainstream (by now) shows. Maybe they just don't want to be associated with the kind of fans who've shown up in this very thread.
Star Trek still has a certain stigma attached, but it has become so classic and beaten-up that it tends to overcome it. Actually, Star Trek is one of the shows that deserve that sci-fi stigma the most, much unlike FF which is basically a Western with a bit of plastic scenery to look modern, or BtVS which just visualizes the inner demons. But, such is life. Still, admitting to having watched a lot of Star Trek would clearly mark one as a geek.

CSI never had that stigma - it's a show set in the real-life, about a real-life subject, without any sci-fi elements. So why would it be wrong to mention?


It's surprising at times how few sci-fi elements can attach the sci-fi stigma to a show. And, for instance, Dollhouse seems to be considered sci-fi, while James Bond isn't - despite Bond series straying miles further from reality, with impossible devices, impossible feats, magical satellites, invisibility, et cetera.
The difference is recognition: if you are educated enough to admit your elements are fiction, you get relegated to the sci-fi ghetto, if you just have high school and genuinely think it's realistic, you don't. Basically, if Dollhouse positioned itself as based on a conspiracy theory about a government program, i.e. pretend memory-wiping is real, it would instantly get out of the sci-fi ghetto.

I'm very curious to hear what you think is a better show.

Recent shows? Very, very few. The only one I watch with any regularity is Battlestar Galactica.

I enjoy watching CSI. Las Vegas being my favorite one. But NY is also cool. Rather odd, I'm not that much of a fan of cop-dramas.

*shrugs* The point is that shows like that have become acceptable to talk about in real life, or at least sufficiently ingrained in modern culture that people can mention them in, say, a public speech and not get a lot of confused looks.


Anyway, I've always found the existence of an "SF ghetto" (not fond of the term "sci-fi") rather baffling. What made it less acceptable to read books about, say, the fall of the Galactic Empire in the year 20,000, than about the fall of the Roman Empire in the year 476? Why is it that a retelling of a Shakespeare play set in modern times would be considered a straight-up drama or comedy, but a retelling of the same play in outer space is SF? I hold to a rather narrow definition of science fiction, myself, so it doesn't include a lot of things that most people do consider SF (Firefly, for instance, wouldn't be; Star Wars and Warhammer 40K are only halfway there at best). So it's possible that I'm just asking why the rest of the world doesn't follow my definition.*

* For the record: Science fiction is fiction that posits speculative or scientific questions about how the state of the universe would be different if [the story's subject] happened. Foundation, for instance, is mostly about "What if there was a scientific discipline that could predict future history?" with a lot of Gibbon mixed in.

Recent shows? Very, very few. The only one I watch with any regularity is Battlestar Galactica.
Oh, that piece of... generic scifi, in comparison at least. You've lost all your internet tough guy points in an instant. It's both geekier and nerdier. I thought you'd name whatever's on the top of the chart ATM and use the "scifi losers" move.


I'm waiting to see someone bashing Buffy to admit watching Charmed, its "just make it way girlier" ripoff.

I don't want to threadjack this to make it about Firefly, but here's my thoughts. Personally, I didn't find a single minute of any of the episodes or of the film even vaguely tedious or feel that it ever dipped below the highest standards. I found each of the characters to be well developed, that they interacted well, and that the interaction between the main characters was as much a driving force for each episode as the main plotline, with humour and running jokes between the characters, making them more believable, which is important for me to enjoy a series, and something I haven't found in much sci-fi, where characters and their relationships are often not very well developed and rather peripheral to the action.

And I personally think River Tam in particular is a great character, well written, brilliantly played by Summer Glau (and yes, I do find her attractive too but thats not the point :p)

Wow. My thoughts EXACTLY.

(Getbrett - We don't "Blindly worship Firefly". We worship it because it's awesome.)

I enjoyed the pilot.... It seemed very weird and didn't explain a lot, but I'm sure Joss has something very awesome in mind.

:hail:

There is a very small circle of people IRL who know I've ever intentionally watched a TV show. Not only none of these are my coworkers or relatives, but none of these has even ever seen any of my coworkers or relatives.
I'm not going to deny that I watched and liked these if asked directly, though (I never lie directly - if I want to mislead people, I give them wrong hints; it's safer and works better), but act coldly enough and change subject quickly enough to make it forgotten.

However, if I'm asked whether I've ever seen those Asian cartoons, I'm going to bash them all to death, and under no imaginable circumstances admit to having watched any other than on TV and with disgust.

Which will mean I haven't, because nearly everyone I know is sure I have no TV set. And it's true, among the truckload of electronics I got, including a CRT projector, there isn't a single TV set. The fact that I have equipment and software which allow me to watch more programs, anytime I want, in better quality than an average TV viewer gets, is kept unmentioned.

But there's one thing where I'd be tempted to break the rule and lie, if confronted. That is Nationstates. I've never seen anyone who has ever been on NS or on NSG in the real life, ever. Even in the mirror, because I'll never admit to it. If confronted directly, I'll perhaps ask "What is it?" or something like that. I'd rather admit... don't know what, than having watched a couple Asian cartoons; but I'd rather admit having watched a few Asian cartoons than ever playing NS. And I'd rather admit frequenting 7chan's /b/ than knowing what NSG is, because /b/ at least has some decency, in comparison.
So I've never really seen anyone who has been on NSG, and I never will.

