GeekLove Dictionary_____________________________ 

Angst = A term which refers to the emotional and psychological pains that a character may go through, either on the show or in fanfic.

Example:  Grissom’s stunned look and subsequent silence when he hears Philip Gerard say the word "relationship" when he asks Sara about Hank Peddigrew is an example of his character’s angst. (The Accused is Entitled, S3)

Example:  Sara’s pained, choking reaction to the evil defense lawyer revealing the face touch incident in court and the lawyer’s insinuation that Grissom doesn’t return Sara’s feelings is another example. (The Accused is Entitled, S3)

Anvil = An anvil is a scene, a piece of dialogue, a plot development, etc. that foreshadows some significant issue, situation, or problem that a character will likely have to address, confront, or resolve in future episodes.

For example, when Cassie the homeless woman has that strangely resonant conversation with Grissom at the end of Hunger Artist in S2, TPTB scripted her to deliver several anvils to him about what really matters in life, and not coincidentally, what may be missing in his own. "You never know when you’ll find the one thing that makes all the difference." "You can analyze a million lives and never have one of your own." "My sister didn’t have secrets. Her secrets had her." "Sleep, the perfect sleep." All of these ideas and themes were raised again in S3, and just like the anvils of S3 will likely be raised again in S4, in one fashion or another.

AST = Acknowledged Sexual Tension. This excellent concept originated in the head of a fellow G/S fan. It refers to the intermediate stage between UST and a full-blown relationship (RST), the stage at which both characters have essentially admitted that there is something between them, although they are not in a formal, official "relationship" yet. I think most Geek Lovers would agree that G/S have been in AST since Primum Non Nocere (PNN).

Backstory = The life history of a character that predates their arrival on the show.

In Sara’s case, her backstory relates to everything that happened to her prior to Cool Change—her childhood, her Harvard years, her work at the San Francisco CSI lab, and so on. In Grissom’s case, it involves his childhood, his college years, his tenure as a L.A. County Medical Examiner. In essence, backstory encompasses everything that we do not yet know about either Geek. Does Grissom have a relationship "burn"? Why does Sara react so emotionally to female abuse cases? That’s all backstory information.

Of course, part of what is so tantalizing about G/S is that they have a shared backstory as well. We do know that they knew each other prior to Sara’s arrival in Las Vegas and that at some point, Grissom taught a seminar that Sara attended. Jorja Fox has also said that Grissom and Sara "have a story." Hmmm…could she have been any more mysterious?

Buddha / Buddha Belly = A reference to Grissom’s lovely midsection. The origin of this phrase is a reference from one of my stories, Wild Card. In that fic, Sara has finagled Grissom into coming over for a game of Trivial Pursuit.

"…the game was laid out on her coffee table. They would sit on the floor pillows beside it. She’d decided against their playing at her kitchen table—too boring. It would be more relaxed and intimate to sit on the floor. Besides, the thought of Grissom tucking himself into the lotus position on a cushion made her laugh. Her own little bowed leg Buddha."

Why Buddha? Well, Grissom is wise and philosophical, and also very zen. He has also quoted Buddha on the show (Felonious Monk – S2). Buddha figures are known for their prominent bellies, too, of course. In a later fic, Lonely Men, Sara makes it clear that she enjoys the Buddha Belly, too. LOL.

Canon = Facts from a show, i.e. information about characterizations, backstories, etc. that have actually appeared on screen. e.g. Sara’s vegetarianism, and its impetus: the decomposing pig experiment with Grissom in Sex, Lies and Larvae (S2). e.g. The three things Grissom hates (Friends & Lovers, S1): men who hit their wives, people who abuse children, and dealers who sell drugs to kids.

As far as the GSR canon is considered, S3 was a banner year. Perhaps most significant in this regard was Playing with Fire, the episode in which Grissom calls Sara "honey," (!) and clearly chooses not to say that he doesn’t return her feelings. Remember what Carol Mendelson said in TV Guide before Playing with Fire aired? "In just one word, Grissom will say more about his feelings for Sara than he could in 10 pages of dialogue."

