It's been awhile since I've posted my thoughts.
But what I'm seeing as of late on--and hearing outside of--social media, is the downfall of tv shows due to a character/actor/storyline departure.
Which confuses me.
Not because it happens.
It has always happened.
Some of our most beloved characters and shows have had unexpected absences for decades. What confuses me, is why it is such a hot topic.
I suppose then, an examination of the times is in order.
Looking back at some of my beloved shows as a teen (20yrs ago) where a character, or a continuing story line had finally come to an end, I realize the difference is the approach. Whether there was discord on set or not, a family or financial issue--whatever the cause--we were never made privy to the reason something/someone we had enjoyed for so long was now gone.
We just dealt with it.
The same way we reconciled our emotions over Old Yeller dying, or the necessary sacrifices made in The Dark Crystal--no matter how much it broke our heart.
Because not all characters or stories are perfect.
Not every ending is happy, or even fulfilling.
Sometimes stories, like life, come up short.
BUT...
And this is a big one...
There is a difference between dissatisfaction over the way a story/character has gone, and piss poor writing that has dismantled what was once a phenomenal journey.
The key is how you backtrack the final legs of the tale, and if it/they were treated with respect, or just given enough drivel to move them on.
When a character fails, it's in the writing.
That's a fact.
But bad writing for a great character is not the same as a great character making imperfect choices. If you have, as the writer, loss the love for your story, or one of the characters involved, it should still be within you to have the desire to finish them off respectfully. Even if the decision is not of your choice, if perhaps the portrayer is leaving, or the execs. are canceling you, there should still be a measure of decorum for what you have created.
Sadly, that is something we have not seen in the last few years.
We can all easily recall favorite shows and characters that have been overrun, under-appreciated, destroyed in every level of existence due to disgruntled writers, and put through the social wash because they preferred to pander for ratings instead of writing something coherent and stable.
Not only is it detrimental to storytelling, but it's down right destructive to the way we shape the world around us with our imagination. We give false, and hypercritical impressions, upon people who may be looking towards stories as a way to find model growth in themselves. We give shape to injustice, to stagnancy, and we dash hopes that need to be fed.
If you want to shrug it off and say 'well sometimes a story is just a documentation of events with no purpose beyond observation,' then stick to being a journalist or non-fiction writer.
Because fiction is about the "what if". It's the notion of perceiving more, of offering up something different--for better or worse. It's an instigator of thought, of putting things into motion, and a way of connecting with others through our shared beliefs.
This is something we have lost.
This is the problem...
.....And only we, as writers, can fix it.
But what I'm seeing as of late on--and hearing outside of--social media, is the downfall of tv shows due to a character/actor/storyline departure.
Which confuses me.
Not because it happens.
It has always happened.
Some of our most beloved characters and shows have had unexpected absences for decades. What confuses me, is why it is such a hot topic.
I suppose then, an examination of the times is in order.
Looking back at some of my beloved shows as a teen (20yrs ago) where a character, or a continuing story line had finally come to an end, I realize the difference is the approach. Whether there was discord on set or not, a family or financial issue--whatever the cause--we were never made privy to the reason something/someone we had enjoyed for so long was now gone.
We just dealt with it.
The same way we reconciled our emotions over Old Yeller dying, or the necessary sacrifices made in The Dark Crystal--no matter how much it broke our heart.
Because not all characters or stories are perfect.
Not every ending is happy, or even fulfilling.
Sometimes stories, like life, come up short.
BUT...
And this is a big one...
There is a difference between dissatisfaction over the way a story/character has gone, and piss poor writing that has dismantled what was once a phenomenal journey.
The key is how you backtrack the final legs of the tale, and if it/they were treated with respect, or just given enough drivel to move them on.
When a character fails, it's in the writing.
That's a fact.
But bad writing for a great character is not the same as a great character making imperfect choices. If you have, as the writer, loss the love for your story, or one of the characters involved, it should still be within you to have the desire to finish them off respectfully. Even if the decision is not of your choice, if perhaps the portrayer is leaving, or the execs. are canceling you, there should still be a measure of decorum for what you have created.
Sadly, that is something we have not seen in the last few years.
We can all easily recall favorite shows and characters that have been overrun, under-appreciated, destroyed in every level of existence due to disgruntled writers, and put through the social wash because they preferred to pander for ratings instead of writing something coherent and stable.
Not only is it detrimental to storytelling, but it's down right destructive to the way we shape the world around us with our imagination. We give false, and hypercritical impressions, upon people who may be looking towards stories as a way to find model growth in themselves. We give shape to injustice, to stagnancy, and we dash hopes that need to be fed.
If you want to shrug it off and say 'well sometimes a story is just a documentation of events with no purpose beyond observation,' then stick to being a journalist or non-fiction writer.
Because fiction is about the "what if". It's the notion of perceiving more, of offering up something different--for better or worse. It's an instigator of thought, of putting things into motion, and a way of connecting with others through our shared beliefs.
This is something we have lost.
This is the problem...
.....And only we, as writers, can fix it.
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