Failing Upwards

[oselle]

baylorsr informed me that Sera Gamble has been promoted to showrunner for Supernatural's sixth season.

I know that some of you fangirl her and I suppose it's always good to see women get ahead, especially in a field where women are so dramatically under-represented. Wish I could be happier, but I'm not. I'm not going to cheer just because we share the same gender. I don't think this will be good for the show and I don't think she deserves this.

I say that knowing I'm not qualified to say it because I have no idea what her day-to-day responsibilities have been on the show and how much she's contributed to it. I don't doubt that she's worked hard. However, in my observation, she did a good job as writer when whe was paired up with Raelle Tucker and ever since Tucker left, Gamble's episodes have usually not been that great and frankly, the overall tone of the show has changed a lot during the past three seasons, while she's been climbing the ranks to Executive Producer. She certainly hasn't done anything to add more interesting female characters to the show -- not that I think she has some sort of responsibility to do so "as a woman." But she helped to give us Bela and Ruby 2.0 so I'd say her contribution in that area has been less than impressive. The show's gotten more juvenile and less focused and the one thing that really made it work -- the relationship between Sam and Dean -- has been all but broken down with little hope of a satisfying reconciliation on the horizon, especially now that Gamble's in charge. Slapdash "fixes" seem to be her specialty, not thoughtful and well-written resolutions.

I hate her take on Dean. I especially hate her episode "It's a Terrible Life" which was such a load of shit as far as Dean's concerned that I've never forgiven her for it. I think she'd be right at home with the TWoP "suck it up!" brigade. Raelle Tucker knew how to write Dean -- Gamble's never warmed up to it. I hate her obsession with getting Sam into bed so that she can see Jared with his shirt off. I hate some of the stupid things I've heard her say in interviews. Her "Song Remains the Same" episode two weeks ago was the first good thing I've seen from her in ages -- and she wrote that with a partner. So maybe if she has lots of help, S6 won't be a total disaster but right now...I'm seeing a lot of weepy Dean and shirtless Sam and dumb jokes.

Within the past couple of weeks, two people that I know in my own professional life have gotten promotions that they didn't deserve. I doubt that Sera Gamble is as incompetent and unworthy as either one of these two obnoxious imbeciles but I just feel like this is part of a pattern. They call it "failing upwards." The less you do the more you get. Caring about your job and working hard at it and trying to be better at it gets you nowhere, while making a lot of noise about how great you are seems to fool everyone. I'm probably taking some of my personal frustrations out on Gamble but even so, I still have to say that this is very disappointing news.

I plan to spend the rest of my day chain smoking.

Comments

Re: word to this...

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Oh, I didn't know Kripke was planning a new series. I'm sure it will be a real winner. He caught some lighting in a bottle with Supernatural -- a lucky combination of talented and experienced people helped launch that show, people like Raelle Tucker and John Shiban and Kim Manners. And of course a charismatic and highly appealing cast, especially Jensen.

Unless he can get lightning to strike again, I don't think I'll be watching any new Eric Kripke creations. At this point I'm primarily sticking with SPN for Jensen's beautiful face.

(CORRECTION: I am ONLY sticking with SPN for Jensen's beautiful face. I can honestly say that if he left the show I'd have little to no reason to watch another episode. The CW had better be giving that guy whatever the hell he wants from them, because I doubt I'm the only viewer who feels this way.)

I just mentioned the whole "trust" issue in my 5:14 review and Gamble is pretty much at the top of the list of people I don't trust on that creative team. I agree with you about Tucker's "sense of compassion" and "wider, deeper vision" and I've seen nothing comparable from Gamble. Personally I'd rather have seen Jeremy Carver get the job -- he at least has written some of my favorite episodes.

What also concerns me is that I think Kripke has been kind of hands-off as showrunner, whereas I expect Gamble won't be. And that does not bode well.

