A Mind in Motion

     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.   ...

         With summer slowly moving its way into fall, some of my favorite shows are preparing their next season run and with them comes a bit of frustration, and a bit of concern, on how these stories I'm looking forward to will progress. Because it seems, more and more noticeably, that our '30 minutes or less give me what I want mine mine mine' mentality has begun to snowball into some of the most ridiculous notions I have ever witnessed as an artist and a writer. We've gone from sitting back and watching characters develop over an unmeasured time span with little to no input on what we were seeing, to being adamant that we can tell the stories we are voluntarily watching better than those that have created it. As if each show is really a 'choose your own adventure ' book. Like somehow we are being cheated out of a custom designed experience because there isn't just the right amount of balance on the show for one to personally connect to it.     ...