Pretty much what I posted in the last thread. It was worse than the reveal in BSG.
Defying Gravity: Discussion thread for the remaining episodes.
- Thread starter Aragorn
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Pretty much what I posted in the last thread. It was worse than the reveal in BSG.
I don't know.
Looking at the reaction to this show from those who seemed to want instant gratification and the big reveal 45 minutes into episode 1, I suggest we all get together and send an open letter to TV producers around the world.
Dear TV producers
Please don't waste your time and money on shows that require patience and intelligence on the part of viewers. And don't bother producing shows that, like a classic novel, take time to build storylines.
Unfortunately, today's TV audiences have acquired Attention Deficit Disorder, and as such are unable to enjoy such programming. And it appears mainstream American networks have developed a similar lack of focus, witness the conscious decision by ABC (allegedly before Defying Gravity even premiered) to end the series just prior to the key episode that explained everything.
Please confine your creative output to shows that resolve their plotlines within a standard 45-minute timeslot, with the occasional (but, please, rare) two-part episode. Also, do not attempt to introduce any sort of story arc because you will not be able to resolve the arc in anyway that will please the audience, provided of course that the network allows your series to last long enough to get to that point.
Today's mass audiences simply are not ready for this sort of storytelling. If you must produce such programming, please confine it to the BBC in England, or similar broadcasters that have viewership demographics that are accustomed to such productions, or seek appropriate funding to produce the series specifically for DVD/BluRay and Internet release.
Alex
Dear TV producers
Please don't waste your time and money on shows that require patience and intelligence on the part of viewers. And don't bother producing shows that, like a classic novel, take time to build storylines.
Unfortunately, today's TV audiences have acquired Attention Deficit Disorder, and as such are unable to enjoy such programming. And it appears mainstream American networks have developed a similar lack of focus, witness the conscious decision by ABC (allegedly before Defying Gravity even premiered) to end the series just prior to the key episode that explained everything.
Please confine your creative output to shows that resolve their plotlines within a standard 45-minute timeslot, with the occasional (but, please, rare) two-part episode. Also, do not attempt to introduce any sort of story arc because you will not be able to resolve the arc in anyway that will please the audience, provided of course that the network allows your series to last long enough to get to that point.
Today's mass audiences simply are not ready for this sort of storytelling. If you must produce such programming, please confine it to the BBC in England, or similar broadcasters that have viewership demographics that are accustomed to such productions, or seek appropriate funding to produce the series specifically for DVD/BluRay and Internet release.
Alex
Why do you insist on blaming the lack of success for this show on the audience? You ignore the success of other shows that roll out story lines more slowly, like Lost, for example. (Which gets how many times more audience?)
It couldn't POSSIBLY be Defying Gravity lacks engaging characters or that the writers simply don't know how to tell an engaging serial...it MUST be the audience.
I, for one, have no problem with a show taking its time to get into the arc and the big revelations. I'll never understand the complaints of some viewers that Dollhouse took too long to bring in the arc material; not only were we well into the arc by episode 6, but I thought it was valuable for the show to take a few weeks to establish the normal state of affairs before screwing around with it.
But I lost interest in Defying Gravity after three episodes -- less than that, I think. I'm pretty sure I stopped watching in the middle of the third episode; I just didn't care how it ended. Because arc is not the only thing that matters about a show, despite the fetishistic importance some seem to ascribe to it today. With or without an arc, a show needs good writing, engaging characters, and a world that's plausible enough or interesting enough for the viewer to be willing to invest in. A show that has those things should be able to hold onto viewers even without an arc. And a show that doesn't have those things won't hold them no matter how soon you bring in the arc. In this case, the writing was uninspired, the characters mostly dull or unlikeable, and the plausibility factor plummeted weekly.
But I lost interest in Defying Gravity after three episodes -- less than that, I think. I'm pretty sure I stopped watching in the middle of the third episode; I just didn't care how it ended. Because arc is not the only thing that matters about a show, despite the fetishistic importance some seem to ascribe to it today. With or without an arc, a show needs good writing, engaging characters, and a world that's plausible enough or interesting enough for the viewer to be willing to invest in. A show that has those things should be able to hold onto viewers even without an arc. And a show that doesn't have those things won't hold them no matter how soon you bring in the arc. In this case, the writing was uninspired, the characters mostly dull or unlikeable, and the plausibility factor plummeted weekly.
A
Archangel
Guest
What an ignorant post.
You are aware most of us watch LOST, right? I think we're used to not getting instant gratification. LOST however had many layers of mystery and interesting character, DF has really one mystery and a bunch of characters who would be more at home on Days of our Lives.
Dear producers,
You should have continued Virtuality instead.
You should have continued Virtuality instead.
So much happened in Virtuality, and some of it was fun, but you could smell some stink on the horizon.
Err, huh? Different producers, different networks, different countries of origin. No decision-makers in common.
Has it even aired somewhere already?
yep - Space in Canada are still showing it and the Saturday repeat is currently on.
"Deja Vu" doesn't air on Space until next Friday.
Thanks for posting this. If I read the article correctly, each episode will be available there after airing?
So Episode 9 was pretty good, except for Bible Girl. I mean seriously, her "Trumpet" speech was truly cringeworthy.
I hope to catch the rest of the series just to see what happens.
Or...
Dear Producers,
Please don't try and hold our attention with unlikeable characters in a show attempting to be all things to all people. And if you try, make sure the actors are more interesting and the single episodes are strong stories.
This show was almost unwatchable, it was an attempt to mash-up a "Lost" and "Desperate Housewives" and then wrap it in a genre package. Unfortunately we can barely keep well written genre shows on.
While "Lost" gives us interesting episodes as part of a huge story arc, this show was trying to arc without keeping our interest each week.
Not to get into a mash up with those who are not enjoying the show, if I were to write, I'd write the former letter. Not that I'm likely to write either. Both are kinda snide. I enjoy the show.
I think these actors are like people who might go into space on a 6 year voyage in a large tin can, and fulfill my expectations for the rational and low key personalities they are likely to be. I take it on faith that by 2052, the dynamics of crew interaction will be something understood at a level that a crew with a conniving, Machiavellian member will be avoided, and unnecessary to keep everyone on their toes.
Let's face it, for we who like the show must understand that those who don't like our cup of tea have a certain bearing on matters. If the mass, the numbers aren't enough there will not be commercial support to keep it on the air, and we'll have to wait for the DVDs. Better a year of Firefly, or John Doe, or Defying Gravity than crap like -- oh, never-mind!
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You've just put your finger on one reason why the show doesn't work for me. I agree that crew dynamics should be well worked out in the future, and I found the characters' interactions to be far too dysfunctional for it to be plausible that they'd ever be picked to crew together. I didn't find them very rational at all. Nor did I find them likeable or interesting.
Some people might try to convince you that you should find them interesting. I am not. I'd probably buy the DVDs anyway. It'll just be a bit of delayed gratification for me.
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