Have you noticed, in real life, one of the things that us humans always do?
We laugh.
Even in the darkest of times. We laugh.
So why don't characters in TV and film laugh? It has become a real bug-bear for me. Humans make jokes to get through trying times. They don't do this in TV & film. This has a big affect on the reality of the premise.
There have been many shows that are guilty of this, but one show in particular was 24. They never made a joke about the crap they were dealing with and Jack really could have done with a smile! and having friends who are in the Police or Medical professions, I know this not to be true. They have the darkest sense of humour. This is what allows them to deal with the depravity and damage they see.
With the increase in the extra serious Scandinavian-esque dramas, I think this is only going to get worse.
Now, pull my finger!
Friday 31 May 2013
Wednesday 22 May 2013
Things I Love - Buffy
Two days ago it was the 10th anniversary of the last episode of Buffy being shown in the US. Since then, I've been wanting to blog about the show, but didn't want to rush my thoughts. So, after a little rumination, I am ready to spurt forth my thoughts on Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
This is without a doubt my favourite TV show, if not one of my favourite things. No other show, film, book, etc has had the same impact on me that Buffy has. Some have come close - Battlestar Galactica and Veronica Mars for example - but none have matched it.
Some people will look at Buffy and they will wonder why this show is so special to me. I think there are many reasons, one of them being my age when the show started. I watched the show when it first aired on BBC2 in 1998. I was 23 at the time - in my first job, trying to find my way in my world. At the start of the show the characters themselves were 16 and in High School. Although I was a few years older than them, I could see myself in many of their choices and decisions, obviously not including the areas to do with demons and vampires! But this was another beautiful thing about the show - take away the vampires and the demons and the group of people you are left with are some of the most realistically written and portrayed characters I've seen in anything else. They are trying so hard to be "good", but they do make mistakes and sometimes operate in the grey areas. For me this was the first time that a TV show dispensed with the stark white and black hats, allowing the characters to get a little dirty. Isn't that life??
As well as the characters, I also loved the actors that played them - Sarah Michelle Gellar perfect as Buffy; Alyson Hannigan who can cry like no other actress/actor; Nicholas Brendon playing the comedy and pathos of Xander to a tee; Anthony Stewart Head - so suave and handsome playing the father figure of the show with a twinkle in his eye. And there was also the rest of the gang - David Boreanaz, James Marsters, Seth Green, Amber Benson, Emma Caulfield, Michelle Trachtenberg and Kristine Sutherland. The range portrayed by these actors is immense and I think their success is vastly under-rated.
I also loved that the show was never afraid to do what you weren't expecting, keeping you on your toes and not allowing you to relax when a character's life was in danger. I can't remember the first episode I watched, but I saw a few episodes in series one. It didn't blow me away. I remember then seeing a few episodes from series two - including School Hard with Spike and Drusilla's first appearance - and liking where the show was going. And then there was, for me, the game changing two-part episode of Surprise and Innocence, in which the main love interest for Buffy in the show, Angel, was transformed in to the big bad for the series, Angelus. I remember admiring the bravery of a show to do this and to have him then go on to be a REAL baddie, played so superbly by David Boreanaz.
Then there were the other 'brave'/different episodes - The Body, Once More with Feeling (the musical episode) and Hush (the silent episode) among many others.
Then the character deaths! But not just the deaths but the way in which they were dealt with, giving the characters the time and space to grieve. This doesn't tend to happen in a lot of shows, with characters seemingly springing back from the loss of a loved one.
A lot of these points go back to the quality of the writing and the attention to detail given by the writers and the show's creator, Joss Whedon. For example, at the end of the second episode of series one (The Harvest) the following dialogue takes place:
But what makes it even better is that the order in which they walk away from Buffy as they go to their battlestations, is the order in which she met them in the very first episode.
Perfect!
This is without a doubt my favourite TV show, if not one of my favourite things. No other show, film, book, etc has had the same impact on me that Buffy has. Some have come close - Battlestar Galactica and Veronica Mars for example - but none have matched it.
Some people will look at Buffy and they will wonder why this show is so special to me. I think there are many reasons, one of them being my age when the show started. I watched the show when it first aired on BBC2 in 1998. I was 23 at the time - in my first job, trying to find my way in my world. At the start of the show the characters themselves were 16 and in High School. Although I was a few years older than them, I could see myself in many of their choices and decisions, obviously not including the areas to do with demons and vampires! But this was another beautiful thing about the show - take away the vampires and the demons and the group of people you are left with are some of the most realistically written and portrayed characters I've seen in anything else. They are trying so hard to be "good", but they do make mistakes and sometimes operate in the grey areas. For me this was the first time that a TV show dispensed with the stark white and black hats, allowing the characters to get a little dirty. Isn't that life??
 |
| Image from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer |
I also loved that the show was never afraid to do what you weren't expecting, keeping you on your toes and not allowing you to relax when a character's life was in danger. I can't remember the first episode I watched, but I saw a few episodes in series one. It didn't blow me away. I remember then seeing a few episodes from series two - including School Hard with Spike and Drusilla's first appearance - and liking where the show was going. And then there was, for me, the game changing two-part episode of Surprise and Innocence, in which the main love interest for Buffy in the show, Angel, was transformed in to the big bad for the series, Angelus. I remember admiring the bravery of a show to do this and to have him then go on to be a REAL baddie, played so superbly by David Boreanaz.
