[TV] The Following

[rittchard]

Not at all.. just that I keep an open mind when watching these shows that more than anything, they are meant to entertain audiences. Sometimes you have to go a little farther because if you base everything as it would be in real life, it'd probably make for a pretty boring and slow show.

Even in the walking dead thread people bring up how it's "not realistic" (since when is a zombie realistic?!) of course it's not, it's fiction.

Since I don't mind it being "unrealistic" since it serves as entertainment, makes watching all the more enjoyable.

I love unrealistic.  However, I hate badly written.

Im in this camp too. I tried to like The Following, but everytime the writers write the bad guys into a corner, they just make shit up to get them out of it. The whole SWAT Team replacement and the girl sheriff were the final nail in the coffin for me. It's just sloppy writing.

I don't mind curves in storylines, but they at least need to make sense.

Given the almost fantasy-like premise of the show, I don't see how it didn't make "sense."  If you buy into the premise that this guy is a criminal mastermind/manipulator with an entire cult of followers, and has been planning his revenge/escape meticulously for years, he should have those kinds of resources.  Many moves need to have plotted out far in advance, and seeds of other plans should have been sewn in the subsequent years, ready to exploit when needed.  Basically like a well-formed terrorist organization (on a TV show).

Now what doesn't make sense is why Shawn Ashmore won't take his shirt off!!   

[corruptrelic]

It's no more unrealistic to me than say, Walking Dead and it's zombies or Battlestar Galactica and their Cylons (both of which I love) watching it simply for what it's intended, as entertainment.

Having said that, show seems to be getting a lot better.

Little disappointed that Louise was killed off, not too many female villains on TV these days she was one of the few, and a good one at that.
"I don't think you have th.." BANG! 

[CeeKay]

Now what doesn't make sense is why Shawn Ashmore won't take his shirt off!!   

just for you Ritt:

Spoiler for Hiden:

[hepcat]

It's no more unrealistic to me than say, Walking Dead and it's zombies or Battlestar Galactica and their Cylons (both of which I love) watching it simply for what it's intended, as entertainment.

I'm not sure why you keep insisting that fiction doesn't have to be well written to be good.   

[rittchard]

Oh my, thanks Ceekay!  I love it, yummy hairy chest on him, I had no idea!!!   

- - -

Back on topic, I thought last night's episode was great.  I am really enjoying the show more and more, oddly though I continue to find all the crazy bad guys far more interesting than Kevin Bacon.  Really like Jacob, his plotline with Paul is/was one of the most romantic yet bizarre plotlines I've seen on TV.  Roderick is a hoot, can't wait to see more of his origin story.  I was trying to count how many loonies there were in the mansion, but looked like a good 30+ so that should make for plenty of fodder since they seem fine with killing off bad guys as fast as they introduce them.

[hepcat]

Ceekay:  Pimp to the Stars

[corruptrelic]

It's no more unrealistic to me than say, Walking Dead and it's zombies or Battlestar Galactica and their Cylons (both of which I love) watching it simply for what it's intended, as entertainment.

I'm not sure why you keep insisting that fiction doesn't have to be well written to be good.   

That really just comes down to opinion. I think The Following is well written, hence.. one of the reasons why I turn in each week. (And probably part of why it was picked up for a second season so fast.)

[CeeKay]

Ceekay:  Pimp to the Stars

::bows::

[hepcat]

It's no more unrealistic to me than say, Walking Dead and it's zombies or Battlestar Galactica and their Cylons (both of which I love) watching it simply for what it's intended, as entertainment.

I'm not sure why you keep insisting that fiction doesn't have to be well written to be good.  

That really just comes down to opinion. I think The Following is well written, hence.. one of the reasons why I turn in each week. (And probably part of why it was picked up for a second season so fast.)

According to Jim was on the air for almost a decade.  Using your reasoning, it must have been written by the best scribes in existence.

[Reemul]

It's no more unrealistic to me than say, Walking Dead and it's zombies or Battlestar Galactica and their Cylons (both of which I love) watching it simply for what it's intended, as entertainment.

I'm not sure why you keep insisting that fiction doesn't have to be well written to be good.   

Not sure I always agree with this, sometimes being entertaining can be enough, some books and shows are shallower and yet still fun and have their place the same is more in depth or better written shows.

Entrainment is what matters and that always seems to be where critics fall down, entertainment value but some can at times just be ignored.

[hepcat]

That I can understand.  I liked American Horror Story: Asylum this season because it was so over the top that I just couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  I'll be the first to admit that the writing wasn't exactly stellar, but I was entertained all the same.  

But I still disagree that The Following is a well written, which was the assertion by some.  And that it should be excused for being badly written simply because it's fiction.

