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Mar. 25th, 2007 02:17 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
liptonrm_backupSera Gamble did an interview recently that contains something I want to talk about. The interview is as engaging as we've come to expect a Sera Gamble interview to be and is spoilery for the last episode.
The article is well worth a read and in general makes me feel very warm and fuzzy about the creative staff working on our show and gives me confidence that they won't screw our baby up.
However, there was one thing in the article that made me see red, and not for the reasons you may think:
The fans have got to step back and chill the fuck out. The writing staff over at Supernatural has never given us a reason to doubt their commitment to the character integrity of the show and we need to let them have the freedom to take risks that might actually *gasp* end up making the show even better.
Don't get me wrong, I understand why fans can be unreasonable about changes like this because I've lived through all of the horrible things that TV people have done to us, too. I know what it feels like to be betrayed by Chris Carter and misused by Joss Whedon. I understand the frustration that's caused by enjoying the first season of Lost only to watch everything disintegrate afterwards. I was there with the rest of you when we were sold out by George Lucas. Fannish history gives us ample reason for the overprotectiveness and mistrust that we now employ. We love our show and change is scary, especially when we've been burned so many times in the past.
But, Kripke and Co. have proven time and time again that they take the show as seriously as we do, that they love it in the same way that we do. They're going to listen to us because we're the reason for the success that they do have and they recognize that (and if you don't believe me, go check out Kripke's thank you on the season one dvds). We need to give them the freedom to let the show evolve, to let the characters grow and evolve. The get it, they do, and we need to back the fuck off and let them take the chances that will make the show better.
Plus, I want to see that. I want to see Dean in a long-term relationship with a kickass chick. Step away from your Mary Sue fantasies and let the man be happy. Dean needs this to become a fuller character, to grow away from his limiting dependence on his family. And just think of the possibilities for angst and fucked up sex and schmoop! The possibilities are endless and they are all awesome.
And don't even get started on the Jo hate. They took a chance and realized later that the characters didn't work in the way it was imagined they might. Jo was a good character and there was something there but at the end of the day she was too young. Give her a couple years and a little more experience and maturity and they could've been great together. And they still could, the future's not set in stone, after all. But, the point is, the creative team recognized that things weren't working the way they had planned and they compensated accordingly.
Obviously fan reaction had something to do with it as well (I always hope that no one who's actually involved with the show goes over to the TWoP boards because those are chock full of crazy but I have a horrible feeling that they do). We fans do have a power when it comes to Supernatural in particular and we need to use it wisely or we're going to stifle and suffocate the thing we love so well.
My request to every fan out there is to take a step back, pop a chill pill, find your inner zen and put a little trust in the people working on our show. I know it's hard, do I ever, but I'm beginning to think this is one of the times when a little faith will be richly rewarded.
The article is well worth a read and in general makes me feel very warm and fuzzy about the creative staff working on our show and gives me confidence that they won't screw our baby up.
However, there was one thing in the article that made me see red, and not for the reasons you may think:
“Well, the fans of this show are probably going to send me death threats for saying this, but I’d like to give Dean a real arc with a love interest. Some interesting, troubled, kick-ass chick who is really messes with him.” Gamble thinks the reason the audience gets so up in arms about women coming into Sam and Dean’s lives might be that they’re afraid it will change the show into something less cool.
The fans have got to step back and chill the fuck out. The writing staff over at Supernatural has never given us a reason to doubt their commitment to the character integrity of the show and we need to let them have the freedom to take risks that might actually *gasp* end up making the show even better.
Don't get me wrong, I understand why fans can be unreasonable about changes like this because I've lived through all of the horrible things that TV people have done to us, too. I know what it feels like to be betrayed by Chris Carter and misused by Joss Whedon. I understand the frustration that's caused by enjoying the first season of Lost only to watch everything disintegrate afterwards. I was there with the rest of you when we were sold out by George Lucas. Fannish history gives us ample reason for the overprotectiveness and mistrust that we now employ. We love our show and change is scary, especially when we've been burned so many times in the past.
But, Kripke and Co. have proven time and time again that they take the show as seriously as we do, that they love it in the same way that we do. They're going to listen to us because we're the reason for the success that they do have and they recognize that (and if you don't believe me, go check out Kripke's thank you on the season one dvds). We need to give them the freedom to let the show evolve, to let the characters grow and evolve. The get it, they do, and we need to back the fuck off and let them take the chances that will make the show better.
Plus, I want to see that. I want to see Dean in a long-term relationship with a kickass chick. Step away from your Mary Sue fantasies and let the man be happy. Dean needs this to become a fuller character, to grow away from his limiting dependence on his family. And just think of the possibilities for angst and fucked up sex and schmoop! The possibilities are endless and they are all awesome.