Exactly. It’s a wonderful completion of the G/S relationship arc in S3, actually. At the beginning of the season, The Accused Is Entitled raised the question of whether Grissom returned Sara’s feelings. At season’s end, Playing with Fire answered that question. The GSR really is canon, Geek Lovers.

Fandom =This term covers everything from participation in online fanclubs and discussion groups, to reading and writing fanfic. Generally, the key distinction is that the participation occurs online, as opposed to more traditional "offline" ways of enjoying a favorite show.

Fanfic = Fiction written by a fan of a show about the characters in the show, but explicitly not for profit or for offline publication. Fanfiction usually is written without the permission of the show's owners, in contrast to the officially sanctioned CSI novels written by Max Allan Collins, for example.

Geek = when capitalized, a reference to either Gil Grissom or Sara Sidle.

Geek Love = a reference to the romantic feelings between G/S.

GSR = Grissom-Sara Relationship. Of course, this also makes G/S shippers chuckle every time CSI refers to the other kind of "GSR"—Gun Shot Residue.

Meta = More generally, "meta" implies that something is "more comprehensive : transcending <metapsychology> -- used with the name of a discipline to designate a new but related discipline designed to deal critically with the original one <metamathematics>" (Merriam-Webster Online). It also suggest that something is "at a higher state of development: metazoan." (American Heritage Dictionary).

In fandom terms, when we say that a scene or interaction is "meta" for G/S, we are really saying that there is some higher-level meaning to the scene/interaction, some aspect to it that transcends the merely literal or factual and gives us insight into the nature of the ‘ship, or perhaps even into TPTB’s plans for the ‘ship, and so on.

Example:. The bridge/overpass scene in Hunger Artist, which involved Grissom walking in darkness, unable to hear. He finds Sara under the overpass, in the last place he expected, at a time when he did not even know what he was looking for. The lyrics to a love song, "Unbound," can be heard ("moth to flame") and once Grissom finds Sara, they stand face to face. They then execute an elaborate series of movements (head turns) which mirror each other perfectly. That sort of scene doesn’t happen without careful scripting and direction and the inclusion of the audible lyrics just makes it all the more obvious that CSI was trying to communicate something "meta" about what draws Grissom to Sara and how they mirror each other as characters.

Nonshipper = A fan who opposes a popular (and specific) pairing, preferring to view the characters involved in a non-romantic light. Nonshipper can also refer those fans who are actually neutral about the pairing in question, so long as it does not take up what they would consider to be "too much" screen time.

Noromo = "No Romance." Noromos are opponents of romantic relationships on a show. In the case of CSI, that would mean they do not want to see a GSR, or even G/S "vibes." Logically speaking, this should mean they also do not want to see any other pairing on the show, including with outside characters, but that often is not the case. Go figure. Also see: nonshipper.

OFC = Outside/Original Female Character, e.g. Teri or Lady Heather. Also, in the fanfic world, Original Female Character, especially one romantically linked to a show regular like Grissom.

OMC = Outside/Other Male Character, e.g. Hank. Also, in the fanfic world, Original Male Character, especially one romantically linked to a show regular like Sara.

OOC  (Out Of Character) = Behavior, dialogue, and motivations that contradict what is in the canon for a given character. For example, Grissom abusing someone would be OOC, based on the CSI canon. So would his not following the evidence, no matter where it leads him. Sara choosing not to seek justice for victims or suddenly developing a gambling habit would be OOC for her.

OS = Official Site, i.e. CBS’ official CSI website: http://www.cbs.com/primetime/csi/main.shtml

OT = Off –Topic. This term applies to online discussion boards, lists and forums. A post is OT if it strays significantly from the subject of the thread in which it is placed. Often, fans will preface a comment with "OT:….) to signal that they are aware that they are staying off course for a moment. Of course, entire threads may be explicitly devoted to off-topic posts and discussions, too.

