donutsweeper (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
donutsweeper) wrote2016-05-26 10:51 am
donutsweeper) wrote2016-05-26 10:51 am
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It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel bored
So three more shows have had their season finales and, oddly enough, the multiverse did not get destroyed, the earth did not get nuked into Armageddon and the sun did not go supernova. Shocker, right?
I am just... weary of tptb's need to have these big, huge, OMG kind of finales where we know the heroes will battle valiantly, appear to be losing, but then in the end, be triumphant. Because, of late, they put no effort into the storyline other the will they/won't they win aspect and, to be frank, that's a given. To quote the Tick (the cartoon, which, OMG, is on youtube now, brb see you in a few days while I rewatch) "You can't destroy the Earth, that's where I keep all my stuff!" So, the chance that the US/world/universe/multiverse is destroyed? Absolutely not existent.
The thing is, you can write a decent season finale where the heroes are in mortal peril and even though we the viewer know that they're going to somehow survive the insurmountable odds, it's still a good story. Let me tell you about the one with the killer ants. Yes, you read that correctly. There was a show where our heroes™ were menaced by KILLER ANTS. Now, I will readily admit that the 2000 syndicated tv show Sheena, set in the madeupia part of the African jungle, was not what most folks would qualify as a good show. But it knew that. It couldn't afford amazing sets or effects or anything and it knew that too. It did, however, understand you could have a ridiculous, life threatening premise of a storyline but, if you focused on the characters and how they dealt with it, TELL A GOOD STORY. I had the killer ants episode on VHS and watched it a ton of times. Did I ever think the ants would ever kill and eat them? No. Did I think the premise was ridiculous? Kind of, yeah. But so did they. Yet still there managed to be tension (he was sick and fading fast, she usually saved everyone no problem but this time hadn't been able to do that) and character growth (they learned things about each other's backstories and got closer) and there were some sweet scenes and overall, it was just a decent episode to watch.
I can't remember the last time I felt that way about a modern 'omg will they survive' kind of episode of a show. Nowadays, it seems like they spend all their time and effort on just the 'will they survive' part, and, since that's a given 99% of the time, there's no tension to it and the whole thing just winds up being unsatisfying. I think that's one of the reasons I miss the old mystery/case/monster/whatever-of-the-week style of story telling. Season after season of that can get tiring, and it's too easy for them to ignore character development and character growth, but at least there's the chance of failure and unexpected outcome.
SIGH. Come on, fandoms, step up to the plate. Show me what you can do.
I am just... weary of tptb's need to have these big, huge, OMG kind of finales where we know the heroes will battle valiantly, appear to be losing, but then in the end, be triumphant. Because, of late, they put no effort into the storyline other the will they/won't they win aspect and, to be frank, that's a given. To quote the Tick (the cartoon, which, OMG, is on youtube now, brb see you in a few days while I rewatch) "You can't destroy the Earth, that's where I keep all my stuff!" So, the chance that the US/world/universe/multiverse is destroyed? Absolutely not existent.
The thing is, you can write a decent season finale where the heroes are in mortal peril and even though we the viewer know that they're going to somehow survive the insurmountable odds, it's still a good story. Let me tell you about the one with the killer ants. Yes, you read that correctly. There was a show where our heroes™ were menaced by KILLER ANTS. Now, I will readily admit that the 2000 syndicated tv show Sheena, set in the madeupia part of the African jungle, was not what most folks would qualify as a good show. But it knew that. It couldn't afford amazing sets or effects or anything and it knew that too. It did, however, understand you could have a ridiculous, life threatening premise of a storyline but, if you focused on the characters and how they dealt with it, TELL A GOOD STORY. I had the killer ants episode on VHS and watched it a ton of times. Did I ever think the ants would ever kill and eat them? No. Did I think the premise was ridiculous? Kind of, yeah. But so did they. Yet still there managed to be tension (he was sick and fading fast, she usually saved everyone no problem but this time hadn't been able to do that) and character growth (they learned things about each other's backstories and got closer) and there were some sweet scenes and overall, it was just a decent episode to watch.
I can't remember the last time I felt that way about a modern 'omg will they survive' kind of episode of a show. Nowadays, it seems like they spend all their time and effort on just the 'will they survive' part, and, since that's a given 99% of the time, there's no tension to it and the whole thing just winds up being unsatisfying. I think that's one of the reasons I miss the old mystery/case/monster/whatever-of-the-week style of story telling. Season after season of that can get tiring, and it's too easy for them to ignore character development and character growth, but at least there's the chance of failure and unexpected outcome.
SIGH. Come on, fandoms, step up to the plate. Show me what you can do.
no subject
Nowadays, it seems like they spend all their time and effort on just the 'will they survive' part, and, since that's a given 99% of the time, there's no tension to it and the whole thing just winds up being unsatisfying.
So much this. Has everyone suddenly forgotten how to tell good stories?
no subject
Unfortunately, I think that is the case. Laziness and inattention wins and we're left with simplistic, boring stories. *sigh*
no subject
Stacey
no subject
Sometimes it seems like that's all they think about. How do I push the envelop further this time around? How can I stretch over the line of acceptability without breaking it? Nothing about how to tell a good story.. just how to have more drama then the last time.
no subject
I don't even think some care about going over that line as long as they can get away with it.
Stacey
no subject