Getting It Right
I believe the excerpt for this post says it all. In reality, it should be my introduction. Why reinvent the wheel if you do not have to?
Anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time knows I have no problem pointing out flaws in the content creation machine, whether it is a popular series on Netflix, Apple TV or another favorite application vying for our attention. As a computer gamer, I see it in the form of gaming trade shows such as E3 Expo, Ubisoft Forward, Paris Games Week, or Gamescom. No matter what is diverting your attention, content creators create a plethora of bad ideas, while also coming up with a lot of good ones.
In this post, I want to highlight three examples who, in my opinion, got it right. When you read the words, I have scribbled on virtual paper, keep in mind it is subjective. There are examples in each of the sources I mention where they could have done better; however, it is the totality of the content, which is greater than sum of its parts.
The type of content will or should dictate proper expectations. We consume mindless, cheesy, and purposefully dull-witted content for a reason. Our expectation is not to be challenged intellectually, rather a desire to be purely entertained no matter how ridiculous the content. On the flip side, we have an expectation of creators whose stories inspire us to create our own, to continue challenging us by proper usage of storytelling elements: foreshadow, cause and effect, setting, and character evolution.
I want to highlight three series, where the totality of their content demonstrates proper respect of those aforementioned story telling elements: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997 – 2003), His Dark Materials (2019 – Present), and Teen Wolf (2011 – 2017). Although His Dark Materials is still an active series with its third and final season currently in production, many of the elements comprising its core have been handled beautifully. Yet, as many of us are painfully aware, anything can happen, especially when content comes to the end of its life cycle.
I have provided links at the end of this post to the appropriate Wikipedia article for each series. My intent is not to detail specifics for each of these, merely, to highlight certain portions where each distinguished themselves from their cohorts. If you are unfamiliar with their lore, please take a moment to review the Wiki article for proper context.
One common element is the use of a core group of characters who define the tone of the story and logically rise to the challenges laid before them. Often taking the form of high school friendships or a gathering of peers in their communities, supporting characters grouped together help protagonists stay grounded, be accountable, and challenge them to embrace their destinies on their terms. In Buffy, they were known as the Scooby Gang, while in Teen Wolf the emphasis was placed on the concept of the pack, led by the story’s main protagonist, Scott McCall. His Dark Materials features a wonderfully crafted relationship between characters and their daemons, human souls initially born as animal companions.
A secondary element, one you find more often abused rather than revered, is proper character evolution. I think we can all agree, the reluctant hero trope is an all-too-common facet in both literary and entertainment storytelling. There is always a common desire for normalcy laced with I didn’t ask for this or praying for whatever is their special ability to be taken away. Buffy and Teen Wolf do partake in this element but not excessively, eventually evolving to accept their destinies while not dragging it out too long. In contrast, Lyra, her daemon Pan, and Will of His Dark Materials respond to the circumstances they have been placed in with steadfast determination and aggressive assertion.
As each group continues their journeys, the building blocks of their friendships are disassembled, manipulated by villainous counterparts, and reassembled once their frailties have been exposed and reckoned with. What makes these characters endearing to most who have read about them or viewed them on screen is their relatability. I have found, when you care enough and miss them when they are gone, it means everyone involved in bringing them to life did everything right. It takes talent to create a relatable character, but it takes skill to make them memorable.
The end. No, not the end of this post, the end of a story. I know some of you wish I would stop yammering about the good things and the bad things of storytelling, but a proper and respectable ending is ten times more important than any beginning, especially if content creators do not want to be hauled off to the gallows for ending a beloved story poorly.
The jury is still out on Teen Wolf and His Dark Materials because at the time of this writing, my husband and I have yet to binge watch the final season of Teen Wolf and His Dark Materials will not be releasing their final season until 2022. I am not terribly concerned with their eventual outcomes, which contradicts what I mentioned earlier; however, none of my three examples suffer or suffered from typical storytelling elements of heroes sacrificing themselves at the end or loosing special abilities or powers in an act of selflessness. It does not mean some of those supporting characters you love will not meet an inevitable end if it adheres to the golden rule: Was it in the character’s, character to do the act, which led to their demise?
At the end of the final episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Buffy was asked, “So, what are you going to do now.” She said nothing and simply smiled. In my opinion it was her way of saying, she could now rest easy knowing there would be others to take up where she left off and she could, for once, live her life without always feeling the odds were against her.
The success of any story, no matter the form it takes, does not solely rest on its ability to engulf you like a warm blanket. What I have learned from my own personal experiences and those expressed by others, is the true power of a beautifully crafted story lies in its ability to establish a personal connection. I cannot begin to express how many times I have heard how a certain book, television series, or movie helped someone through hard times. You can now see it in the content created by YouTubers, where followers of a certain channel will express how a content creators videos helped them get through a particularly hard time in their life.
In my younger years, I found great comfort and solace in reading expansive stories in all genres, although science fiction and fantasy will always reign supreme. As a writer, I have moved from merely being a spectator to the role of creator, which is no easy task, I assure you but one I thoroughly enjoy. My only hope is this…
That I get it right.
Feel free to post your questions or comments. I will respond, if need be, when I am able.
Resources:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffy_the_Vampire_Slayer
His Dark Materials: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/His_Dark_Materials_(TV_series)
Teen Wolf: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teen_Wolf_(2011_TV_series)