Hope you get the point.
That's very odd, and at least a little unhealthy.
I don't go around bragging that I'm on NSG, but if someone asked me directly I'd cop to it. Hell, if they're asking me directly, then they either A) saw it in my history, so they already know, or B) are also on it and somehow recognized a joke I made.
Same thing goes for anime or other niche interests I have. Bashing a complete stranger in the face with my Mudvayne obsession, for instance, would be a waste of time, at best. Completely denying an aspect of your personality, however, can't be good.
Star Trek still has a certain stigma attached, but it has become so classic and beaten-up that it tends to overcome it. Actually, Star Trek is one of the shows that deserve that sci-fi stigma the most, much unlike FF which is basically a Western with a bit of plastic scenery to look modern, or BtVS which just visualizes the inner demons. But, such is life. Still, admitting to having watched a lot of Star Trek would clearly mark one as a geek.
I know plenty of people who watch Buffy, and openly talk about it. Admittedly, their conversations often possess a certain level of ironic attachment that they probably don't maintain while watching, but there is still the open discussion.
On the other hand, if I ever heard someone speak approvingly of CSI I'd be tempted to slit their throats and leave them twitching in a ditch. Sure, it might be socially acceptable, but that is only because the majority are an easily lead mass of idiots who know nothing about even basic chain of evidence matters.

And I personally think River Tam in particular is a great character, well written, brilliantly played by Summer Glau (and yes, I do find her attractive too but thats not the point :p)
And I personally think River Tam is the most overrated anything in recent years. She's not that pretty, she's not interesting, and her abilities make her very annoying (I say again, why doesn't she just save herself? Because they wouldn't have a movie/comic/TV show if she did).

That's very odd, and at least a little unhealthy.

lol.

It seems reasonable to my warped brain, which treats anything at all I take pleasure in as an object of extreme guilt. The one sure way to get me to shuffle my feet and stare at the ground while murmuring vague excuses is to say something like "I saw you reading Blah Blah the other day! You like it, don't you?" -- where Blah Blah can be anything from a normal magazine to the most embarrassing novel you can think of.

Recent shows? Very, very few. The only one I watch with any regularity is Battlestar Galactica.

Eh, I haven't seen it, though I want to. I was kinda hoping you'd admit to something I could tear into.

Could you...uh...try again? For me? Please?

I voted iFail because I've never heard of it, but I did love Buffy.

The concept itself prevents it from starting off with a bang. The real enjoyment to be had is watching the characters develop, something Whedon's very good at doing. An article I read also put another perk this way: "We get to see Joss Whedon become a new writer every week."

I have faith in the show because of Whedon. If recognizing a good writer when I see one and staying with a series because he's at the helm makes me a "fanboy," then so be it.

Diehard Whedonite here - I love Buffy, Angel, and Firefly. Not going to deny they had their bad moments (*cough* Inca Mummy Girl *cough*), but I still think they are great TV.

I like Dollhouse so far, but thought the pilot could have been better. I miss Joss's usual peppy dialogue, but I hope it returns (maybe later personalities will have increased snark). I do think that Eliza is a solid actress, and pulled off both personalities convincingly, along with the blank state.

I have faith (no pun intended) in this show, and in Joss.

As for the "sci-fi ghetto", I live in that ghetto. I come from Seattle, and I go to a tech school. I've never dealt with that stigma, since everyone I know likes sci-fi (well, except my girlfriend, but I'll corrupt her yet!).

I think a lot of you are missing the premise of this show. The weekly characters aren't the important ones, the blank slate is. She becomes self-aware. That's where the character development will take place.

I think a lot of you are missing the premise of this show. The weekly characters aren't the important ones, the blank slate is. She becomes self-aware. That's where the character development will take place.
that would make it a somewhat less creepy show.

but without a firm foundation of how the company and process is supposed to work, i dont think the coming to awareness will work.

Sock fodder for fanboys.

Dushku can't act. She can attitude, sure, but act? Not really. Very pretty, built insanely well. Not much of an actress.

Also, I found in the most recent episode I saw (or the first, if that was what it was), that the usual Whedon level of dialogue was absent; swept under the need to include procedural and technical jargon and typical kidnapping angst. I expected to laugh at least once.

I wanted to watch the damn show online, but Fox discriminates against Canadians! Assholes!

Sock fodder for fanboys. What's the equivalent for fangirls?

What's the equivalent for fangirls?

Vacuum cleaner ads.

Sounds like another pretty good but massively overrated programme. See Firefly. S'alright. That's about it.

What's the equivalent for fangirls?

I dunno. I suppose only the ones who squirt vigorously need a receptacle. So, perhaps "bucket fodder" for that subset. As for the relatively dry, steely dan fodder? Rabbit fodder? Finger fodder? You tell me.

I dunno. I suppose only the ones who squirt vigorously need a receptacle. So, perhaps "bucket fodder" for that subset. As for the relatively dry, steely dan fodder? Rabbit fodder? Finger fodder? You tell me.
Well, sock fodder is sort of icky in a sense, so perhaps carrot fodder? Just to make it equally creepy but not seriously disturbing.

Well, sock fodder is sort of icky in a sense, so perhaps carrot fodder? Just to make it equally creepy but not seriously disturbing.

Or, popsicle fodder on hot days.