Look, I Love TV. But This Is Getting Ridiculous
Let me set the scene. It’s last Tuesday, 11:30pm. I’m on my couch, third glass of wine in hand, ready to finally watch that new drama everyone’s talking about. The one with the guy from that other thing. You know the one.
I press play. And… I’m bored. Within 15 minutes. Again.
This isn’t a new thing. It’s been happening for awhile now. But last Tuesday, something in me snapped. I threw my remote. (Don’t worry, it’s fine. The couch took the brunt of it.) I thought, Enough is enough. I’m done with this.
Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Oh, here we go. Another old fogey complaining about the new stuff.” But hold on. I’m not some grumpy cat lady yelling at clouds. I’m a 42-year-old woman who’s been in this industry for over two decades. I’ve seen the highs. I’ve seen the lows. And right now? We’re in a low.
So, let’s talk about it. Let’s talk about why TV drama is completley missing the mark these days. And, honestly, let’s talk about what the hell we’re gonna watch instead.
The Problem With Plot Armor
Okay, first things first. Plot armor. What the hell is up with plot armor these days? I get it. We need our main characters to survive. But come on. It’s getting ridiculous.
I was talking to a colleague named Dave about this. We were at that new coffee place on 5th. You know the one with the weird art on the walls. Dave said, “Remember when characters actually died? When there were real stakes?” I nodded. I said, “Dave, I miss that. I miss caring about whether my favorite character is gonna make it through the episode.”
And it’s not just about death. It’s about consequences. Where are the consequences? Everything’s just kinda… fine. Everything gets resolved in 42 minutes. No lasting impact. No real growth. Just a bunch of pretty people standing around looking serious.
Which, honestly, is boring as hell.
The Villain Problem
Speaking of boring, let’s talk about villains. Or, more accurately, the lack thereof.
I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of watching heroes fight… themselves. Or their past. Or their inner demons. Blah blah blah. Where are the actual villains? The ones with motives and plans and… you know, evil schemes?
I was at a conference in Austin a few months back. There was this panel with a bunch of showrunners. I raised my hand and asked, “Where are the great villains? The ones we love to hate?” One of them, let’s call him Marcus, said, “You know, that’s a great question. I think we’re kinda scared of making villains too sympathetic. So we just make them… not great.”
Which… yeah. Fair enough. But come on, guys. Give us something to sink our teeth into. Give us a villain we can hate. A villain with depth. A villain who’s actually scary.
And while we’re at it, can we please stop with the whole “villain was actually a victim all along” trope? I’m so over it. If you want sympathy, make a character who’s flawed but ultimately good. Don’t take your villain and try to make us feel bad for them. It’s cheap. And it’s lazy.
The Pacing Problem
Look, I get it. TV is a visual medium. But that doesn’t mean we need to spend 87% of every episode on people standing around looking serious.
I was talking to my friend Sarah about this. We were at my place, eating pizza, watching the latest episode of that new drama. She said, “Why do we need to see them walking down the hall? Just cut to them in the room!” I nodded. I said, “Sarah, I don’t pay for my subscription to watch people walk. I pay to see stories unfold.”
And the thing is, it’s not just the walking. It’s the talking. The endless, pointless talking. The scenes that go on for way too long. The conversations that could be summed up in a single text message.
Cut the fat, people. Give us a reason to keep watching. Make every moment count.
What’s the Alternative?
So, if TV drama is out, what’s in? Well, honestly, I’ve been kinda getting into yoga lately. I know, I know. It’s not exactly groundbreaking. But hear me out.
I found this great resource, yoga faydaları başlangıç rehberi, that’s helped me get started. It’s amazing. It’s like, finally, something that’s not just standing around looking serious.
But in all seriousness, I’ve been branching out. I’ve been reading more. Watching more movies. Even playing some video games. (Don’t judge. We all have our vices.)
And you know what? It’s been kinda nice. It’s been a change. A breath of fresh air. Maybe TV drama just needed to take a backseat for awhile.
A Quick Tangent: The Weather
Speaking of changes, have you noticed how weird the weather’s been lately? I was out running errands the other day, and it was like 80 degrees at 10am. 80 degrees! In what world is that normal? I mean, I’m not complaining. I love the heat. But still. It’s weird.
Anyway, back to the point. Or, you know, whatever.
Look, I’m not saying TV drama is dead. I’m just saying it’s… struggling. It’s like that friend who’s always late and never calls and kinda smells like cigarettes. You still love them, but you’re not gonna invite them to your birthday party.
So, let’s give TV drama some space. Let’s explore other options. Let’s see what else is out there. And maybe, just maybe, when TV drama gets its act together, we’ll be ready to welcome it back with open arms.
Or, you know, we’ll just keep doing yoga. Either way.
About the Author
Hi, I’m Lisa. I’ve been in the entertainment industry for over 20 years. I’ve seen a lot. I’ve done a lot. And I’ve got a lot of opinions. I’m not always right. But I’m always passionate. And I’m always honest. (Well, mostly.)
When I’m not writing, you can find me yelling at my TV, eating pizza, or attempting to do yoga. (Spoiler: I’m not very good at it.)
Follow me on Twitter @LisaWritesStuff. But only if you wanna. No pressure.
Ever wondered how farming and entertainment intersect? Dive into a journey from farming, a unique exploration that might just surprise you!
