(no subject)

[erda]

Maybe the reason I keep getting disappointed in the shows I watch is because, as a fan, I don't watch the same way most people do.

Seems like every show I get interested in introduces a small group of characters that I get very attached to. I'm interested in them and particularly in the interactions between them. But then, just when I'm getting invested in these people, the writers seem compelled to start introducing more and more characters, perhaps because the average viewer gets bored looking at the same faces week and week? I don't really know why they do it, but I end up deeply resenting the new characters because they take time away from the ones I've already gotten to like. Or sometimes, like with Heroes, I just get confused and lose interest because there are too many people and too many different story lines. Maybe most people watching TV don't get that involved with the characters? Else why would the writers keep doing this? Somebody must like it or think it's a good idea.

Comments

[gaffsie.livejournal.com]

I have a horrible feeling that with SGA, one reason for Keller's growing presence is that the writers just don't know how to handle Teyla. When she was "just" a warrior, they did okay, but now she's a mother and that's a bit too complex for their pea-brains to grasp. Much easier then to write lines for Keller, who's sweet and pretty and OMG!smart. :/ The other reason, of course, is that they're angling for younger (male, but that goes without saying) viewers, and the team is just too darn old. Two of them is in their forties! No one under the age of thirty could possibly care about them!

[/cynical]

[keefaq.livejournal.com]

I don't think they ever really knew what to do with Teyla, she was just there as a token. This whole age thing is probably going to keep on pissing me off more and more as I'm not getting any younger.

[gaffsie.livejournal.com]

I belong to the age-group that TPTB are so desperate to court, and it's pissing me off too. Are we suddenly drooling idiots who only have it in us to relate to characters our own age? I do not appreciate being treated with such contempt.

[keefaq.livejournal.com]

Shhhhh...It's going to be okay, I promise. We'll get through this with the help of all our talented fanfic writers. *pats you on the back and offers hot tea*

[gaffsie.livejournal.com]

*Gratefully accepts* My tea was getting cold anyway. Maybe that's why I'm so filled with fan-rage?

I have all the faith in the world for the amazing writers and artists in this fandom. They will make everything better. They're like the anti- Mullie and Mallozzi in that respect. ;)

[dragojustine.livejournal.com]

YES. I have always loved the Stargate franchise largely because I'm not being asked to watch a strange world where everybody over 30 magically disappears (or appears only in token parental roles). That was a real, functioning workplace, with a wide range of ages and greater authority and importance given to people who worked their way up the ladder over time, and SG1 wasn't at all afraid to sexualize actors well over 40 (RDA), actors without classical Hollywood looks (Hewlett), etc.

And I'm 22, so it's not a demographic thing! Grrr.

[ionaonie.livejournal.com]

One of the problems I think a lot of writers have (but esp those on SGA) is that they don't take the time to introduce new characters.

When a show starts, they have to take the time to introduce these characters to us and make us like them and care about them. But then, once a show is established they don't do that with new characters. They use a lazy short cut of having the characters we like, like the new people.

Of course, what they don't seem to realise is that we don't like characters just because our favourite characters do. I'm actually more likely to like a character if they butt heads with at least a couple of the established characters, but that could just be me *g*

I think with Keller the writers had so many "cool" ideas for her that they just jumped straight into it without making sure that we liked her. Never a good plan. the audience decides with characters they like, not the writers. Hence, we like Lorne, Zelenka and Chuck nearly universally but there is a lot of disagreement over those like Katie brown or Keller.

But yeah, they so don't know what to do with Teyla and so are trying to pull Keller in.

I just wish they'd stop.

[keefaq.livejournal.com]

So true and I hadn't thought of it that way. I actually liked Keller a hell of a lot when she first came on; I even shipped her slightly with Rodney when they worked together on Elizabeth's nanites, but then it started moving way too fast and she seemed to push Rodney out of all his other relationships to the point where now I can't stand her. I might feel differently if they had worked her in slowly. Sigh.

[sasha-feather.livejournal.com]

Yeah, TV writers just don't get it. Most of the time. I've been watching Buffy, and I'm just *amazed* that the show is good! That the characters grow over time, that relationships are built slowly, that people fall in love, break up, die, etc, and it all makes sense! It's so weird to see a genre show where the writing and characterization are actually good! I agree with the above comment, too, about the audience choice. And, pointedly, there are no women writers on SGA. They write the male characters much better than the female ones.

I'm curious that you include SCC on your tags, though-- it seems like a really good show to me, and it's keeping the same few (5) characters as it's focus. It does seem to be dropping some plot threads, but I'm really enjoying it.

[keefaq.livejournal.com]

The reason I included SCC is because I'm obsessed with Sarah/Derek and they seem to have moved away from that this season. I still like the show a lot, but I wasn't happy to see the random freedom fighter come back and make out with Derek. It's not so much that I don't like the new characters as that they are taking time away from the ones I already like.

I love Buffy, too.