(no subject)
Sera 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:
“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.
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.