Then there were the other 'brave'/different episodes - The Body, Once More with Feeling (the musical episode) and Hush (the silent episode) among many others.
Then the character deaths! But not just the deaths but the way in which they were dealt with, giving the characters the time and space to grieve. This doesn't tend to happen in a lot of shows, with characters seemingly springing back from the loss of a loved one.
A lot of these points go back to the quality of the writing and the attention to detail given by the writers and the show's creator, Joss Whedon. For example, at the end of the second episode of series one (The Harvest) the following dialogue takes place:
BUFFY: Well, I gotta look on the bright side. Maybe I can still get kicked out of school.
XANDER: Hey, that's a plan. 'Cause a lot of schools aren't on Hellmouths.
WILLOW: Maybe you could blow something up. They're really strict about that.
BUFFY: I was aiming for a subtle approach, like excessive not studying.
GILES: The earth is doomed.
In the final episode of the show (series seven's 'Chosen'), as the gang are preparing to face the final battle, this happens:
XANDER: See, it's the eye-patch thing.
BUFFY: Right, do you go with the full black secret agent look?
WILLOW: of the ruffy shirt pirate-slash-poet feel? Sensitive yet manly.
XANDER: Now you're getting a little renassaince fair on me.
GILES: The earth is definitely doomed.
 |
| Image from: http://buffy.wikia.com/wiki/Chosen |
Perfect!
Tuesday 14 May 2013
Why Can't A Woman Lead?
I recently watched a very interesting BBC 2 series called 'The United States of Television: America in Primetime' (Linky). This was a 4 part series that, each week, examined a different aspect of US primetime TV - Man Of The House, The Misfit, The Independent Woman and The Crusader. It tracked the development of these characters through the last 60 years of television and how these developments reflected wider issues within US society. I really enjoyed this show.
Until the last episode.
This episode looked at the Crusader - the character that is driven to do the right thing, even if by doing the right thing, they have to do the wrong thing. The characters that work in the grey. Here are the characters they discussed:
ONE WOMAN?
AND NOT EVEN THE LEAD IN THE SHOW?
REALLY??
And this got me to thinking - is there only one woman on that list because this programme in itself was sexist? Or is there only one woman on that list because, for some reason, a female led TV show just isn't accepted by primetime viewers?
If the answer is the second point, then why is this? Why do the majority of viewers struggle with women led, primetime TV shows? And if so, why do these shows tend to well in non-primetime slots - Buffy, Alias, Xena, Scandal, Dollhouse, Dark Angel, Veronica Mars, etc, etc, etc?
What does this say about the majority's view on the role of women? Are people still so entrenched in their view of what a woman should and shouldn't do that they cannot watch her 'kick ass' - physically and/or metaphorically?
As I have no such limitation on my views (thank you Wonder Woman and Col. Wilma Deering), I really don't know the answer to any of these questions.
Until the last episode.
This episode looked at the Crusader - the character that is driven to do the right thing, even if by doing the right thing, they have to do the wrong thing. The characters that work in the grey. Here are the characters they discussed:
- Jack Bauer - 24
- Gregory House - House
- Andy Sipowicz - NYPD Blue
- Hawkeye Pierce - M*A*S*H
- Omar Little - The Wire
- Frank Pembleton - Homicide: Life on the Street
- Vic Mackey - The Shield
- Dexter Morgan - Dexter
- Dana Scully - The X Files
ONE WOMAN?
AND NOT EVEN THE LEAD IN THE SHOW?
REALLY??
And this got me to thinking - is there only one woman on that list because this programme in itself was sexist? Or is there only one woman on that list because, for some reason, a female led TV show just isn't accepted by primetime viewers?
If the answer is the second point, then why is this? Why do the majority of viewers struggle with women led, primetime TV shows? And if so, why do these shows tend to well in non-primetime slots - Buffy, Alias, Xena, Scandal, Dollhouse, Dark Angel, Veronica Mars, etc, etc, etc?
What does this say about the majority's view on the role of women? Are people still so entrenched in their view of what a woman should and shouldn't do that they cannot watch her 'kick ass' - physically and/or metaphorically?
As I have no such limitation on my views (thank you Wonder Woman and Col. Wilma Deering), I really don't know the answer to any of these questions.
Thursday 9 May 2013
Things I Love - Conventions
I imagine that some of you just thought "Conventions? Me too!!"
And some of you thought "Conventions? Nerd!"
Yep! And I don't give 2 figs that some of you have just judged me and maybe even stopped reading. You are maybe the people that hear the word "convention" and think of the stereotype images of what happens at a convention and the types of people that go to them.