And don't even get started on the Jo hate. They took a chance and realized later that the characters didn't work in the way it was imagined they might. Jo was a good character and there was something there but at the end of the day she was too young. Give her a couple years and a little more experience and maturity and they could've been great together. And they still could, the future's not set in stone, after all. But, the point is, the creative team recognized that things weren't working the way they had planned and they compensated accordingly.
Obviously fan reaction had something to do with it as well (I always hope that no one who's actually involved with the show goes over to the TWoP boards because those are chock full of crazy but I have a horrible feeling that they do). We fans do have a power when it comes to Supernatural in particular and we need to use it wisely or we're going to stifle and suffocate the thing we love so well.
My request to every fan out there is to take a step back, pop a chill pill, find your inner zen and put a little trust in the people working on our show. I know it's hard, do I ever, but I'm beginning to think this is one of the times when a little faith will be richly rewarded.
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no subject
Date: 2007-03-26 01:04 am (UTC)But, yes, yes, yes, Dean with an ongoing love interest would be fascinating to watch. And the writers and directors and actors would do so right by the character... Sigh. And there would be sex.
Okay. I'm done now.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-26 08:47 pm (UTC)*rolls eyes* OMG, I know. Fandom makes me want to throw mugs at the wall sometimes, I swear. Show her working a hunt with the boys and fandom's all 'eeeeeeww' but then have her be victimized and fandom suddenly loves her. Whatever, fandom, just, whatever.
They would absolutely do right by Dean if they gave him an ongoing love interest. I kind of want to start a letter writing campaign, or something, but then I remember that stuff like that takes more drive then I possess. I guess I'll just keep on writing those stories in my head. ;-)
no subject
Date: 2007-03-28 02:45 am (UTC)How would the writers pull off such a thing without changing the dynamic between the brothers and the general tone of the show? What you've got here is basically an angsty buddy story/road story. First of all, women never fare well in such stories, because -- sorry -- there's just no room for them. How is any guy in an angsty buddy/road story supposed to maintain a relationship, even one with an "interesting, troubled, kick-ass chick?" Where and when would he hook up with this woman? How is he supposed to chase demons if he's meeting his girlfriend? And how exactly would Dean's relationship fit into the angst and loneliness of being a Hunter that is the heart of the series?
Plus, I don't think even a very talented writer can properly introduce the "interesting, troubled, kick-ass chick" into an essentially male story without turning her into a Mary Sue. I'm sure that's exactly how JJ Abrams sees Kate on "Lost," but his fascination with her is not shared by all viewers.
I'm not too emotional about "Supernatural," but I don't think this a story direction that would hold my interest. I think the only way to pull it off and still hold the series together would be if the girlfriend turned out to be a demon or even The Demon, but that might be too obvious.
(And Jo seemed kinda young for him, didn't she? Maybe I'm just getting old and prudy.)
no subject
Date: 2007-03-28 10:36 pm (UTC)And actually, I think Jo's a great example for why I trust the writers to take care and not make any possible love interests too Mary Sue-ish. I'll admit, there's always the chance that the execution would be horrible. The heart of the story is the hunting life on the road and how that reflects the internal drama of the Winchester family and any possible deviation could have disastrous results.
What it comes down to, for me, is how much trust I feel I can put in the creative team. Kripke & Co have shown not only in the work they produce but in the interviews they give that: 1) the integrity of the characters is as important to them as it is to us, 2) they're aware of what makes the show work and they're not going to change it, 3) they listen to the fans and don't want to do anything that might possibly chase us off because they know who really signs their paychecks, and 4) they're willing to own up to their mistakes and compensate accordingly.
This is contrasted with J.J. Abrams and the Lost team who, from the beginning, didn't really understand how to set up interesting heroic characters (it's an extension of similar character problems that plagued Alias and Felicity, though I don't remember the latter very clearly) Kate and Jack both suffer because of it, Kate especially because Evangeline just isn't the kind of actress who can convey more then she's given. Matthew Fox is at least able to give Jack moments of humanity but even a good actor can't redeem the entire character.
Plus, from the tenor of Gamble's interview and the way of the show in general, I'm pretty sure that if they did give Dean a love interest it would only end horrifically, thereby reaffirming that the only people the Winchesters really have is each other. And I don't think it would ever be a main plot point, at least, not at first. I can imagine ways to work it in subtly until it blew up in everyone's faces.
So, pretty much what I'm saying is that Kripke & Co have earned enough of my trust that I'm willing to allow them the freedom to try out new things, feeling fairly confident that if it doesn't work out they'll take care of the problem, much like what they did with Jo.
Okay, I should cut this off b/c it's a comment, not a thesis. ;-) Wow, there's more then a slight possibility that I spend way too much time thinking about this show.