(no subject)

[oselle]

Was just discussing with baylorsr the possibility that Ellen Harvelle's character might not turn up in SPN's third season (at this stage, she has yet to be signed for any episodes). This fills me with the big sad. I thought she really brought something to the show, something that pretty much went untapped. If Bobby can have a recurring role going back to the first season, why should Ellen no longer have a part to play, especially after she's been involved in something as monumental as what happened in "All Hell Breaks Loose 2?" I love Bobby and I loved Ellen -- and I loved all four of them together. There was really something there and I think a lot of viewers picked up on it. It'll be a pity if the CW didn't.

One of the few things that The OC got praised for was having interesting adult characters in addition to the kids. I'm not saying that I want to see plotlines revolving around Bobby and Ellen, but they added an interesting foundation and depth to the show's universe and I think that was because they were "the grownups." Maybe I'd feel differently if I were one of the twentysomethings that the CW so desperately wants to court. But I don't recall wanting to watch shows solely about people my age when I was young. My favorite shows in my teens were things like Moonlighting and Miami Vice, which were all about people far older than I was. In my mid-twenties, I loved The X-Files even though the main characters were older than I was, both in terms of years and maturity level. I didn't feel like Mulder and Scully needed a teenage sidekick to make the show interesting.

Also, it makes me feel horribly old. Way to go, CW, alienating your audience. Although I'm fully aware that I no longer belong to anyone's idea of a target demographic. Ah, the irrelevancy starts early for us gals, doesn't it?

Someone post a screencap of Dean hugging Ellen in Bobby's junkyard at the beginning of "AHBL2!" Pleeez!

Comments

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

You're so right, and they both add depth to the show just because they are the grownups, and a steadying influence, as well as being a support system for the boys.

But the big boys in charge probably decided to sacrifice Ellen in favor of two sets of tits on bimbos with unlined faces, and they can talk about what tough gals they are, but it all comes down to the sex.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I don't know for a fact that Ellen might not be brought back because of her age. There may be other plot development issues that simply don't have room for her character, especially now that Jo's been written out and the roadhouse is gone. But if age had anything to do with it, then it's pretty funny that Bobby isn't considered too offensive to the dewy eyes of the teen and twentysomething crowd.

[ghyste.livejournal.com]

I guess you know that Samantha Ferris has her own blog?

I have never understood the current belief that you need to have somone of your own age/sex/nationality in a film or TV show before you can enjoy it. Certainly, back when I was in the CW's favourite demographic and younger, the shows I enjoyed and the characters I admired were all substantially older than me: Indeed, the characters who were supposed to be my 'gateway' were the ones most likely to irritiate me.

And you're right about the need for interesting adult characters. The first time I noticed it was when they cut nearly all of the adults out of Buffy in season 5. OK, it was far from the only problem with the latter days of the show, but it was one of the things that grounded the stories in reality.

I won't even start on the monstrosity that was the Thunderbirds film...

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Yeah, baylorsr told me about the blog. She's a troublemaker, that one.

I agree that sticking in younger characters is usually just irritating. Actually they did the same thing on The OC, trying to bring Marisa's younger sister to the fore when it was clear that no one gave a shit. At least they had a good reason for doing that -- Marisa was leaving the show and all the other kids were departing for separate colleges. But it didn't work, as it never works -- it always reminds me of when they tried to shoehorn "Poochie" the dog into the Itchy n' Scratchy cartoons on The Simpsons.

Never saw Thunderbirds. Wasn't that...puppets? Or am I thinking of Team America?

[ghyste.livejournal.com]

Never saw Thunderbirds. Wasn't that...puppets? Or am I thinking of Team America?

The original 60's Thunderbirds was a puppet show, but they made a live action film in 2004. In it they de-aged two of the characters to their teens and added a third (hitherto unknown) teenage relative, then had the adults imprisoned and the kids carry the story. The resultant film not only stank up the screen, but also bombed at the box office.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

You gotta wonder who's brilliant idea that was. They're probably working for the CW now.