why I whatch TV Shows

[elli]

I talked to shruuf earlier about what draws peaple to a TV show. she told me she doesn't like Nip/Tuck because she cannot identify with a character, or doesn't have a favorite character and there doesn't seem to be an overseasonal or serieswide plotdevice or goal. Like I like Lex in Smallville. I liked the Manticore hunts the mutant plots in Dark Angel, and the mystery in the second season. Or even like I loooved Tom Paris in Voyager and Lex Luthor in Smallville.

Usually, I need a favorite character to totally get hooked on a show. It makes me passionate about it, it makes me want to read fanfic, get involved in fandom by that and participate. And yes, it also lets me turn a blind eye on the mistakes, the wormhole-wide plotholes, and continuety errors more, because there is my man and he's just walking and THERE.

I must admit, that lately I'm a bit disappointed in smallville. I don't like hwo the producers and writers are handling the show and the mythology. There has been lots of talk about the relationship between Ley and clark the last few days and I urge you to read this. It was linked by mecurtin in the yahoo Clark/Lex community and basically sums up my misgivings.

But still, I'm watching Smallville for Lex and the Clex. And to have fun. But there are large parts involving a formerly pink princess where are often push the forward button, cos I'm bored. The Smallville cast is inconsistent. KK is just bad and boring. she has moments when she shines but for me, they are too few, too little. I want to believe that she cannot identify with Lana, but I think KK cannot choose a project to save or life. She was spectecularly bad in earthsea. She sucked the life out of poor shawn Ashmore too. Basically, I think Smallville isn't what it should have been.

The thing is, I love plot. When I read fanfic, I don#t like pwp. I need plot. There is nothing more gratifying then a thikly, well-planned plot. without holes. There was this shining moment in season 3, well, all of season three up to asylum. It was a story-arc. An arc that fed bits an pieces to the viewer each episode and slowly let us in on the truth. This arc ended with a bang, a bang so beautiful and painful at the same time it was hard to bear.I remember shaking in front of my monitor and thinking wow!!!! cos Shattered and Asylum, btu Asylum especially, full of plot and wonderful acting. Even Lana didn't piss me expect the time she told Clark he was to blame. this years story-arc involves a) Lana and b) is too inconsistent and I close to have forgotten it again. Well, he whole season overall is very medicore and my favorite character, the one I'm identifying with and mainly watch to show for is basically screentimeless. Not to mention that other factor why I watch the show, the Clex. I mean... two eps with Clex in it?? And I'm supposed to care much?

I totally went of course here.... *giggles*

I'm kinf of passionate about my boys. The moment I saaw the show, that was it. UI had to check out if there was fanfic and my entry in thw world of livejournal came shortly after. Because they were my characters.

Which sort of brings me to Veronica Mars. I do not have a favorite character. Neither do I ship any het or slash pairing. they story in itself it what keeps me on that show. It's deeply intervoven, cleverly thought out, cleverly excecuted and well played by the actors. There isn't a weak link. I don't have a favorite character, cos i like all of them. Just not with the passion I have for Clex and Lex. But it doesn't need that passion. I don't think you'll find me write or read VM fanfic. Bt itS' basically because the show in itself it such a wonderful construct. Because it's an every episode continuing story-arc that just has me so wrapped in it I cannot stop musing otr speculating, just like I think maybe Twin Peaks was back in the day.

And it's not only the main storyline but the little countless details they fit in there in such a wonderful way. Awesome cast, awesome writing, awesome stories. Just wow. Now it just need a Lex. :)

Comments

[angryhamster.livejournal.com]

it's funny, i'm kinda similar. to ENJOY a show, i just need it to not suck (nip/tuck, star trek, desperate housewives, dead like me, scrubs etc.), but in order to love a show to fandom levels, i need a character i identify with. hell, i don't even HAVE to like the show if there's a character i adore in it-- i'm not even really sure i like smallville anymore, but i do love lex and therefore i cannot stop watching (also, tom welling is pretty).

it was interesting to hear your thoughts, so thanks for sharing. :D

[elli.livejournal.com]

Well, I also need to be drawn to the sotry-line a little bit..or have romance. and likewise..I don't have to like the show if I like a chaacter really really much and feel similar about sv...not quite as strongly though I think.....

*g* and I'm glad you think this post was worthwhile...

[shattered.livejournal.com]

Wow. You just summed up exactly how I feel about both SV and VM.:-)

[elli.livejournal.com]

wow! that's so nice :)

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

I've discovered that for some shows I love, which happen to be GOOD, I don't feel the need to go hunt down fanfic, mainly because no fanfic will be able to live up to what I'm already seeing on screen. I've watched ER and JAG since their first ep, and I can count on one hand the fanfics I've read from those fandoms. Is it because of all the technicality involved in those shows that deters fanfic? I don't think so because I don't feel the need to read DS9 or Farscape fics either and I looooove both shows dearly. I'd read them if I come across something truely amazing (like 'Oswiecim' by Gabrielle Lawson in the DS9 fandom, awsome fic), but I don't go seek them out like I do with certain fandoms. 99% of the fandoms I'm involved with are shows like SV that needs filling in, that needs AUs to make the bad go away.

Just my 2cents. :)

[elli.livejournal.com]

Well, WORD. and besides..I cannot concentrate on too many fandoms at once. I envy those who do.

for instance, the reason I have 60 icons of sv and then 3 of say, Veronica Mars, is because I don't really download the zip image files for all those shows,... it takes so much effort.

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

I'm a fandom butterfly. That or I have ADD with fandoms. There was one point where I was reading like 2 fics from 2 different fandoms at the same time. I think that was also the time when I watched 2 eps of TV shows together as well. One on TV, the other one I play on video when commercial is on.

When I realised what I was doing, kinda freaked me out a little. LOL!