But all of these stunts, the fires, car crashes, accidents and disasters are starting to become routine and lose their impact. The Powers that Be hope the hype will bring in the punters and they really hope some of those punters will continue to watch and become regular viewers but you know what? It doesn't happen. And yet they continue.
Some people enjoy the climactic weeks, the stunts and the storylines breaking out into new directions or having closure, or both. Some really don't like it or don't like aspects of it and fair enough, to each his own. I think if the big spectacles were pared down to something every few years even, that mightgive them a lot more impact.
I wrote a long blog post about it here on State of the Street. Have a read and tell me what you think.
Tvor, @tvordlj on Twitter
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15 comments:
I would like to see them do something that they haven't already done to death. Fire is just old hat: The Rovers, Victoria Court and now this, just in the last few years. No more tram crashes either.
I read your blog post Tvor (it was excellent) and completely agree. These scenes were very well done but they're not going to attract any new viewers so what's the point. Even bringing back old viewers is doubtful. If you haven't been watching recently why would you understand David's grief or know anything about Anna?
If the point was to make us pay attention, they could have spared us the fireworks and have David notice a way to bring a weapon to the trial and kept us on the edge of our seats as to whether he would come to his senses about using it. Anna's burns happening as a result of working in a restaurant would be more credible, just as dramatic and might have served as a safety warning for those who handle things like deep fryers carelessly.
Shows seem to think we need jolts and gratuitous violence because they exist in hit movies but it seems to me that they should have noticed that hit movies come and go in a fortnight, so when your audience watches a show for years, decades even,it's because they value stories over stunts.
Agree with you completely, Tvor.
Much as I love watching JPS as David, I too am tired of the annual fire. The Barlow family drama was just as good, maybe better, and is certainly one more of us can relate to. What isn't realistic about an 80 something man having a stroke, watching his family fall apart around him, all while he's trapped in his own body? The interpersonal stuff between Peter and Tracy is real family stuff. That plus this is Ken Barlow, the man who lives only to see his life's dreams crushed.
I do hope all the Callum related stories are finally put to bed. Between an OD mom, a brain damaging car crash, an attempted assault, a killing, stuffing a body in the floor, mom getting killed over a kebab, credibility is stretched beyond redemption and I'm exhausted. David needs counseling and it might not be a bad idea for Gail as well. He can't stay if he remains evil but it wouldn't be out of the ordinary if these events became a turning point for him. With the guidance of a trained professional, he could become a changed man. Still one who is loved by his kids and is snarky to his mom but without the insane extreme harming he causes others. Just my 2¢.
I think that the episodes when Kylie was murdered were much more gripping than the "explosive" car. Those episodes had me totally in shock and the acting, especially by David were outstanding. Now those were the ones that should have been the sweep weeks. They were not expected prior to the showing. Unfortunately I guess the timing of the pregnancy of Paula Lane necessitated her early departure from the show, but I still think they were the best so far this year. They also didn't feel as if they were set-up or forced in any way, much as last week's did.
For me the greatest part of Fridays episodes was the closing musical montage at the very end that showed the actors in various scenes of distress. Nothing was said but the emotion and acting was superb. I dont ever recall seeing a closing montage quite like that and it really drew me in.
Totally agree Tvor, I've been watching since episode one, my kids were raised on Corrie. But I'm afraid as it is now I wouldn't allow them to watch. All this high explosive stuff with murders and manic revenge has no place in early evening viewing.
I'm so bored with the Platts continuing saga.
Sadly it's a sign of our times. Gone are days when you could tune in and chill out and be entertained for half an hour.
I'm in complete agreement with Tvor. The drama and character elements were good, but the whole cumulative effect of the scenario around the crash and fire stunts was too much, they are in danger of wearing out the regular viewer with these OTT stunts every 6 months.
The suggestion of Anna having an accident in the café would have been far more believable and could have involved drama with other characters. Instead there's going to be this Webster/Platt/Windass battle for months - yet more Platt overkill.
add to the Webster/Platt/Windass battle both Robert and Leanne and probably a few more folks on the street that will figure out what really happened.
..... as long as an accident in the cafe didn't involve a fire, of course ;)
Didn't have any problem with it. As you wrote, the crash and aftermath was surrounded by drama that led up to it. The crash itself turned into a community effort, watching the guys from the mechanic shop plus Robert and Caz and Nick all in there trying to move the car. Plus, it was counterpointed by the family drama of Ken and the Barlows at the hospital. Seemed balanced to me.
It would be good not to have any Platt family related episodes for a long while and let the rest of the corrie characters have more storylines. Some characters haven't had a decent story for ages. Some are off screen so long that I even forget they exist.
I would like to see more gentle humor as well as drama.
That's what drawn me to Corrie in the first place,but the American soap shock style is pulling me away from it especially since the storylines always center around the Platts!
With you there - the humour that once ram throughout the show as its key defining quality balancing gritty (not sensationalist) drama has evaporated. Humour often feels like an add-on now as I felt it always did when I used to watch EastEnders.
Look at Emmerdale now. That's all I can keep going back to. So violent and dark, all the country spark and community gone.
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