I can’t decide whether or not Gossip Girl is in a sophomore slump. The show is still awesome, but it’s quickly running out of storylines. GG has fallen into the trap that has destroyed many a teen drama: All the storylines are based on relationships. After every character hooks up with every other character, the show has nowhere else to go.
Already, Dan and Serena have broken up and reunited about 14 times. (I still don’t get why they broke up this last time). Writers today can’t think up decent storylines that don’t involve dating or hookups—the one exception being Friday Night Lights. Really, does anyone care about Jenny’s internship with the fashion designer? If they can’t think of a decent storyline for Jenny, they should just kill her off. I’m a busy a man. I don’t have time for teen dramas with shitty subplots.
The bro-mance between Chuck and Dan was well-executed. I liked how they set it up: Dan wanted to explore his wild side, and Chuck realized he had no real friends. But now this storyline is used up. They can’t go back to it.
Introducing new characters won’t work, because all the basic archetypes are already represented. Remember in the second season of The O.C.—when Ryan’s brother is released from prison and moves in with the Cohens? It was the same exact dilemma faced by Ryan in Season 1—a troubled teen adjusting to life in posh Newport Beach—except with a slightly different haircut. I knew right then and there that The O.C. was finished. I can’t fathom how it lasted 3 more seasons—or how Dawson’s Creek lasted 6 seasons with it’s Pacey-Dawson-Joey love triangle. Kids today will watch anything, apparently.
Saved By the Bell was all about Zach’s shenanigans—Zach getting out of detention, the Bayside-Valley prank wars--and it's still in syndication after 20 years! Even 90210 had decent non-relationship storylines, like Steve’s quest for the school’s “legacy key”—preposterous, but entertaining nonetheless.
I still love GG for now, mainly because Chuck Bass is the coolest teen villain since Johnny Lawrence in The Karate Kid. I’ll keep an open mind , but I’m not optimistic.
You know you love me. XOXO.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
3 comments:
A little sad there was no mention in regards to Nate and his crazy love triangle with the rich "Duchess?" Whatever happened with that storyline? I feel like it was just dropped and I was left feeling very slighted. I agree, Gossip Girl seems to be lacking lately, and I've totally moved on to One Tree Hill - child abductions, attempted murders, washed up high school kids - gotta love it!
this will happen with all shows now. What happens is that what used to be all the plot lines for 6 seasons (alcoholism, homosexuality, divorce, crazy-stalkers) they now cram into one. This is why the shows are better at first but also why they will never last
Ahh, never fear--"Gossip Girl: The University Years" should be headed to a TV set near you within the next 1-2 seasons. It probably wouldn't be all that bad--the class struggles that would ensue when Brooke's freshman year roommate at NYU is merely upper-middle class; the southern belle that gets introduced to the group and gets her virginity stolen by Chuck...The drama!
Post a Comment