Re: re jensen

[oselle.livejournal.com]

There's no way that can happen at this point. But I wouldn't be surprised if both he and Jared get a Producer's credit tacked onto their names. I've seen that happen before with leading cast members when a show's run gets extended.

Re: re jensen

[oselle.livejournal.com]

No I didn't but I'm not surprised. Directing has been something I think he's been interested in doing for a while. It's nice they gave him the 100th ep as his directorial debut.

Re: word to this...

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

I don't think I'll be watching any new Eric Kripke creations. At this point I'm primarily sticking with SPN for Jensen's beautiful face.

But Kripke loves Jensen. Perhaps if he has a new show, he will take Jensen with him. :)

Re: jensen, unlike kripke

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

Oh, right. :(

But Kripke should wait for him. :)

Re: jensen, unlike kripke

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Can I also say that it really irks me that Kripke is abandoning his own show just because he either doesn't have the ability or can't be bothered to come up with anything new for it? I have always laughed when I've heard people call Kripke a "genius" -- now I'm laughing even more.

Re: word to this...

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I hope this wouldn't happen. I'd hate to find myself bound to another Kripke production just because Jensen's in it. And frankly, I think Jensen can do better and I hope he will seek out material more suited to his talent when Season 6 is over.

Re: word to this...

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

^__^

Good enough for me if I can see Jensen in anything.

PS. I love to hear Jensen is doing voice work. I love his voice very much.

[claudia603.livejournal.com]

they call it "failing upwards." The less you do the more you get. Caring about your job and working hard at it and trying to be better at it gets you nowhere,

Makes me think of that movie Office Space, where the guy just decides he doesn't care and then keeps getting promoted. :-p

[oselle.livejournal.com]

LOL, I was just thinking of that yesterday when I found out that my idiot former boss was just made a director at another media company -- a job that she's absolutely, laughably unqualified for.

I'd try to do the same thing but there's nowhere to promote me to. I could never get away with it anyway.

[i-o-r-h-a-e-l.livejournal.com]

I hope you can quit smoking.

Oops, sorry, not my problem. :)

I'm just afraid S6 will be all about Sam seeing that she's a Sam girl. Btw, perhaps by her being responsible for the overall things, the writing of the eps will be taken care of by someone else, let's say, Ben Edlund, so she is not responsible directly with how characters are written.

Well, that's arguable, I know. :(

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I have no idea how much influence the showrunner has over the episodes and the writing. I know that some showrunners insist on controlling every detail, right down to things like costumes and sets. I don't think Kripke was that way and I don't see Gamble being that dedicated either and frankly, I wouldn't want her to be. Her contributions to the show (such as I'm aware of them) haven't exactly blown me away and I don't see her revitalizing the show with an exciting new creative vision.

Re: maybe some of those co-writers will help here

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I don't mind Edlund as much as you do but I think he excels best at spectacle or "high-concept" episodes. Two of this season's best efforts were his so I can't hate on him too much. Nevertheless I wouldn't want him running the show either.

[cpsings4him.livejournal.com]

You know I'm not a regular viewer of the show but I always enjoy hearing what you have to say about it...well, and come to think of it, about pretty much anything for that matter.

But she helped to give us Bela and Ruby 2.0 so I'd say her contribution in that area has been less than impressive.

She should be fired for those names alone. How very...Twilight. O.O (I also have not read that series or seen the movies the previews and synopsis being enough to put me off them.)

[oselle.livejournal.com]

LOL I have no idea who came up with those names. I do have to clarify that Ruby 2.0 is not her official name -- it's just Ruby but there were two different actresses playing her, hence the 2.0 for the second version.

I've read 1.5 Twilight books and seen the move and I can tell you that you are not missing a thing.

[kjfri.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've told you I love you in awhile. And this philosophy appears alive and well in my office, too: Caring about your job and working hard at it and trying to be better at it gets you nowhere, while making a lot of noise about how great you are seems to fool everyone.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Well, luv ya too!