[MonkeyFinger]

I did actually LOL'd at one of the scenes at the end with the bad-ass blonde getting cornered by KB. Spoilered just in case...

Spoiler for the showdown:

"Drop the weapon!"

"And if I don't?"  (turns slowly around with gun over head)

"Then I will shoot you dead."

"I don't think you have the"

<bang! bang! bang!>

(walks away)

[rittchard]

That I can understand.  I liked American Horror Story: Asylum this season because it was so over the top that I just couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  I'll be the first to admit that the writing wasn't exactly stellar, but I was entertained all the same.  

But I still disagree that The Following is a well written, which was the assertion by some.  And that it should be excused for being badly written simply because it's fiction

You seem to have some very fixed notion of "well written."  Personally I think there are a lot of different categories in how well something is written, and in the case of a TV show, how it is produced, edited and acted all plays into it as well.  There's overall plot, plot pacing, characters (including likability), character development, dialog, believability, consistency... just off the top of my head.  I think this show succeeds in about half of these categories, for me anyway.  For an example of a show that I felt was truly badly written, I go to the last seasons of Heroes, where they failed in just about every category I listed.

[hepcat]

That I can understand.  I liked American Horror Story: Asylum this season because it was so over the top that I just couldn't wait to see what would happen next.  I'll be the first to admit that the writing wasn't exactly stellar, but I was entertained all the same.  

But I still disagree that The Following is a well written, which was the assertion by some.  And that it should be excused for being badly written simply because it's fiction

You seem to have some very fixed notion of "well written."  Personally I think there are a lot of different categories in how well something is written, and in the case of a TV show, how it is produced, edited and acted all plays into it as well.  There's overall plot, plot pacing, characters (including likability), character development, dialog, believability, consistency... just off the top of my head.  I think this show succeeds in about half of these categories, for me anyway.  For an example of a show that I felt was truly badly written, I go to the last seasons of Heroes, where they failed in just about every category I listed.

While I consider the last two seasons of Heroes to be an apt comparison to the writing on The Following.

Enjoy the show because it entertains you. More power to you and I'm happy you're enjoying it.  But please don't try to convince me it's well written entertainment.  

p.s. I think the reason I'm so annoyed by this show is that I truly expected it to be good.  The commercials leading up to its premiere seemed to promise a gritty, psychological thriller with depth.  I don't feel it's delivered on that promise though.  

[corruptrelic]

Don't think anyone's trying to convince you of anything, but rather just that we all have different opinions. As I said, my opinion is that The Following, as a work of pure fiction, is well written. I look at it as entertainment and nothing more. If I want realism I'll go watch cops.
Obviously there's quite a few others in that same boat as the show marches on to season 2. Remember this is FOX we are talking about - they will drop a show in a heart beat if it's not performing up to their standards.

On the flip side of that coin, I know some people don't like the show.. no problem at all, but when you say it's "badly written" it doesn't mean it's a fact, it's just one person's opinion. One I'm fine with and completely respect. There were even some people out there who didn't like Firefly, if you can believe that.

I just interjected my reasoning why *I* personally like the show.

And FYI, According to Jim was one of my favorite sitcoms (second to the Bundy's!) so it just goes to show we all have different tastes.

[hepcat]

And FYI, According to Jim was one of my favorite sitcoms (second to the Bundy's!) so it just goes to show we all have different tastes.

   I can't even begin to relate.  It's probably best if I avoid debating quality tv with you after finding that out.   

[Scraper]

And FYI, According to Jim was one of my favorite sitcoms (second to the Bundy's!) so it just goes to show we all have different tastes.

You just lost 5,000,000 points in this debate for that comment. Putting Jim anywhere near Married is an insult to everyone, including kittens.

[corruptrelic]

Good thing I started out with 250,000,000 points then otherwise I might be worried!

[hepcat]

Off the topic of The Following but on the topic of Jim Belushi, he wrote a bizarre piece for a newspaper a while back that essentially tells everyone that putting a woman in her place is the best way to keep a marriage strong.  It's a fascinating look at what I can only view as the inner mind of a socially stunted human being.  If it were parody or satire, I could understand and would laugh...but apparently this is how he really feels.

[rshetts2]

Off the topic of The Following but on the topic of Jim Belushi, he wrote a bizarre piece for a newspaper a while back that essentially tells everyone that putting a woman in her place is the best way to keep a marriage strong.  It's a fascinating look at what I can only view as the inner mind of a socially stunted human being.  If it were parody or satire, I could understand and would laugh...but apparently this is how he really feels.

The downfall of american society started when women began clamoring for rights.  Once we lost the barefoot, pregnant and in the kitchen dynamic, everything went to hell.  Look at it now, we have women voting, working and demanding equal pay, even running for president!  We may as well burn it all down and start over because theres no saving us now!