![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Oh, television.
On one level, I find movies to be more satisfactory than television series: they're finite, and they rarely leave loose ends. "Miller's Crossing?" Is like a beautiful object d'art. Ditto "The Last Seduction." And, well, when the endings suck, I can mentally edit to make them a little better by pretending that the ending never happened ("Secretary" and Rene Russo remake of "The Thomas Crowne Affair," you are both officially ten to twenty minutes shorter in my head, I just want you to know that). I mean, would I like more (for example) "Princess Bride" goodness? A sequel to "Scaramouche?" Sure! But I don't need or expect it, because the writers are generally aware that they need to provide closure.
Closure is important.
And that, dear friends, brings us to "Firefly" and "Veronica Mars."
Now, on the one hand, because I never really bother watching actual television television, I'm usually spared the agony of tiny dribbles of entertainment, and the tenterhooks of wondering if my favorite show will be canceled: I know from the get-go just how much I'm going to be getting. That said, the two opposing models of how to handle a cancellation fascinate me immensely.
Joss Whedon managed to both provide a closed conclusion to the series, and to swing a movie (with the potential of an open-ended franchise, to boot), possibly on the logic that we're officially a series-minded society, and we'll follow our stories into whatever mediums will have them. "Veronica Mars," on the other hand? Is literally tantalizing, as in, going back to the dude who was condemned to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree, with the water receding when he attempted to quench his thirst, and the branches rising when he tried to sate his hunger. Least. Satisfying. Series. Conclusion. EVER. And, no, the various promises of spin-offs or movies do not make it better. (Hell, I can't even find the good fanfic! Though I did just come across the Season 4 promo teaser, which is what prompted this post.)
I know there's probably a complex theorem to explain the difference, based on fanbase likely to see the movie vs. how big the stars have hit and how much they'll need to be paid (hey, as much as I like Nathan Fillion, I'm pretty sure Kristen Bell earns a bigger base these days), but I cannot help but feel that Rob Thomas is just a sadist. Or that UPN is meaner than Fox with the rights. Or ... something.
On one level, I find movies to be more satisfactory than television series: they're finite, and they rarely leave loose ends. "Miller's Crossing?" Is like a beautiful object d'art. Ditto "The Last Seduction." And, well, when the endings suck, I can mentally edit to make them a little better by pretending that the ending never happened ("Secretary" and Rene Russo remake of "The Thomas Crowne Affair," you are both officially ten to twenty minutes shorter in my head, I just want you to know that). I mean, would I like more (for example) "Princess Bride" goodness? A sequel to "Scaramouche?" Sure! But I don't need or expect it, because the writers are generally aware that they need to provide closure.
Closure is important.
And that, dear friends, brings us to "Firefly" and "Veronica Mars."
Now, on the one hand, because I never really bother watching actual television television, I'm usually spared the agony of tiny dribbles of entertainment, and the tenterhooks of wondering if my favorite show will be canceled: I know from the get-go just how much I'm going to be getting. That said, the two opposing models of how to handle a cancellation fascinate me immensely.
Joss Whedon managed to both provide a closed conclusion to the series, and to swing a movie (with the potential of an open-ended franchise, to boot), possibly on the logic that we're officially a series-minded society, and we'll follow our stories into whatever mediums will have them. "Veronica Mars," on the other hand? Is literally tantalizing, as in, going back to the dude who was condemned to stand in a pool of water beneath a fruit tree, with the water receding when he attempted to quench his thirst, and the branches rising when he tried to sate his hunger. Least. Satisfying. Series. Conclusion. EVER. And, no, the various promises of spin-offs or movies do not make it better. (Hell, I can't even find the good fanfic! Though I did just come across the Season 4 promo teaser, which is what prompted this post.)
I know there's probably a complex theorem to explain the difference, based on fanbase likely to see the movie vs. how big the stars have hit and how much they'll need to be paid (hey, as much as I like Nathan Fillion, I'm pretty sure Kristen Bell earns a bigger base these days), but I cannot help but feel that Rob Thomas is just a sadist. Or that UPN is meaner than Fox with the rights. Or ... something.
Anyway. Dissatisfied! I just wanted to share.
P.S. - Wanna recommend some good series that do not leave one hanging?
no subject
Kristen Bell appears to be doing more bit parts and voiceovers these days, while Nathan Fillion has established himself as the lead on Castle. Of course, given the way shows like Castle go, I expect that will only last another year or so before the show severely jumps the shark and we all start asking, what happened to Nathan Fillion?
no subject
... next on the list. Also, "Wonderfalls," apparently. :)
no subject
With that said their last episode made me all happy. So.
no subject
no subject
no subject
...Sorry, just felt like the Universe aligned in such a way that i had to be the go between there. (:
/delurk
no subject
no subject
(Also, we have mutual friends. I promise i'm not *too* creepy. ;)
And thank you! I adooooore this icon.
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject
no subject