Allow me to enlighten you.
There are many different types of conventions, but it's fair to say they can be roughly categorised into 2 - the weekend conventions and the signing events. The signing events tend to be larger (such as Collectormania, Sci fi weekender or London Film and Comic Con). They also tend to have a larger selection of guests for you to go along and meet. They are a lot of fun and an equal amount of queueing! The weekend conventions (run by companies such as Starfury and Massive Events in the UK) tend to specialise in one tv show in particular or a certain genre. My personal preference is for the weekend conventions as they have fewer guests and as they focus on one show/genre, I know that all the guests are going to be people I want to meet. But that's just me.
So at a convention, there are autograph signings, photoshoots with and talks by the guests. I particularly like the talks as you can ask questions and hear anecdotes from your favourites tv shows. The guests are normally very honest and relaxed. I still can't believe some of the people I've been lucky enough to meet - George Takei, Patrick Stewart, James Marsters, J August Richards, Nicholas Brendon, Adam Baldwin, Patricia Quinn, Alex Winter, etc. Talented and SO pretty!!
From my first convention 4 years ago for Veronica Mars to my latest, Inva3ion, I have made some amazing friends. I don't just mean acquaintances. I mean FRIENDS. People that have shown me true kindness and support. Last year, for the first time, I was even brave enough to attend 2 conventions by myself, purely because I knew my friends would be there.
These are people that also fully accept my full on, squeeing, fangirl side! And why? Cos they're as bad as me! It is a fantastic feeling. To know proper friendship with people and to know they aren't judging me.
And some of you thought "Conventions? Nerd!"
Yep! And I don't give 2 figs that some of you have just judged me and maybe even stopped reading. You are maybe the people that hear the word "convention" and think of the stereotype images of what happens at a convention and the types of people that go to them.
Allow me to enlighten you.
There are many different types of conventions, but it's fair to say they can be roughly categorised into 2 - the weekend conventions and the signing events. The signing events tend to be larger (such as Collectormania, Sci fi weekender or London Film and Comic Con). They also tend to have a larger selection of guests for you to go along and meet. They are a lot of fun and an equal amount of queueing! The weekend conventions (run by companies such as Starfury and Massive Events in the UK) tend to specialise in one tv show in particular or a certain genre. My personal preference is for the weekend conventions as they have fewer guests and as they focus on one show/genre, I know that all the guests are going to be people I want to meet. But that's just me.
So at a convention, there are autograph signings, photoshoots with and talks by the guests. I particularly like the talks as you can ask questions and hear anecdotes from your favourites tv shows. The guests are normally very honest and relaxed. I still can't believe some of the people I've been lucky enough to meet - George Takei, Patrick Stewart, James Marsters, J August Richards, Nicholas Brendon, Adam Baldwin, Patricia Quinn, Alex Winter, etc. Talented and SO pretty!!
But the guests are only part of the reason that I love conventions.
From my first convention 4 years ago for Veronica Mars to my latest, Inva3ion, I have made some amazing friends. I don't just mean acquaintances. I mean FRIENDS. People that have shown me true kindness and support. Last year, for the first time, I was even brave enough to attend 2 conventions by myself, purely because I knew my friends would be there.
These are people that also fully accept my full on, squeeing, fangirl side! And why? Cos they're as bad as me! It is a fantastic feeling. To know proper friendship with people and to know they aren't judging me.
And don't forget, what happens at the con, stays at the con!
All photos property of me and not to be used without my express permission. Ta
Thursday 2 May 2013
The Swindle Hypothesis
I don't watch The Big Bang Theory. I've tried, several times, but just can't get into it. I think this is because . . . .
THEY'RE CONNING US
The show always seems to be laughing AT nerds, not WITH them. I recently saw some of an episode in which Penny (Kaley Kuoco) became addicted to playing online games. She stopped washing, going to work and doing her hair (one joke played on the fact that she had cheetos stuck in her bird-nest like 'do'). What is this saying about the show's writer's opinions of gamers?
Think of all the characters in the show. Then think of the stereotypes of nerds. Now think of the all the characters in the show again. See what I mean?
I have to applaud the writers of this show for this feat. They've managed to create a show that points fun at the very people that sit watching. And then, they've managed to cast certain guest stars who are well known sci fi genre actors!!
*slow claps*
This is just my opinion.
THEY'RE CONNING US
The show always seems to be laughing AT nerds, not WITH them. I recently saw some of an episode in which Penny (Kaley Kuoco) became addicted to playing online games. She stopped washing, going to work and doing her hair (one joke played on the fact that she had cheetos stuck in her bird-nest like 'do'). What is this saying about the show's writer's opinions of gamers?
Think of all the characters in the show. Then think of the stereotypes of nerds. Now think of the all the characters in the show again. See what I mean?
I have to applaud the writers of this show for this feat. They've managed to create a show that points fun at the very people that sit watching. And then, they've managed to cast certain guest stars who are well known sci fi genre actors!!
*slow claps*
This is just my opinion.
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