How to create a good sci tv show

[tari_roo]

Dear Writers of Sci Fi Shows,

You make me sad. Why .... why do good shows get cancelled! Why?

So as a long time fan of science fiction and fantasy, I have both watched and read a great deal of genre specific media. In particular, I have seen a lot of short lived sci fi shows and ones that went on for years and years, good and bad. I have gleaned a

Comments

[auntmo9]

Hear, hear!

Also, with #6, a dose of realism is never bad. Bad Example: Transformers 2. Special effects and utter rubbish drivel for a plot. You need characters with more drama than just worrying about a hot girlfriend. It is highly unrealistic that said hot girlfriend's lip gloss would remain so perfect during their entire "adventure" given the fact that I can't make mine last more than 60 minutes ;)

[tari_roo]

60 mins? That's impressive. I don't think I last 30 before I've smudged it, licked it and otherwise wiped it off in frustration :)

There's a lot to be said for realism... esp with morning hair, dirt and make up :)

[claudiapriscus]

LJ ate my comment

[tari_roo]

:( Stupid LJ

Ahhh... I agree with you on being flexible enough to utlise actors strengths and new ideas and would agree that 'limiting' an overall arc to what was planned 5 years ago, is short sighted, BUT I think overall plots and ideas should be planned. Its not an easy thing, I agree, but a good sci fi should have an end goal in mind, milestones to reach it and make allowances for excellent actors and innovative ideas. :)

On the translator thing, we can agree to disagree. I personally don't think a universal translator is the best option, and that something more akin to a crash course in a common basic or mind dump of common basic is better.

Third... I concur. As fun as River was to watch her beating up Reavers, and how scary 6 was beating up soldiers, I agree, give us better or more realistic female warriors. Hell, give us a world where there is no gender, and men and women's roles are so interchangeable your preconceptions around those roles are automatically challenged :)

[claudiapriscus]

I'm not sure we're actually disagreeing about the universal translator. I'm not necessarily in favor of them; I'm just saying, even if the throw all the technobabble in the world at them, they're still simple matters of narrative convenience.

I guess on the planning thing/not planning thing where you fall depends on where you feel burned. I'm far more tired of stories that are determined to hit point A, B, and C and ending in point D come hell or high water, regardless of whether that makes sense for the characters by the time they get there.

On the other hand, shows that are continuously distracted by the shiny and never finish anything and are just making shit up as they go along in the hope that no one will notice are also kind of annoying.

And...now that I think of it, somehow Supernatural managed to do both. They're not mutually exclusive flaws.

[tari_roo]

tis true. And its easy sitting back in retrospect and commenting on character and plot development.

Supernatural has def done both and while shows like lost who had an end game in mind but still lost me because it was too drawn out. And BSG who seemed to make it up as they went along. You are right its a fine balance.