Not everyone gets a happy ending, but when *nobody* gets a happy ending, that's going too far in the opposite direction for me.
I always thought Joss Whedon was out-clevering himself by *never* allowing a happy couple to last. That's just as predictable and uninteresting as everybody living happily ever after.
The tendency to think that "dark" stories are automatically better and more real than happier stories irritates me in fandom, and it doesn't irritate me any less in canon.
"The tendency to think that "dark" stories are automatically better and more real than happier stories irritates me in fandom, and it doesn't irritate me any less in canon. "
Hear, hear. I stopped reading several mystery authors who had -- amazing! -- women in stable if imperfect relationships. There must've been something in the water; in one year three different authors killed off their main character's main man.
It's gone back to the 'girl of the week' nonsense that plagued TV drama in the 60's and 70's -- what I new as the "Cartwright Syndrome" from Bonanza. A widower with 3 sons... and if any of them started showing interest in a girl, you might as well start measuring her for her coffin.
Y'know, in a way I wonder if that contributed to slash fic. When the only chance an appealing character has for a lasting relationship is with his partner....
I think the kill-em-off syndrome is a sign of weak writing. It's a lot harder to write a lasting, committed relationship and keep it interesting.
Yes, I definitely agree with you about Joss, too. And I've had that problem with the perception of "dark" and "edgy" stories for, oh, about a decade now, ever since Sports Night fandom took a turn for the unhappy.
The struggle for happiness is a very real part of the human condition, and to think that we must always necessarily lose that fight makes for a very depressing (and unrealistic) universe.
Believe it or not, I actually agree with you. What's unrealistic (and boring, in fiction) is not having to struggle at all to be happy. But struggling and prevaling isn't unrealistic! It happens all the time.
It does! And I dislike the message that no matter how hard you struggle, you're doomed. I dislike it in general, but I relate a lot to some of Ianto's struggles, so I have an exceptional dislike for it in this case!
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2009-07-10 03:10 pm (UTC)I always thought Joss Whedon was out-clevering himself by *never* allowing a happy couple to last. That's just as predictable and uninteresting as everybody living happily ever after.
The tendency to think that "dark" stories are automatically better and more real than happier stories irritates me in fandom, and it doesn't irritate me any less in canon.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-10 03:34 pm (UTC)"
Hear, hear. I stopped reading several mystery authors who had -- amazing! -- women in stable if imperfect relationships. There must've been something in the water; in one year three different authors killed off their main character's main man.
It's gone back to the 'girl of the week' nonsense that plagued TV drama in the 60's and 70's -- what I new as the "Cartwright Syndrome" from Bonanza. A widower with 3 sons... and if any of them started showing interest in a girl, you might as well start measuring her for her coffin.
Y'know, in a way I wonder if that contributed to slash fic. When the only chance an appealing character has for a lasting relationship is with his partner....
I think the kill-em-off syndrome is a sign of weak writing. It's a lot harder to write a lasting, committed relationship and keep it interesting.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-10 07:12 pm (UTC)Hear, hear. Both the "kill-em-off" syndrome and the "endless will-they-or-won't-they" syndrome.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-10 03:38 pm (UTC)The struggle for happiness is a very real part of the human condition, and to think that we must always necessarily lose that fight makes for a very depressing (and unrealistic) universe.
no subject
Date: 2009-07-10 08:19 pm (UTC)-J
no subject
Date: 2009-07-10 08:49 pm (UTC)