Stories never end
When a story ends, it doesn't really end end. The writer may put a period at the end and say in the author's endnote: "That's it. This is how it ends and now, don't ask me for anymore." In the writer's mind, as well as the reader's mind, there are infinite possibilities still churning and spinning around the axis. The writers stop writing their story because maybe, they are exhausted of the same old characters and same old setting, they want a new change of pace. They are probably a little less unenthusiastic about their own work after a while than say the 5,000+ readers who did read it and want to see more more and just a bit more.
It's a classic symptom all readers are struck with. Some chose to ignore the burning passion in their heart and step forward to another book, show or film. Others are so crazy about the story, they just want to see their hero or heroine in all kinds of situations. Take Harry Potter, for example: For me, Harry, this ordinary, unappreciated boy who turned out to be a wizard and the Chosen One in one full day and then, went on to defeat the Dark Lord (with the help of his awesome friends), becoming the most well-liked boy in the Wizarding world had endless possibilities ahead of him. I would like to know how one day, he got so drunk, he didn't remember what happened yesterday but he, for the first time maybe, had a one night stand. Maybe, I'd like to know about how Hermione's faring now that she's all grown up and can act on the compassionate causes she's cared so much about. And Malfoy, most of all. Because in the book and the film, he was an annoying pain in the neck but by the last book, you kinda realized he's not as dickish as you thought. So, I wanted to see how he would transition (or if he would go through a transition at all) from this prideful boy to the Malfoy we saw 19 years later in the technical end of the story.
There's so much the mainstream writers can't write. In comics of nowadays, you see how they err to the side of caution and go with same-old, same-old. Like the time continuum mishaps, the imminent world-rescuing priorities, the betrayals (oh the betrayals). In the aftermath of all the chaos and battles (that don't actually conclude anything before some other dramatic thing happens) is all good and exciting but what about those domestic, little things we all enjoy. Like, what do the heroes do on their time-out? And oh, the possibilities of just thinking about it gives me the jitters. I'm excited to imagine those scenarios in my mind but it's not the same thing as writing it out and having a good idea become into this big thing that the whole community can enjoy. It's satisfying and yet, frustrating because you just want more.
I recently watched the Indigo League of Pokemon and it wasn't as enlightning because when I was a child, Butterfree leaving Ash had been so sad that I cried like a baby and this time, I kinda wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of team rocket, the sequential way each episode ended with a resolution (in most cases), and the narrator trying to make us learn a lesson that seemed like a given. I liked the movies much better, in the end. Emotional, fast, conflicts-after-conflicts that culminate into a big bang and then, a nice, sweet resolution. But that didn't mean I didn't enjoy watching the episodes. Some were really fun. Some were meh. Through all of this, I had been informed that even after 17 seasons, competing in at least 4 leagues (Indigo, Orange, Johto, Sinnoh), Ash is still 10 years old. I was shocked. I was like, "So, this is a money-maker show that kids love to watch so, making Ash grow up is not in the interest of the consumer business, right?"
We want progression in our story. We want to see our heroes take steps toward being better, learning hard lessons and then, finally becoming a man or woman of stature. But some people may want to see their heroes as unchangable and unfallable and I guess, Ash is that kind-of hero. So, I'll leave the show to be watched by kids who aspire to be pokemon masters in their own imagination instead of being frustrated that they probably won't get to see a Ash/Misty reunion. When those two oblivious idiots are both grown-up and willing to set aside their foolmongery to admit that they kinda always had a thing for each other, I would be a happy chipmunk. Since that show isn't changing so far, I had to find solace in the imagination of the fans around me.
Yes, fans have skewed perceptions of their heroes and heroines and in making their twist possible, they make some characters look bad and some look good. It's all part of the process. It's their interpretation on page. It's okay. I know fans feel bad for making their character Out Of Character but that's what writing a story is about. When you write, you may have no intention of making a character say the things that they do when all the writing mania is done, but that's what the story leads to. You can't help it. Every person has their own brand of writing style, taste, interest, and knowledge. They can't all be encyclopedia geeks who know all the big words and all the ways to use language in a good way. It's hard. And knowing a character you read about or watched on tv doesn't make you able to guess their every thought (unless you're reading from the first-person narrative) to every unbelievable situation that fate decides to slam you over with. And it's not like we wanted heroes just the way they were written. Sometimes, I'd watch ten seasons worth of one character and realize the blandness of their every action. They had a pattern and by six seasons, it fell flat and there was no resonance to their feelings on my end. At one point, you go: "Hey, do something new, you idiot!"
