When fandom adopts a headcanon...

[nialla42]

Saw this over at Tumblr, and thought it merited some discussion, which is nigh impossible over there.

when fandom adopts a headcanon and it spreads and gains traction and you just do not agree with it but it’s everywhere and you just

Comments

[spikedluv]

I keep seeing meta that all this stuff in Teen Wolf will make glorious sense when it's all done. We're just not used to seeing such a layered story with subtle hints that will eventually pay off. We're just too impatient. Nope.

I've read the same, and it makes me want to scream. First, because we're not idiots just because we see plot holes, and secondly, because Jeff Davis really is not that brilliant. I mean, he admits that he can't even keep his own canon straight. How the heck do they really expect that he's got it all planned out? He has ~nothing planned out. He flies by the seat of his pants. Take Malia, for example. People are like, be patient and we'll get her story, but Jeff Davis has said in an interview that they filmed her scenes in the finale last because they didn't know if they were going to get the actress for season 4, which means that NONE OF THE QUESTIONS SURROUNDING MALIA WOULD HAVE GOTTEN ANSWERED. Brilliant my big fat butt.

(I also want to scream when I read comments that 3a/3b were the best seasons of Teen Wolf. What?!!!)

[nialla42]

I've also seen a lot of comments about how he created Criminal Minds, so he knows what he's doing building complex stories and characters. My understanding is he wrote the script that eventually became the show, and served as co-executive producer during the first season of the show. It's not like he wrote every script, was the showrunner, etc. He gets a "created by" credit in later seasons, and that appears to be his only connection (and I'm sure he still gets a cut of the profits because of his original script).

He may have some "high points" plotted out, but that's the best he can manage since apparently there's not enough budget to keep actors on a contract, so he can't plot too far in advance.

[spikedluv]

Yessss! We must read the same meta, because they fall back on his Criminal Minds background All The Time! I didn't know that his connection with the show was that tenuous, but all the same I wasn't finding the argument conclusive because what he's done with Teen Wolf is so very All Over The Place.

I think one of his problems is insisting on sticking to his 'high points' even when things like having to write Jackson out happen because he doesn't do well under pressure at coming up with a new way of approaching that high point.

[nialla42]

I've almost pointed out the tenuous connection, but I don't think they'd care. There have been a lot of writers and actors who've done some amazing work that makes me take notice, then their next project is just awful. Even if he hand-crafted every episode of Criminal Minds, that doesn't mean that Teen Wolf is going to be good.

Besides, it's apples and oranges anyway, and not just because of the crime show versus supernatural angle. CM is a broadcast network show with a much bigger potential audience and more money in their budget. MTV is rather small potatoes in the drama department and has a smaller reach and budget. They do have the coveted demographic in their favor, but younger folks are drifting away from cable/satellite at a faster pace.