10-05-2014, 02:56 AM
Whoa, the Canons really seem to have no concept of what the show used to be. Becoming more normal and assimilating, what. the. heck?
As for character vs plot driven, I always find character driven pieces far more interesting than simple plot driven storylines, but that may be because I used to be a huge fan of CSI back in the day (in my defense, I was fourteen), and then after a while I got bored because the stories were all the same and there was no big story about the main characters. Having said that, there has to be a strong plot even in those things that are primarily character driven. Movies like 'Before Sunrise' and its sequels, which rely only on characters, are interesting as hour-and-a-half explorations, but simply wouldn't work as TV show premises.
Internal conflict within the group is all well and nice, but I have to agree, after a while, one starts wondering what the heck these people are doing, spending time together. Having an external problem to solve together unifies, rather than divides, which is what we all strive for in our lives - happy relationships, job advancements etc.
Ricardo, sorry I misunderstood you, and with this, I agree. They used to be idealistic, then other forces got involved and poof, we have the show as it is now. Maybe that's the difference between being a TV writer and a book writer; TV shows are forever defined by the threat of cancellation dependent on the ratings, and books, even when in series, are published one at a time and can stand for themselves. And, I have to say that I just hate the whole multiple getting together/breaking up wash, rinse, recycle type of storylines. That rarely happens IRL, I think, and if it does, then it's really unhealthy. Why is it so hard for writers to produce quality stuff between two characters who are in a happy relationship???
As for character vs plot driven, I always find character driven pieces far more interesting than simple plot driven storylines, but that may be because I used to be a huge fan of CSI back in the day (in my defense, I was fourteen), and then after a while I got bored because the stories were all the same and there was no big story about the main characters. Having said that, there has to be a strong plot even in those things that are primarily character driven. Movies like 'Before Sunrise' and its sequels, which rely only on characters, are interesting as hour-and-a-half explorations, but simply wouldn't work as TV show premises.
Internal conflict within the group is all well and nice, but I have to agree, after a while, one starts wondering what the heck these people are doing, spending time together. Having an external problem to solve together unifies, rather than divides, which is what we all strive for in our lives - happy relationships, job advancements etc.
Ricardo, sorry I misunderstood you, and with this, I agree. They used to be idealistic, then other forces got involved and poof, we have the show as it is now. Maybe that's the difference between being a TV writer and a book writer; TV shows are forever defined by the threat of cancellation dependent on the ratings, and books, even when in series, are published one at a time and can stand for themselves. And, I have to say that I just hate the whole multiple getting together/breaking up wash, rinse, recycle type of storylines. That rarely happens IRL, I think, and if it does, then it's really unhealthy. Why is it so hard for writers to produce quality stuff between two characters who are in a happy relationship???
A story is not finished until it is read, and the readers finish it through their life experiences, prejudices, world-views and thoughts. Any writer who has to explain their story is no writer at all.