Why does the timing make a difference? Because of the other rules. You cannot have a reveal with something that hasn’t already been introduced in the episode. The doorman can’t have killed the young starlet if he hasn’t already had some speaking lines. The audience is given the chance to figure it out. And since we write for a living, that means we balance all the other demands of story in our heads, pacing, motivation, the twist, etc.
One would think that being able to figure out a television show so early in the program would defeat the fun. And if a show is done poorly, it absolutely does. But, I am not a book snob. I like television and movies and theatre. I like visual storytelling as much as (more than?) written storytelling. I don’t just have a creative writing degree. I have a playwriting degree as well.
The reason this comes to mind at the moment is because I just finished watching the season 3 opener for “Castle.” Like so many of its audience, I came to the show for Nathan Fillion being nothing short of a “Firefly” fanatic. The chemistry between all the leads is what brings me back, the witty yet warm voice the show has crafted for itself. The first fifteen seconds of the season opener made me shout GOO! when it cut to black. Of course, I already knew the twist and knowing the twist made me know the whodunnit when introduced. But who cares? When a show can make you shout GOO! it’s worth watching, even if you already know what’s going to happen.
I keep a list of recommendations on my website that includes TV shows I watch (or did watch when they were on, *sniff* I miss you Firefly *sniff*…okay, I didn’t see that until it was on DVD, which is good because I got to watch it in order). I’ve been debating updating that list to make it more current.
Last season’s offering of NCIS was dismal, the worst of the series run, and I don’t know if I can bring myself to go back. I’ll give it a shot with the season opener, but I’m not holding my breath (forgive me, Gibbs).
Chuck is luring me back with season 4 even though I skipped season 3.
With Numb3rs gone (it never recovered from constantly losing the female lead other than Navi Rawat [helllooooo nurse!]) and most of the other network fare looking lame or contrived (despite the various geek-themed shows which I suspect will come off condescending, though I admit to not having watched any of them).
I have increased my cable viewing now that they’re streaming or releasing on DVD. Stargate: Universe has hooked me hard where I was never interested in the previous two series.
Psych continues to please, though I wonder if it peaked in season 3.
Eureka is a pleasant new discovery, but I’ve burned through the first three seasons and now have to wait. *pout*
I had been watching Leverage, but they used the “jealous triangle” early in season 3 and I hate that plot line.
So, this is a healthy list, more TV than I’ve watched since I first returned to the small screen (I had given it up for four years but the ad for Numb3rs and the discovery of NCIS season 2 pulled me back in). My wife and I usually watch an episode to destress at the end of the day. Neither of us want television to consume our evenings from activities we find more rewarding.
But for all that, and for knowing the stories usually as soon as they start, these shows have established a voice or present their characters in such a way that I want to keep coming back regardless.
How about you? When you’re not reading or writing, what kind of stories do you fill your time with?
(Anyone that mentions reality TV gets slapped. We’re talking storycraft here, people!)
(As a note, I’ve decided to separate reality TV like any show with the name Jersey in it from the post-modern gameshow. I really enjoy the skill that goes into competitions like “So You Think You Can Dance.” If the hosts and the judges weren’t so obnoxious, I might watch.)
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