The notion of exclusive pairbonding love taps into something a little deeper, I think. Are we looking for a realistic story or a romantic one?
The implication that pairbonding doesn't happen in real life, that loving that way is inherently unrealistic, is something that I do disagree with (and that would cause a difference in how the show is viewed as well). I mean, the concept that two people are destined for each other is one thing, but the notion that two people who have found each other can form a life-long and exclusive bond is another.
Which is to say, I don't see realism and romance as being mutually exclusive.
Often, people watch movies and TV shows to get something a little simpler and more upbeat than real life.
True. And, sometimes, people watch television that excites them and makes them think about the world, life, friendship, love, the meaning of it all. Some people watch television because there are pretty people on it (this is, sometimes, a very compelling reason for me). Some people watch movies and television that makes them want to cry, scream, or laugh to bits. I mean, I don't own the movie A Requiem for a Dream because it's more upbeat than real life. People watch television and movies for all sorts of reasons, often at the same time.
The way RTD and Julie G write about DW suggests to me that they see it as a romantic show. I mean, romantic in the sense that it isn't afraid to be a little cheesy from time to time. To give the people what they want, "Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, make 'em wait."
I agree that DW is being written primarily as an entertainment show, a show meant to engage the feelings and through them, the mind (which, honestly, works much better than the other way around, at least for myself).
I'm also not sure that there's such a huge gap between the general audience and the fannish audience, as I definitely know members of fandom who want closure and a happy ending... or, rather, a happy resting place (I'm fond of happy stopping points, myself, but I'm also fond enough of the quote 'there are no happy ending, because nothing ends' to have it on an icon). Periods of lightness and happiness are needed in most shows that attempt to deal with serious issues.
And I know people who are not at all fannish, but still prefer to watch things that are darker and lack resolution. It's just that some people prefer one thing and some the other -- some of both sets of people are in fandom. Personally, I like both -- I love full circles (just witness my love for due South and Stargate: SG-1), but I also love hanging endings (like Angel, which pissed off a lot of people but fit perfectly for me).
People are more complex than some wanting a happy ending and some wanting conflict.
Re: and two...
The implication that pairbonding doesn't happen in real life, that loving that way is inherently unrealistic, is something that I do disagree with (and that would cause a difference in how the show is viewed as well). I mean, the concept that two people are destined for each other is one thing, but the notion that two people who have found each other can form a life-long and exclusive bond is another.
Which is to say, I don't see realism and romance as being mutually exclusive.
Often, people watch movies and TV shows to get something a little simpler and more upbeat than real life.
True. And, sometimes, people watch television that excites them and makes them think about the world, life, friendship, love, the meaning of it all. Some people watch television because there are pretty people on it (this is, sometimes, a very compelling reason for me). Some people watch movies and television that makes them want to cry, scream, or laugh to bits. I mean, I don't own the movie A Requiem for a Dream because it's more upbeat than real life. People watch television and movies for all sorts of reasons, often at the same time.
The way RTD and Julie G write about DW suggests to me that they see it as a romantic show. I mean, romantic in the sense that it isn't afraid to be a little cheesy from time to time. To give the people what they want, "Make 'em laugh, make 'em cry, make 'em wait."
I agree that DW is being written primarily as an entertainment show, a show meant to engage the feelings and through them, the mind (which, honestly, works much better than the other way around, at least for myself).
I'm also not sure that there's such a huge gap between the general audience and the fannish audience, as I definitely know members of fandom who want closure and a happy ending... or, rather, a happy resting place (I'm fond of happy stopping points, myself, but I'm also fond enough of the quote 'there are no happy ending, because nothing ends' to have it on an icon). Periods of lightness and happiness are needed in most shows that attempt to deal with serious issues.
And I know people who are not at all fannish, but still prefer to watch things that are darker and lack resolution. It's just that some people prefer one thing and some the other -- some of both sets of people are in fandom. Personally, I like both -- I love full circles (just witness my love for due South and Stargate: SG-1), but I also love hanging endings (like Angel, which pissed off a lot of people but fit perfectly for me).
People are more complex than some wanting a happy ending and some wanting conflict.