"It's actually not really a good thing; if I may explain: an actor's performance should stand or fall on its own merits. You should be able to separate an actor's performance from however you might feel about the actor as a person.

Is it distressing to watch Summer's character Paige Pratt being chased (and presumably attacked, I never made it that far ;-) or is it distressing to watch Summer herself being chased, even if she's only acting? I never saw that ep of Cold Case so I don't know anything about the character.

A TV or movie critic should be detached and impartial, however I'm not a critic so I feel I'm free to take whatever I want from an actor's performance. It's something I do think about though, I justify it in that I think Summer's other performances are so authentic and realistic that it's easy to blur the line between the actor and the character."

"It's actually not really a good thing; if I may explain: an actor's performance should stand or fall on its own merits. You should be able to separate an actor's performance from however you might feel about the actor as a person.

Is it distressing to watch Summer's character Paige Pratt being chased (and presumably attacked, I never made it that far ;-) or is it distressing to watch Summer herself being chased, even if she's only acting? I never saw that ep of Cold Case so I don't know anything about the character.

A TV or movie critic should be detached and impartial, however I'm not a critic so I feel I'm free to take whatever I want from an actor's performance. It's something I do think about though, I justify it in that I think Summer's other performances are so authentic and realistic that it's easy to blur the line between the actor and the character."

"Yeah that was an awesome scene, the director did an awesome job on that.

I liked the scene on Serenity when Malcolm sneaks up behind River when shes tapping away on the computer then all of a sudden she quickly holds her gun up to point at him lol. The way the scene is shot looked really well done. Then when he says "you better shoot me now" *River cocks back the hammer* "or not..." lol.

According to the commentary on the Blu-ray Summer had difficulty holding the gun still as it was to heavy for her to hold behind her like that. The scene where she clicks the hammer back the gun is resting on a tripod out of shot. "

"oooh yeah!
I love it!!!

I also love her entire performance in "Objects in Space" I remember first time I saw it I was sad cus
1. Thought she'd been absorbed by the ship,
2. Thought she was actually gonna go with that bounty hunter guy.

Then Mal came to save the day and River was saved wooo!!!
That episode was so badass, was funny but at the same time very psychological.... plus I especially loved Mal and River in space at the end "You know... you ain't quite right" "That's the popular theory""

"It's actually not really a good thing; if I may explain: an actor's performance should stand or fall on its own merits. You should be able to separate an actor's performance from however you might feel about the actor as a person.

Is it distressing to watch Summer's character Paige Pratt being chased (and presumably attacked, I never made it that far ;-) or is it distressing to watch Summer herself being chased, even if she's only acting? I never saw that ep of Cold Case so I don't know anything about the character.

A TV or movie critic should be detached and impartial, however I'm not a critic so I feel I'm free to take whatever I want from an actor's performance. It's something I do think about though, I justify it in that I think Summer's other performances are so authentic and realistic that it's easy to blur the line between the actor and the character."

"I remember when I first saw the R.Tam sessions on YouTube just after becoming a Browncoat...

Summer was just so dang creepifying and amazing and she REALLY made me sympathize with River. I think that's when I realized just how special of an actress Summer is.

The "I can see you" bit scared me soooo bad... O_O "

"I know I quoted you T but I was really thinking about myself, no criticism of you intended.

I'm certainly not complaining, for me it's wonderful and even novel to actually get emotionally involved with fictional characters and stories on TV. I agree with Mark A: "I think Summer just does a great job of getting you to care about the character she is playing as her acting style is very life like."

Re your point about the portrayal of violence, I do think there is a risk that we can become desensitized to violence, so often portrayed with little consequence (except when JF makes us sit through a vigil ;-) so it is good that we can still be shocked and disturbed.

And yes I'm aware of the irony of talking in such terms about an actor who portrays a stone-cold killer!"