caitiedidit: Wildfire

Caitie (

caitiedidit) wrote,
@ 2008-02-26 17:17:00

Current mood:	like I have a headache
Current music:	Bill Maher
Entry tags:	movies, wildfire

Wildfire
Wildfire broke some cardinal rules of TV According To Caitlin last night.

Wildfire is surprisingly not one of the worst television shows I watch. Over the past four seasons, it has been pretty good with characterization and emotional continuity, which are two of the absolutely most important things to me when it comes to storytelling.

Unfortunately, that's kind of gone out the window in Season 5. Jean and Pablo's unforgiving attitude towards Kris is completely bizarre. The end of Season 4 was all about Kris/Matt, but Kris came back to Raintree completely over Matt and jonesing for Junior. Dani lost everything she'd spent years working for because of Junior's poor decisions, but her relationship with Junior is completely fine, even though everything she wanted fell into his lap. So this season has not been working for me on several levels.

Last night took it to a whole new level of bogusness. Laura was COMPLETELY SACRIFICED on the altar of Kris and Junior's True Love. And I'm not even talking about how she turned into Bridezilla. (But that was bad, too!) The idea that Kris is more supportive of Junior than Laura is demonstrably false. Junior's line about how Laura should care about the things that are important to him, about Laura not being able to see how serious he is about his wind power project, about Kris getting him when Laura doesn't... SO BOGUS. Laura encouraged Junior not to give up on the wind turbine. When his dad was worried that it was a scam, Laura scoped out the project and deemed it worthy. She was excited about it because Junior was excited about it, and he had her complete support! Until it became easier for the writers to pretend that, ACTUALLY, it's Kris who supports Junior, and they are in love.

But that is also demonstrably false! Kris has watched Junior hop from venture to venture with a mixture of amusement and skepticism. Which is FINE, because that's totally how I react to Junior, too. I really liked the scene where Junior's dad tells him that he's a "restless soul," because it's so true. I just wish the show had made the connection between Junior's serial venture hopping and his love life. It's not just about windmills and rodeos and nightclubs! Yesterday he was sure that Laura was the one, and now he's positive that it's Kris. Committing to Laura would have been character development. It would have been interesting. It could still be interesting if Junior works out his issues and realizes that being with Kris isn't going to make everything right. But I don't think that's going to happen. This is the last season, and Kris/Junior is the fan favorite. And I get that. It is just unfortunate when putting the fan favorite pairing together makes the rest of the show less than it could be. It seems like that is often the case, and I'm not sure WHY that is.

Anyway. I am just very dissatisfied with most everything that's going on right now. EXCEPT JEAN/PABLO. They are not getting nearly enough screentime, and there should have been more of a lead-up (the foundations have been there since the first season, but all they've done together this season is bitch about Kris), but I have wanted this story line to happen FOR SO LONG. I have always wondered if Pablo was hot for Jean; it's been there since Season 1, but the show and the actor have been pretty subtle about it. And hell, I still don't even know for sure if anything is happening. "Is there a place at Raintree for me?" What does that even mean? Is there a place at Raintree for me so we can bring horse racing back to the farm? Or is there a place at Raintree for me IN YOUR BED? I don't know! I hope it is both!

And Kris really needs to be welcomed home for good ASAP, because the OTP of the show has always been Kris/Raintree for me, and I think the show has seriously taken its eye off the ball. I am not even sure where all of the time is going this season! Dani's clinic, maybe?

On a more cheerful fannish front... whoo! They are going to make a fourth Bourne movie! I was excited when I heard the news, but I am also a little nervous. As much as I'd like to see more, the third movie ended so perfectly! This is one of the catch twenty-twos of being a fan!

P.S. There seems to be a lot of sickness going around the f'list. I hope everyone feels better soon!

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keenai
2008-02-27 01:04 am UTC (link)

It is just unfortunate when putting the fan favorite pairing together makes the rest of the show less than it could be. It seems like that is often the case, and I'm not sure WHY that is.

Because!

Wait, is that not a good enough reason?

