Comments | smarriveurr: Dear TeeVee,

smarriveurr

Dear TeeVee,

Oct 11, 2010 11:48

Look, TeeVee, I know you fear change and enjoy pandering. I understand that, like me, you have these rituals that make you comfortable and you prefer to stick to a routine. But this will-they-won't-they relationship dynamic that creeps into so many shows? It doesn't really need to be part of every bloody program on primetime. Seriously. I know you ( Read more... )

Comments 15

Did you post this here on LJ instead of over at DW ladymockingbird October 11 2010, 17:08:29 UTC

Don't tell me that Bones went and got all sappy this season?

Old habits die hard smarriveurr October 11 2010, 17:20:41 UTC

I couldn't say, comparatively. I only started watching this past year, and started the first season when it showed up on Hulu.

But here I'm thinking more of Chuck, Castle, Psych, etc. I think Bones keeps it relatively understated, up till their weird AU fanfic episode. It's there, but it isn't treated as significant story angle. It's an ongoing part of the status quo, not something characters are actively working to change. That works for me, I think.

Re: Old habits die hard firynze October 12 2010, 15:32:25 UTC

Bones actually deals with it REALLY REALLY WELL at the end of a recent season. Completely in character, and completely heartrending, and then they MOVE ON.

Castle and Psych are just pissing me off with it.

Re: Old habits die hard smarriveurr October 12 2010, 16:02:54 UTC

Bones seemed to always accept it much better. I found their AU episode this past season a little... meh. But generally, they managed to have a male and a female lead, a bit of tension, and even comment on it, but not make it such a big deal. They manage to be partners.

Thread 5

stephiny October 11 2010, 17:58:10 UTC

I don't watch all that much TV and can be completely dense when it comes to subtlties of plots. Writers must love me, I'll be surprised by almost anything. But when even I can pick up on this and see the pattern, something in TVland is going seriously wrong.

smarriveurr October 12 2010, 07:20:13 UTC

I think it's one of those things that, once seen, can't be unseen. If you haven't already watched the dynamic play out on half a dozen shows, the particular one that introduces you to the trope can work. After a while, though, you notice how often the same tricks are played for the same non-result, and how ultimately unsatisfying it is.

drmcsexypants October 12 2010, 10:17:01 UTC

I totally agree with you. And yes, Bones does it. So does Castle. And it is SO very frustrating, as you /know/ that plot will never go anywhere. I think there has been maybe one show, ever, that allowed people to actually get together and be happy. I'm not even sure what it is anymore, but I think I saw one, once.

smarriveurr October 12 2010, 16:05:43 UTC

I wouldn't even mind if they didn't get together, as long as it just was resolved. It is entirely possible for two people to like each other, it doesn't work out, and they move on. It's possible for two people to flirt and never get together. Too many shows seem to rely on the relationship dynamic, and it's gotten to be a real crutch.

Hey... ladymockingbird October 12 2010, 17:17:58 UTC

I thought you said "Listening with Beer" icon was lost forever cause of LJ meanness for non-paying folks.

Re: Hey... smarriveurr October 13 2010, 03:12:44 UTC

'twas. Then an anonymous donor decided to gift me with a year of paid time. Which is totally nice, and I don't know who to thank, and now I feel all conflicted about jumping ship to DW, because obviously someone likes having me here enough to invest in it...

firynze October 12 2010, 15:30:02 UTC

AAAARGH, this is exactly what pissed me off about Castle last season. They went from "antagonistic flirty banter" to "will they won't they plus complicating relationship factors" and it went from being a nice headbutting-flirty relationship to bog-standard TV Trope. :-/

smarriveurr October 12 2010, 16:13:45 UTC

The Castle finale is exactly what inspired this, specifically because it not only went from "flirty friends" to "Castle is afraid to pursue Beckett", but then they pulled the completely predictable Tweeeeeesttm in the finale. It's like someone was working from a subplot tension recipe book. I'd like to see more shows where characters can have fun and flirt and be friends and NOT make it some focal point.

I think I'm also just tired of TV tension relying on characters failing to communicate like rational human beings. When all of your tension could be cleared up by one character having the chutzpah to say "Hey, I like you." or "Look, I love you, but I don't think I'm ready to commit/have kids/get matching tattoos", it's not a satisfying tension ( ... )

firynze October 12 2010, 16:40:01 UTC

And then they come BACK in the season opener and do the "dating other people only not anymore aaaaaawkward" dance and ARRRRRRRGH.

smarriveurr October 13 2010, 03:11:27 UTC

*nod* Almost always painful. Writers need to learn that a status quo isn't a bad thing in episodic media - but you have to accept that it's status quo, not pretend that there's progress toward changing it. It can either serve as an ongoing part of the story engine, or it can be a long-running subplot, not both. The two are antithetical.