[roque-clasique.livejournal.com]

Gotta agree with you here.

Also -- Sera seems to be actually WORSE to female characters than a lot of the male writers.

Here's what I'm hoping for S6 -- they'll suck it up and hire YOU. Or some other worthy fanficcer. For christ's sake. I bet I'd be a lot more forgiving of the show if I didn't see it done SO MUCH BETTER EVERY FREAKIN' DAY.

[ariadnes-string.livejournal.com]

Here's what I'm hoping for S6 -- they'll suck it up and hire YOU.
Or better yet, the two of you! Or, maybe my brother, who's barely eking out a living as a screenwriter these days (what? I haz family loyalty)

*goes to a happy place*

[oselle.livejournal.com]

LOL, I think my chances of working at SPN would be severely reduced if anyone over there read my LJ. If they ever were to hire someone from fandom it would probably be one of their TWoP morons. It just astonishes me that Kripke couldn't be bothered to oversee another 22 episodes. Lazy much?

[ariadnes-string.livejournal.com]

Yeah--I actually thought of how pissed off you'd be be when I heard this bit of info!

I agree with you about SG--except that I've liked her episodes this season (5.02 and 5.13) quite a lot--they didn't seem as bad for Dean as her eps in previous seasons have been...So--maybe that bodes well? *iz an optimist*

I have mixed feelings overall about S6...I'm glad the boys are employed, but was hoping they'd (well, JA) would have the chance to move onto something better--

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I actually don't remember 5:02 and 5:13 she didn't write on her own. I loved 5:13 with a passion but I'm giving more props to Nancy Weiner for that one than Sera Gamble.

My concern about the actors for S6 is that they're going to be so fucking bored and not into it that it'll show. Jensen's been bitching about how he wants out since last year, of course that could've just been laying the groundwork for more money which I'm sure he's gotten.

[tskterata.livejournal.com]

When I read that on Io9 yesterday, I had the same reaction. The Io9 article said that Kripke will stay on as a producer, but will not be the Showrunner. This is probably just a way to keep pulling a paycheck off the show, but who knows?
I do not trust Ms. Gamble.
Also, with all the rumors about Jensen auditioning for Captain America I was kind of hoping the show wouldn't get renewed so Jensen could kickstart his amazing and fantastic film career. I am so looking forward to admiring his beauty on the big screen. Yes.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

That show has so many producers, I can't even imagine what they all do. If Kripke really is off developing a new series I doubt that he'll be very involved at all, and he's repeatedly said that he has no story ideas past a fifth season so I'd say the well is dry as far as he's concerned.

If Jensen plays Captain America and he spends half the movie in a fucking MASK, what a goddamn waste that will be.

[ghyste.livejournal.com]

I was always rather dubious about SPN stretching to a sixth season and the news of Sera Gamble’s promotion has done nothing to assuage my fears. She did some very good work with Raelle Tucker, but I haven’t warmed to her solo efforts and there are two things I find it difficult to forgive: the way she portrayed Zacharah’s “stop whining” speech as a shot in the arm for Dean and her decision to ditch the story of Sam’s summer in favour of spending his feature episode justifying a sex scene with Ruby 2.0.

I’m also having some bad flashbacks to when Joss Whedon handed Buffy over to Marti Noxon. Noxon’s huge crush on James Marsters led her to destroy his and Buffy’s characters in order to turn him into the romantic lead and get his clothes off, and the show turned from one where the romantic relationships complimented the plot to one where they drove them.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Zachariah and Sam's summer were just two of her worst low points and really highlight her failings as far as SPN is concerned. I once heard Jared and Jensen joke that if Sera Gamble wrote an episode, they knew that Dean would be crying and Sam would be naked. They pretty much hit the nail on the head. I suspect that in most of the good work she did with Tucker, Raelle was doing the heavy lifting. There's a reason she's writing for HBO.