It's because when the writers write TO the pairing no matter what, there isn't any organic storytelling. I think it says a lot when you can watch a show when you hate or don't support the main pairing because even if you don't like the pairing it can make sense. Like, okay, I was all about Noel and would have preferred that Felicity chose Noel. HOWEVER, it made perfect sense for the character to choose Ben. And everything else going on around them developed in its own way blah blah blah blah.

I don't even know how to explain it. Ben wasn't ever that great for me, but I think the writing of the pairing was more "how can we continue to show that these two love each other" and less "must keep/get them together at all costs." And I think that makes a huge difference in the way a couple is approached in the writing. It goes back to emotional honesty, which is basically what you said up there.

That may have been a bad example. I'm almost sorry I quit watching Wildfire because I can't even talk about how/why the show is failing at this! Hee.

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caitiedidit
2008-02-28 12:07 am UTC (link)

That is a good point! And I actually do understand why writers end up writing TO the pairing so often. But I just don't get why they do it so badly so much of the time. On Wildfire for instance, they gave Junior a new girlfriend who seemed really cool and then all of the sudden made her suck hardcore in order to prove that Kris was awesome/awesome for Junior by comparison. Surely they could have come up with a better, organic way to get these two characters back together? One that didn't involve the wholesale selling-out of another character?

And if they can't, then I kind of think that says something about whether or not the characters should actually be together. /snittiness

But, actually, Felicity is a good example. Because I totally and completely shipped Noel and Felicity and was always rooting for them back as the show was airing. And even though I was slightly disappointed about Ben/Felicity, it did make sense, like you were saying, and I always kept watching and still liked the show. I will say that when I rewatched the show in syndication, I got swept up in Ben and Ben/Felicity, so that was interesting.

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keenai
2008-02-28 01:11 am UTC (link)

Maybe it's done so poorly because they don't really want to go there but because they need to pander they do? Like when they don't REALLY want to break a couple up but think they have to so the reasons are always so insane and dumb and caused by Outside Issues like some bogus triangle type instead of a real conflict.

FOR EXAMPLE. Okay, I know you don't watch Grey's anymore, but I think the last Meredith/Derek break up makes sense because it's all about their trust issues and how they want different things (Meredith won't commit; that's all Derek wants). What's scary is that I can see both sides and I FEEL FOR THEM. It makes me feel dirty just typing that.

Or! On What I Like About You, after they got Holly and Vince together, they were going strong for a good long while and then they broke up because Holly was all, "That chick is hitting on you" and Vince was all, "Uh uh" and Holly was all "yes huh" and then blah blah blah Holly KNEW she was trying to get Vince but Vince wouldn't believe it, and it wasn't about the girl but that Vince DIDN'T BELIEVE HOLLY. So they broke up and then he was all, "Let's get back together; she did hit on me, you were right!" and Holly was like, "UM I TOLD YOU THAT, omg you still don't trust me" and it made sense. Especially since she knew Vince was a raging skank whore before, see?

So those are two examples of non-pandering. Examples of pandering are S2 of VM and then there was the horrible nonsensical break up of Luke and Lorelai on GG. Like, it could've worked on its own terms without bringing in the Daughter He Never Knew since both of them had been alone so long and obviously had some issues to work out with regard to that and Lorelai always runs to Chris and/or lies about her involvement with him? But no. Let's orchestrate it around some idiot plot device instead that destroys the characters. And don't even get me started on them writing to get Rory to be editor. HORRIBLE. Dawson's Creek S4, 5, and 6 (minus the one great Kmart ep and the finale) (wait, and minus most of S4 since they did actually let Joey and Pacey stay together for a really big part of it). All pandering because Joey acted SO out of character, UGH. Not that I'm still bitter about that.

Anyway, my point is that I always respect writers who write the story they want to write EVEN IF I PERSONALLY HATE IT because it's so transparent when they are pandering, especially since the ones who write the stories they want to write will always do well enough with it that you can buy it.

Even when Felicity kept breaking Noel's heart it was believable, so.