The greatest thing is, you don't have to feel guilty about making them act like how you want them to act because they're fictional characters and they're used to being pulled along by the strings of the puppetmaster. No writer, not one of them is God or the Ultimate Truth. You can make Naruto act like a totally girly priss (and that is the most nauseating interpretation of Naruto, in my opinion) and it wouldn't be wrong. It would just feel really, really wrong.
It's a classic symptom all readers are struck with. Some chose to ignore the burning passion in their heart and step forward to another book, show or film. Others are so crazy about the story, they just want to see their hero or heroine in all kinds of situations. Take Harry Potter, for example: For me, Harry, this ordinary, unappreciated boy who turned out to be a wizard and the Chosen One in one full day and then, went on to defeat the Dark Lord (with the help of his awesome friends), becoming the most well-liked boy in the Wizarding world had endless possibilities ahead of him. I would like to know how one day, he got so drunk, he didn't remember what happened yesterday but he, for the first time maybe, had a one night stand. Maybe, I'd like to know about how Hermione's faring now that she's all grown up and can act on the compassionate causes she's cared so much about. And Malfoy, most of all. Because in the book and the film, he was an annoying pain in the neck but by the last book, you kinda realized he's not as dickish as you thought. So, I wanted to see how he would transition (or if he would go through a transition at all) from this prideful boy to the Malfoy we saw 19 years later in the technical end of the story.
There's so much the mainstream writers can't write. In comics of nowadays, you see how they err to the side of caution and go with same-old, same-old. Like the time continuum mishaps, the imminent world-rescuing priorities, the betrayals (oh the betrayals). In the aftermath of all the chaos and battles (that don't actually conclude anything before some other dramatic thing happens) is all good and exciting but what about those domestic, little things we all enjoy. Like, what do the heroes do on their time-out? And oh, the possibilities of just thinking about it gives me the jitters. I'm excited to imagine those scenarios in my mind but it's not the same thing as writing it out and having a good idea become into this big thing that the whole community can enjoy. It's satisfying and yet, frustrating because you just want more.
I recently watched the Indigo League of Pokemon and it wasn't as enlightning because when I was a child, Butterfree leaving Ash had been so sad that I cried like a baby and this time, I kinda wanted to laugh at the ridiculousness of team rocket, the sequential way each episode ended with a resolution (in most cases), and the narrator trying to make us learn a lesson that seemed like a given. I liked the movies much better, in the end. Emotional, fast, conflicts-after-conflicts that culminate into a big bang and then, a nice, sweet resolution. But that didn't mean I didn't enjoy watching the episodes. Some were really fun. Some were meh. Through all of this, I had been informed that even after 17 seasons, competing in at least 4 leagues (Indigo, Orange, Johto, Sinnoh), Ash is still 10 years old. I was shocked. I was like, "So, this is a money-maker show that kids love to watch so, making Ash grow up is not in the interest of the consumer business, right?"
We want progression in our story. We want to see our heroes take steps toward being better, learning hard lessons and then, finally becoming a man or woman of stature. But some people may want to see their heroes as unchangable and unfallable and I guess, Ash is that kind-of hero. So, I'll leave the show to be watched by kids who aspire to be pokemon masters in their own imagination instead of being frustrated that they probably won't get to see a Ash/Misty reunion. When those two oblivious idiots are both grown-up and willing to set aside their foolmongery to admit that they kinda always had a thing for each other, I would be a happy chipmunk. Since that show isn't changing so far, I had to find solace in the imagination of the fans around me.
Yes, fans have skewed perceptions of their heroes and heroines and in making their twist possible, they make some characters look bad and some look good. It's all part of the process. It's their interpretation on page. It's okay. I know fans feel bad for making their character Out Of Character but that's what writing a story is about. When you write, you may have no intention of making a character say the things that they do when all the writing mania is done, but that's what the story leads to. You can't help it. Every person has their own brand of writing style, taste, interest, and knowledge. They can't all be encyclopedia geeks who know all the big words and all the ways to use language in a good way. It's hard. And knowing a character you read about or watched on tv doesn't make you able to guess their every thought (unless you're reading from the first-person narrative) to every unbelievable situation that fate decides to slam you over with. And it's not like we wanted heroes just the way they were written. Sometimes, I'd watch ten seasons worth of one character and realize the blandness of their every action. They had a pattern and by six seasons, it fell flat and there was no resonance to their feelings on my end. At one point, you go: "Hey, do something new, you idiot!"
The greatest thing is, you don't have to feel guilty about making them act like how you want them to act because they're fictional characters and they're used to being pulled along by the strings of the puppetmaster. No writer, not one of them is God or the Ultimate Truth. You can make Naruto act like a totally girly priss (and that is the most nauseating interpretation of Naruto, in my opinion) and it wouldn't be wrong. It would just feel really, really wrong.