I am now also 100% convinced that the show will end with Dean married or close to it. She wrote "The Kids Are All Right" which kicked off the whole idea of Dean's domestic yearnings. As I've said, given what's happened between him and Sam, I don't loathe this idea as much as I used to, but in Gamble's hands I just think it'll be pure cheese. Her crush on Jared will probably inspire her to set Sam up with a steady girlfriend too, and we'll end the show in the worst possible way, with both of them settling down in suburbia.

[andromakhe001.livejournal.com]

Thank you so much for saying this. I fear exactly this and always have. It sounds like it would be just her idea of "going in completely the other direction" after the Apocalypse. Typical stereotype of "chicks wants romance in EVERYTHING" writing and well, lots of don't fit the stereotype especially not when there is a much better story to be gotten without it.

Most of her non-TV writing has been erotica after all apparently.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I've come around to the idea of Dean settling down, since I can't see him attaining any sort of happiness with what's left of Sam. But there will be a way to do it that will be good, and a way to do it that will be like some Hallmark Hall of Fame piece of shit and I'm worried that Sera Gamble will take the show in the latter direction.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Very much how I felt too--on both things. I don't have a clear feeling of "the show will now be terrible in X way" but I don't feel like something particularly good just happened either. Saying I don't trust her is the perfect way to put it.

And also, yeah, what is it with failing upwards? Seems like one of the first things I learned as an adult was that being noticed/promoted/given work was like a talent in itself that didn't necessarily have anything to do with your work.

Though I can't complain of it happening all the time. I like the place where I work now and I think my boss has a very sensible, reasonable idea of what everyone is doing. There were times where it looked to me like somebody wasn't doing anything and...she thought they weren't doing anything. And that's I think one of the most refreshing things you can have at a job is just the sense that when you're doing work it's noticed and not getting credited to somebody else. But I've had just as much experience with the way things are so many other places where there's just some ineffable quality about someone even if they don't know what the hell they're doing that gets them promoted. Which I guess is why I'm never confused when people demand to know how the bosses on The Office got to be bosses.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

The failing upwards thing seems to have become worse in recent years. Maybe it's the example of political figures like George Bush and Sarah Palin -- people who aren't terribly good at anything and yet keep on getting the brass ring handed to them.

My company recently promoted a man to publisher whom I find an utterly loathsome creature, devoid of both ability and character. He was hired two years ago and he came in blowing a lot of hot air about all his big plans to take us "to the next level" and we are doing worse than ever. Everyone pretty much thought he was on the verge of being fired but no...he got put in charge. I know he's blamed all his own failings on the economy but his anti-leadership has not helped us at all. All he does is write these ludicrous, half-million-dollar proposals that no one is EVER going to buy because he wants to make some big score. He spends the rest of his time updating his LinkedIn and Twitter, but doesn't bother to read his email. On top of that he's one of the most physically revolting, sexist pigs I've ever met. I literally can't stand to look at him when he talks to me because he is so repellent in appearance and also because I know that he has nothing but pussy on his mind all the time.

Got any openings at your place, LOL?

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Heh. I wish--I mean because they laid people off not that long ago so people can do more work for less money. We've currently had this whole series of meetings where they talk about the new direction management has planned and we tell them we've been doing all this work in this direction and upper management doesn't actually do anything with it. What they are doing is having day-long workshops for people where we put on blindfolds and pass around cut out shapes.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

At my job we put on blindfolds and pretend we work at a real magazine.

I can't believe in the current economy any company is still bothering with those idiotic workshops. What is this, the Nineties?

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

This is why the reaction of most of the public to our magazine is: My grandmother used to read that. You mean it still exists?

One of the top people running the workshop I went to last week said she liked this stuff so much she went to get a master's in executive training or whatever it's called.

The most complicated part seemed to be making a big binder for the Myers Briggs tests. And here I'd already gotten the same result taking a "which Harry Potter character/MBTI test."

