Intellect and romance over brute force and cynicism

[evewithanapple]

First off, let's set the stage:

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[penny_lane_42]

stories founded on misunderstandings/missed opportunities. Like, if the conflict stems from constantly finding contrived ways for the characters to not understand each other or miss each other by a few minutes- thus frustrating the audience along with the characters- I am just not interested at all.

Why do I not hear more people complain about this? SO ANNOYING. And it's one of the reasons that modern romcoms suck so much, because it seems like this is the basis of so many of them.

These things are always fun! And yours has the best opening ever!

[evewithanapple]

Haha, isn't it? The more I watch it, the more I realize that it's basically my motto when it comes to fiction. (And why I've felt let down by this season. LE SIGH.)

I think the most egregorious example of "misunderstanding conflict" is How To Lose A Guy In Ten Days, which is about two absolutely vile people tricking each other into a relationship and somehow ending up together, which is actually a good thing when you consider that it prevents them from infecting anyone else. But it's all over the place. The entire fourth season of Angel could have been prevented if Angel had just said to Connor beforehand "by the way, I'm going to have a talk with Holtz, don't worry I won't hurt him." And also the ascension hadn't happened RIGHT THEN. Which is a "missed connection" device that I also hate.

[rikibeth]

Why do I not hear more people complain about this? SO ANNOYING. And it's one of the reasons that modern romcoms suck so much, because it seems like this is the basis of so many of them.

That's because the societal/structural reasons why a couple Can't Get Together have largely faded out compared to the past, so what's LEFT? Problems that could be solved if the characters just TALKED to each other. It's a lot harder to be star-crossed now.

[notexotic]

This is a great post! I am on board with practically all of the Do Want list.

[arkan2]

I am with you on so many of these. Not so much the kinks (nothing wrong with them, just not particularly my thing) except for pregnancy/parenthood. The early Star Wars Expanded Universe explored that fairly well (the more recent stuff not so much). I feel like I ought to know of something else which did that, but I'm drawing a blank so far, so maybe not.

Basically, I'll gobble up anything which produces warm and fuzzy feelings without tilting too far into Unfortunate Implications.

Also with you on history and social justice.

As for the Do Not Wants ... as far as I'm concerned, the no rape/abuse/racism/sexism etc. goes without saying

stories founded on misunderstandings/missed opportunities. Like, if the conflict stems from constantly finding contrived ways for the characters to not understand each other or miss each other by a few minutes- thus frustrating the audience along with the characters- I am just not interested at all.

Gods how I despise that.

angst for angst's sake, or "art." I despise the idea that a story can only be

[evewithanapple]

Yeah- I don't object to sadness on principle, but when it's used as a stand-in for actual depth, that's when I get cranky. It's why I can't get into a lot of horror, actually, though it should theoretically be right up my alley- downer endings are used so often, I give up on trying, because I know any characters I get attached to will be dead by the end.

[zombie_boogie]

history with the emphasis on the little guy
social justice in history
identity narratives

Do you watch Downton Abbey out of curiosity?

Pregnancy/parenthood

I'm hoping Up All Night is good. Parenthood (especially motherhood narratives) can be so problematic and ish but I love them when they're done well and the people remain people and not just parents.

Ugh, I love all of your favourite things! Especially happy couples because HAPPY COUPLES ARE NOT BORING, FANDOM, OK?

Love triangles = least favourite romantic trope of ALL TIME (other than icky abusive stuff, obviously).

[evewithanapple]

I do, in fact, watch Downton Abbey! I'm not as into it as most people- idk, I think the cloistered atmosphere of the house doesn't do it for me? There's so much going on outside, and they touch on that, but the main focus is the decay of the family, and it doesn't prick my interest all that much.

I will look Up All Night! Is it playing at TIFF?

[zombie_boogie]

Maybe season 2 will be more up your alley since they will be at war and the setting will expand to include (presumably) the battlefield. I just marathoned the show a couple of days ago and I loved it (I happen to love decadent decaying dynasties), but I could see that if the aristocracy isn't your bag you might not like it as much. I do think they do a good job at balancing the focus on upstairs vs. downstairs, but I wish fandom would talk more about the servants because I LOVE THEM.

Oh Up All Night is a show, not a film! Starring Christina Applegate and Will Arnett. I just like the premise because a) Will is a house husband and Christina goes back to work and they both seem happy with the arrangement and b) I just like those two actors and I enjoyed the tone of the preview clip I saw.

[rikibeth]

Pregnancy/parenthood I don't like babyfic that goes wildly OOC, but I do like actual explorations of happy families, what carrying a child feels like, how it affects the parents/couple emotionally. See: um . . . if you find a good one, can you let me know?

This is an old post, so you've already seen followingyourbliss' Garrow's Law fic, right? BABYFIC, UR DOIN IT RIGHT. (Disclaimer: I provided research help, though more with the cooking than the actual babythings, because based on my actual maternal experience she had a good handle on that already.)

How about a love triangle that resolves into an OT3? (she says, hoping you'd think well of her novel.)