The Plant = Sara. Ever since Grissom stuttered his way through these words in Burden of Proof (S2): "Hi. I-I'd like to get some flowers for a girl. Oh, no. Not flowers. Um, uh, uh, a plant. A living plant. She likes vegetation," the G/S fandom began to refer to Sara as The Plant.

POV = Point of View, of a character.

PSV = Personal Space Violation. (I’m proud to take credit for this one, which dates back in the early days of the G/S fandom on Television Without Pity). PSVs include those scenes in which either Grissom or Sara invades the invisible 2 or 3 foot boundary that most of us consider our "personal space." In episode after episode, the Geeks stand much too close, lean over each other as they examine evidence, and so on.

Examples: the way Sara places her upper body (read: her chest) practically on top of Grissom’s arm during the meat experiment scene in Burden of Proof (S2). Hee.

Another example: the scene in Blood Lust (S3) in which Grissom comes up behind Sara in Blood Lust (S3) to join her at the lab table. He leans right up next to her for no clear reason (i.e. there’s lots of space to his left) and he does not unpeel himself from her side for the rest of the scene.

RST = Resolved Sexual Tension. When a couple is in RST, they have openly initiated a romantic relationship. It may be as simple as seeing them go out on a date, or exchange a kiss, but the idea is that once two character enter RST, their "couple-hood" can no longer be denied by anyone, even those viewers who oppose the pairing.

shipper = short for "relationshipper," i.e. a television viewer who actively supports a particular romantic pairing on a TV show. The term can also apply to those who tend to enjoy watching TV relationships in general. Variant: shippy, shippiness, shippily, etc. Antonym=noromo, defined above.

squick: Used as a verb. If something "squicks" you, it leaves you feeling uncomfortable, disturbed or downright ill. In the G/S fandom, G/C fics are "squicky" as are N/S, W/S, G/LH, etc.

TOS = The Original Series, i.e. the Vegas CSI, vs. Miami or any future spinoffs.

TPTB = The Powers That Be. These are the key people who produce, write, and direct the show. Not everyone associated with a show can be considered a PTB. Only those who have the power to make decisions or who write prolifically for the show qualify—e.g. executive producers, series creators, lead actors with an ownership stake, etc.

In the case of CSI, TPTB are Carol Mendelsohn (executive produce, CSI and CSI: Miami, writer for CSI), Anthony E. Zuiker (executive producer, series creator, writer), Jerry Bruckheimer (executive producer) and William Petersen (co-producer, lead actor). (Note: Ann Donahue is still an executive producer of CSI, even though  she now works  full-time as the show-runner on  CSI: Miami, starting with the 2003-2004 season).

TPTB control the direction of the show, both in its larger themes and in its details; they create the characterizations and story arcs. In other words, they determine what is or is not part of the show canon by deciding what we viewers will see on screen every week.

un-ship = short for "un-relationship," a reference to a show situation in which two characters appear to have romantic feelings for each other, but have yet to act on them in a concrete way. In the early stages of an un-ship, the characters have usually not acknowledged their feelings to each other, either. Gris and Sara are beyond that stage, but they still have not acted on their feelings by going out on a date or exchanging a kiss, for example.

UST = Unresolved Sexual Tension. Prior to the plant and the beauty line, Grissom and Sara were in UST. After Burden of Proof (BoP) and Primum Non Nocere (PNN), they were in AST (see above).

VSM = Virtual Sex Moment. (This is my other contribution to G/S terminology, also dating back to the TWoP days). A VSM is a moment so charged with sexual tension that it feels like the Geeks might as well have done the deed right there on screen. Example: The printer scene in Gentle, Gentle (S2), in which Grissom and Sara are standing side by side as Sara explains how she has found the crucial clue that Grissom needs. He says nothing, but he looks up at her with such intensity that it’s almost shocking. He stares at her for a long time as she continues to look at the evidence and then his lips slowly curve into a very sexy smile. Sara can sense the smile and she smiles, too, before finally turning her head to meet his eyes. It’s a beautiful thing.

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