| Subject: Re: Pessimistic Reviews |
Author:
Adrian
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Date Posted: 14:55:48 09/07/03 Sun
In reply to:
Pasha
's message, "Re: So how was the first JAC?" on 08:49:19 09/07/03 Sun
>This semester I will probably not have to post my
>"Pessimistic Reviews", since there doesn't seem to be
>too much to be pessimistic over ^^.
Oh, there always will be. When a series runs 13-26 episodes, there are always some episodes that are worse than others.
Moreover, the first several episodes of a series are often the best. The production team is excited and on top of its game.
As time passes, animators and writers become weary and uninspired. Most series have narrow premises that limit the amount of plot twists. Plots become repetitive.
"You already did the evil monologue deal with Dilandu. Now it's the same deal with Folken."
"Oh, yet another Angel to fight. Yay."
"Oh, Hikaru is battling him again, for the seventh time. The only things that have changed are the name of the tournament and the minor side characters."
Actually, the animation usually sustains much longer than the writing. One of the last-resort plot ideas is to change the setting (e.g. move the whole cast of Nadia to a tropical island ala Gilligan's Island) and let the animators go crazy with set designs.
My diagnosis: A series attracts and retains loyal fans with its premise and characters. It then resists the urge to allow either to mature or change in major ways. Some fans are disappointed when their favorite character switches from altruistic to evil or vice versa.
Excel Saga even joked about the need to periodically introduce new characters within the narrow premise of Excel's misadventures fighting parodied villains for Ilpalazzo's schemes.
My prescription: Allow the characters to mature slowly, even if they seem to change "identities."
Nadia provides one good example of this. In reaction to events, Samson, Hanson, and Grandis cease their profit schemes and join Nadia in the larger struggle against Gargoyle. Of course, the other characters fail to mature (except maybe Electra) and they introduce a new girl character that serves no plot purpose whatsoever ... so Nadia is not a sterling example, in sum.
Besides character maturation, the premise also needs to mature and broaden.
For example, Hikaru's parents should be more involved in that series. They seem to give Hikaru carte blanche to quit school and attend any other school at a moment's whim. Hikaru should enter a period of doubt about whether to devote his adolescence to a game. Hikaru should quit Go for a while and pursue academics. He could foster another hobby such as science fairs. He could collaborate with Sai to build exhibits such as chemical volcanoes or studies of animals. In this way, Hikaru could transition into college studying physical science. He could return to Go on vacations.
Of course, this isn't practical because the series has become more about Go than about Hikaru. Go is one of the main reasons that fans are loyal. Nonetheless, the premise of Go is too narrow, and the smart strategy is to transition to a similar but distinctive hobby as Hikaru matures.
In conclusion, when JAC reaches Episode 11, you will find no shortage of material for pessimism. :)
For many reasons, most TV series (either animated or live) eventually run their course. The premise and characters exhaust their supply of new angles. Then producers either create a spin-off or switch to another project (premise) entirely.
It is natural. Audiences mature as well. As series progress, audiences become more sophisticated in their understanding and criticism of the series.
It is the nature of entertainment that the same premise and characters can only entertain you for so long. Once you have grown too accustomed to them, they lose their novelty.
This may also be the case in marriages. Once you have been married to someone 20 years, you pretty much know what they're about. You exhaust your supply of major topics to discuss, except for daily events and news. In some ways, it's comforting to know someone that thoroughly, but it's also less entertaining. However, this post was not intended to be a social commentary, so I'll end it. :)
Entertainment is entertainment. I like it. Audiences and series mature together. Life is good.
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