(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]

[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.

[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.