Still Remus Lupin.

In a month I'm supposed to call someone and see if they've accomplished the goals they wrote on their paper airplane.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

OH MY GOD. You just brought back such bad memories. When I was at Tom's of Maine they forced us all to take the MB test and it was the most endless and time consuming and pointless undertaking. Worst of all they told us we'd only have to share the results with our "team" (i.e., our department) and instead we had to share them at a day-long workshop where THEY MADE US WEAR OUR LETTERS PINNED TO OUR CHESTS. As in, "Oh hi, I'm an IMTP, I see you're an INTJ." On top of that the results were supposed to gauge our strengths and instead they were used to "challenge" us to "step out of our comfort zones" -- in other words, to do work that we were unsuited for. I got railroaded into a promotions/sales position that made me absolutely miserable and that, along with other factors, made me quit the job before I found another one and led to my eventual ruin and very unwilling move back to NYC. I remember reading something about the two broads who devised those tests and they were both a couple of crackpots and why the fuck anyone's still relying on a "personality test" that was developed by two daffy dames in an era when lobotomies and electroshocks were considered good psychotherapy is beyond me.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

That's possibly the dumbest thing I've ever heard. They figured out your strengths and then...chose your job according to your weaknesses. And this was supposed to be good for you, no doubt. Yeah. You may have hit on why there's a small population in Maine.

We just had to group in lines on either side of the room for each letter while they explained how our behavior was different, except of course that half the time they weren't.

I think the two dames were mother and daughter too. Somehow that makes them even daffier. Even the stuff that's helpful in the test is helpful because you learn it by living in the world and dealing with people who aren't you.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Yes, they were mother and daughter. All I could think of was some middle-aged woman and her elderly mother coming up with this crazy shit while sitting in some horrific, mothball-smelling chintz-filled room. I also tend to picture them as having Nazi-ish leanings like the point of the test was weeding out the undesirables. I know that at some point the test had to be updated to take out some of the archaic shit from the original version. LOL, racial profiling no doubt.

And also...how many people need a test to tell them whether they're an introvert or an extrovert? I think by the time you're twelve or so you've got that sorted out. That test didn't tell me anything I hadn't already learned about myself in 30 years.

[elvisglasses5.livejournal.com]

I haven't had a satisfactory smoke since Obama banned chocolate cigarettes -- oh the humanity! -- but I now want to curl up with a bourbon & ginger and chain smoke like a mother after reading this post.

This more has to do with your RL experience of seeing undeserving twats move up the ladder while others (presumably yourself) work their asses off in the mines. BEEN THERE, HATED THAT. So just reading your words uncoiled this dormant bit of bitterness that I thought I had gotten rid of in the last year or two. Nope.

Good luck with that situation, hope you don't get too burnt out/pissed off in your own work because of it. As for Supernatural, for once I am looking at the glass half full and hoping for the best. If it comes back to smack me in the face like a rubber chicken, I'll have to handle it like I did the XFiles final seasons: ignore it, bitch about it, and read lots of fanfic based on earlier seasons.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

Oh please...I passed pissed off a long time ago and I've just recently burned out, completely. Actually no, I've decided to model myself on all those mentors who have shown me the way: put no care or thought into my work, slap shit together at the last minute and throw my energies into acting like I'm soooo busy all the time. The problem is that unlike them, I actually DO have real work to do, a lot of it. I sure wonder who's gonna do it. Not my problem though, I'm too important to sweat the small stuff. I'm just gonna keep phoning it in and wait for my promotion.

Thank God I don't have kids. How would I ever be able to tell them that hard work and intelligence are virtues to cultivate? It's such a lie.

There's a sick part of me that's hoping S6 will be an absolute debacle just so I can watch Sera Gamble flounder. Though I'm sure that if that happens, Dawn Ostroff will then let her develop her own series, too. Ever upwards with the fail!