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caitiedidit
2008-02-29 01:51 am UTC (link)

Like when they don't REALLY want to break a couple up but think they have to so the reasons are always so insane and dumb and caused by Outside Issues like some bogus triangle type instead of a real conflict.

Yeees! Pet peeve! And I like your examples of relationships with actual, real conflict in them. And Grey's also broke Derek and Meredith up for external reasons (whoo, Addison!) in a way that didn't suck. Well, IMHO anyway. It's not like I was actually riveted by the Meredith/Derek of it all, so maybe it's just my love for Addison coloring how I remember the arc.

AH, DAWSON'S CREEK. I still can't believe that I watched Season 5 of that show. To this day, I am shocked (Shocked!) that they let Pacey and Joey end up together. And, yes, I think Logan/Veronica in S2 was one of the biggest cases of pandering ever. Even though they were pretending to explore Duncan/Veronica's relationship, all of the constant wink-wink-nudge-nudge asides to the Logan/Veronica fans were so incredibly tiresome and obnoxious.

Anyway, my point is that I always respect writers who write the story they want to write EVEN IF I PERSONALLY HATE IT because it's so transparent when they are pandering, especially since the ones who write the stories they want to write will always do well enough with it that you can buy it.

Word. Even though it can be difficult slash annoying in practice, heh.

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keenai
2008-03-02 10:23 pm UTC (link)

And Grey's also broke Derek and Meredith up for external reasons (whoo, Addison!) in a way that didn't suck.

No, I agree! It works really well on rewatch, too, and I hated it during (but not because of Meredith or Mer/Der, but because I HATED DEREK); somehow I don't hate it as much now, heh.

Even though it can be difficult slash annoying in practice, heh.

TRUE THAT. I think it just makes a huge difference when you know it's the story and can disagree with it instead of being jerked around by the writers because they want to please a certain group of fans. I guess it always works when the writers are fans themselves.

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	oicrylic 2008-02-28 04:36 am UTC (link)
	Do my eyes deceive me or did you just admit that Wildfireis a horrendous and crappy show? (Reply to this)(Thread)

	caitiedidit 2008-02-28 08:51 pm UTC (link)
	NO. I mean, hell. For an ABC Family show, I think it is pretty good, even if it is really silly. It is not like I have ever pretended that it is the I Ching of TV! (Reply to this)(Parent)

	lexy_ 2008-02-28 07:00 am UTC (link)
	I feel the same way about a Bourne 4, I adore the movies, but idk what a fourth would do :S Is Wildfire that horse show on ABCFamily? When she was in jail, or something similar? (Reply to this)(Thread)

caitiedidit
2008-02-28 08:55 pm UTC (link)

Yes! Kris was a juvenile delinquent and working with horses was part of her rehabilitation. She was so good at it that after she got out, one of the volunteers in the program got her a job as a hand at the ranch where he worked full-time. Anyway, it is really silly and cheesy, just like everything (original) on ABC Family. But it has been my little happy place family show for the past few years.

I feel the same way about a Bourne 4, I adore the movies, but idk what a fourth would do

I know! It will be interesting (I hope) to see what they come up with. Maybe they will delve farther into Nicky and Bourne's relationship? Maybe the Justice Department will fail to prosecute most of the higher ups who were involved in Blackbriar (aside from the few sacrificial lambs) and that will have something to do with it? I guess there are ways they can do it!

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	lexy_ 2008-02-28 11:56 pm UTC (link)
	lol, ABC Family is one of my guilty pleasures, I can't help it. I'd like either more of Nicky/Bourne or Bourne/Famke (I can't remember her name). But didn't he remember everything? I don't see how they're going to do that, unless maybe it's an in between movie. Actually, one between Identity and Supremacy might kind of interesting. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

caitiedidit
2008-02-29 01:24 am UTC (link)

He might remember their relationship now, whatever it was, but I don't think that means they can't do a movie where Nicky is the love interest. And yeah, an in between movie might be interesting, although I'm not sure what the conflict would be. Jason and Marie seemed to have lived a pretty quiet life during the time that passed between Identity and Supremacy. Maybe a prequel?

See, we are thinking of things! Maybe it won't be so bad!

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