First - I LOVED Random Shoes so much it hurt. I just wanted to take Eugene home with me. However, I think it just served to put Gwen on a pedestal of matchsticks. I think the conversation goes something like this:
"Look, Gwen's so empathic and sweet and humane!" "How's that, then?" "Because we're telling you she is. Duh."
TW is also a show that a lot of people watch for escapism. I've read many complaints about COE saying that it was "too realistic" (to be honest, I'm one of them; I like my TW weirdness, snark, crack and sex, thanks).
I've made this argument myself many times. I admit, however, that I'm torn.
As someone who has heavy appreciation for drama, I laud what they were trying to do. Truth of the matter is that I seriously commend the writers for giving me characters that I care about so much. That the thought of Ianto's, Owen's, and Tosh's deaths months after watching the series can still make my stomach turn with anxiety and grief is pretty amazing. That's good script and good acting.
That said, I agree that I get plenty of reality as it is. When I want something close to reality, I'll watch Law and Order or the History Channel. But this is a show with aliens and time travel and a man who can't stay dead who comes from the future and has lived through the past and a PTERODACTYL, for goodness' sake. I am NOT watching TW (or DW) for reality.
I don't want lament so much as I want to sit and wonder, while I imagine being the hero, what if I were there in that position. The threat to TW is lessened in my eyes when the threat to the rest of the world is glossed over. Does that make sense? In my mind, it almost cheapens their deaths. I'm not saying that it should be done in every single episode, because that would cheapen it, too.
I was catching up on Fringe a while ago and, looking back, I think it handles it better. There is something about it (and I haven't studied media enough to put a label on it) that makes me feel the urgency more. Is it the acting of the extras/guest stars? Is it the writing? The camera angles? The directing? I'm not sure. I know it's a different show, but it manages to incorporate the small pieces of life in a way that isn't overbearing, but makes you think. It makes the viewer more aware of the danger.
Smaller dangers on Fringe seem larger than the biggest dangers on TW. That said, I still love TW more. Maybe it's the accents. ;-)
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branchandroot
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Date: 2010-11-16 10:15 pm (UTC)"Look, Gwen's so empathic and sweet and humane!"
"How's that, then?"
"Because we're telling you she is. Duh."
TW is also a show that a lot of people watch for escapism. I've read many complaints about COE saying that it was "too realistic" (to be honest, I'm one of them; I like my TW weirdness, snark, crack and sex, thanks).
I've made this argument myself many times. I admit, however, that I'm torn.
As someone who has heavy appreciation for drama, I laud what they were trying to do. Truth of the matter is that I seriously commend the writers for giving me characters that I care about so much. That the thought of Ianto's, Owen's, and Tosh's deaths months after watching the series can still make my stomach turn with anxiety and grief is pretty amazing. That's good script and good acting.
That said, I agree that I get plenty of reality as it is. When I want something close to reality, I'll watch Law and Order or the History Channel. But this is a show with aliens and time travel and a man who can't stay dead who comes from the future and has lived through the past and a PTERODACTYL, for goodness' sake. I am NOT watching TW (or DW) for reality.
I don't want lament so much as I want to sit and wonder, while I imagine being the hero, what if I were there in that position. The threat to TW is lessened in my eyes when the threat to the rest of the world is glossed over. Does that make sense? In my mind, it almost cheapens their deaths. I'm not saying that it should be done in every single episode, because that would cheapen it, too.
I was catching up on Fringe a while ago and, looking back, I think it handles it better. There is something about it (and I haven't studied media enough to put a label on it) that makes me feel the urgency more. Is it the acting of the extras/guest stars? Is it the writing? The camera angles? The directing? I'm not sure. I know it's a different show, but it manages to incorporate the small pieces of life in a way that isn't overbearing, but makes you think. It makes the viewer more aware of the danger.
Smaller dangers on Fringe seem larger than the biggest dangers on TW. That said, I still love TW more. Maybe it's the accents. ;-)
And ramble all you want! :-D