The Vegemite Effect

[deird1]

There is a reason why sequels flop, McDonalds succeeds, blurbs are important, and Dawn Summers was hated by many fans when she first appeared.
That reason is known as The Vegemite Effect, and I am here to explain it to you.

Of course, to explain The Vegemite Effect, I must begin by explaining Vegemite.
Vegemite, according to Wikipedia, is a dark brown

Comments

[timeofchange]

That's just brilliant. Love it.

[deird1]

Thanks!

[snowpuppies]

Fantastic.

Let us all give Vegemite a second go. And if it sucks, well, it sucks, but hey, we might just be surprised.

I've gotta say, it's really helped me with characters like Kennedy and Riley - on second go, as long as I'm not wearing my "Kennedy sucks" or "Riley's a weenie" blinkers, I learn something new about the characters. And you know what else? I found things to like about them.

The problem we get into today is that there is so *much* media, so many characters, so many forms and outlets of entertainment, that we don't *have* to give something a second chance if it's not as expected.

We just change the channel.

:(

[deird1]

I've gotta say, it's really helped me with characters like Kennedy and Riley - on second go, as long as I'm not wearing my "Kennedy sucks" or "Riley's a weenie" blinkers, I learn something new about the characters. And you know what else? I found things to like about them.
Same with me. I HATED Angel season 4 the first time I watched it - it kept changing the group dynamic, and Connor was whiney, and Jasmine was boring, and... yeah. I thought it sucked, basically.
But after rewatching it a couple of times, I've started really liking it. It gives a lot of new insight into the characters, and it has some really fun bits, too.

We just change the channel.
Exactly.
It's great having SO MUCH STUFF we can try watching, but it does mean you end up with a very low tolerance for stuff that doesn't grab you right away.
Like Babylon 5, for instance. I've been assured that it's really entertaining and well-written, but I tried one episode, was unimpressed, and moved on...
It's sad, in a way.

[filmtx]

God, this is so true. Thanks for this post.

BTW, I've had vegemite and I liked it. But I'm a salt lover, so...

[deird1]

Vegemite is pretty awesome. Especially if you're a salt lover.

I'm glad you liked this post!

[ikona_rakasha]

that is so true. it's like when i read this new book by jaquline carey, i was crushed and hated it. why because it was totally different from the lush historical fantasy she had been writing before.

lets see if a few years in japan sorts me out lol

[deird1]

Exactly.
That's why when Agatha Christie started writing romance novels, she used a pseudonym. Because she didn't want her readers to pick up the new books thinking they'd be murder mysteries...

[washa_way]

There's a lot to this idea.

Of course, it's entirely possible for something spread on toast to be not merely unfamiliar, but just plain gross.

Like, say, whipped lard in aspic.

Which is roughly how I'd characterize Riley.

[deird1]

Hee! Good point!

[moscow_watcher]

It's interesting that Joss has deliberately chosen these parameters. Christian Kane also auditioned for Riley, and Joss has immediately realised his potential and sent him to AtS. But he didn't want him to play Riley.

Just imagine Riley with Lindsey Macdonald's wicked charm! :) (My friend who is a BAer said once that it would have been intolerable torture for her.)

[deird1]

Whoa. Christian Kane as Riley.
I mean... I knew he'd auditioned, but I'd never really thought about it...
That would have been terrifyingly awesome.

[carmarthen]

Fabulous metaphor. Today I ate a cherry that I expected to be a grape (I love both, but I love cherries more), and it took me several seconds to figure out what the hell was in my mouth. Very disorienting.

One of these days I need to try Vegemite.

Anyway, I think you make a very good point (although, oddly, I instantly LOVED S5 of Angel--but I think that was because I watched the show for the crack, and that was the most cracktastic).

[deird1]

One of these days I need to try Vegemite.
When you do, make sure you spread in on THINLY. This is not peanut butter. Spread it about as thinly as you can. (And by the way, it's kinda salty...)

I instantly LOVED S5 of Angel
So did I! Of course, the reason I started watching Angel in the first place was because I wanted to see Spike and Angel trying to work together in season 5. I think I was pretty much going to love it no matter what.

Glad you found this interesting to read!