Dear TeeVee,

[smarriveurr]

Look, TeeVee, I know you fear change and enjoy pandering. I understand that, like me, you have these rituals that make you comfortable and you prefer to stick to a routine. But this will-they-won't-they relationship dynamic that creeps into so many shows? It doesn't really need to be part of every bloody program on primetime. Seriously. I know you

Comments

[smarriveurr]

The Castle finale is exactly what inspired this, specifically because it not only went from "flirty friends" to "Castle is afraid to pursue Beckett", but then they pulled the completely predictable Tweeeeeesttm in the finale. It's like someone was working from a subplot tension recipe book. I'd like to see more shows where characters can have fun and flirt and be friends and NOT make it some focal point.

I think I'm also just tired of TV tension relying on characters failing to communicate like rational human beings. When all of your tension could be cleared up by one character having the chutzpah to say "Hey, I like you." or "Look, I love you, but I don't think I'm ready to commit/have kids/get matching tattoos", it's not a satisfying tension.

I think that's the thing. Some stories can make the same basic dynamic work in a satisfying way, but the issues between the couple have to be greater than "one or both parties refuse to admit they're in love to the other." And, no, "One character is dating Random Character We Just Invented" is not a significant issue. You have to be wondering how they'll overcome an obstacle, not screaming for them to get over it and talk like grown-ups already.

[firynze]

And then they come BACK in the season opener and do the "dating other people only not anymore aaaaaawkward" dance and ARRRRRRRGH.

[smarriveurr]

*nod* Almost always painful. Writers need to learn that a status quo isn't a bad thing in episodic media - but you have to accept that it's status quo, not pretend that there's progress toward changing it. It can either serve as an ongoing part of the story engine, or it can be a long-running subplot, not both. The two are antithetical.