Karin Shah's Blog - Posts Tagged "tv"
The Trouble with Lie To Me
Lie to Me has all the stuff I love in a show, a team who solve mysteries, lots of running around, a strong and complex central character, so I couldn't figure out why I stopped watching at the end of the second season.
I returned to the show, because I have to have something to watch on the treadmill (if I don't, I can't do it. I have to distract myself) So I went back and I figured out my problem. It's a problem the writers created from day one. Empathy.
It's a classic writer's technique. Elicit empathy for your characters and people will love them and care about what happens to them.
One of the most basic ways to create empathy is to submit a character to unfair criticism.
Cal Lightman is the hero of the show. He can be arrogant, but I still like him because of the many rooting interests the writers give him, other people like him, he's good at his job, he's very active. But, Lightman is always picking on one character, Loker.
Because of this constant unfair criticism (and, I have to be honest the actor is handsome. I know it's shallow. Don't judge me*g*.) which is barely explained, Loker is my favorite character on the show. Now, we have a situation where the hero is always bashing my favorite character. Therefore, making me like the hero less and care less about what happens to him and...I stopped watching. I'm not saying characters an't have conflict. Dean and Sam are always fighting. Sean and Gus fight. But, their relationships are equal. Loker is Lightman's employee, not his brother or his best friend from childhood. What do you think? Are you a fan of Lie to Me? Am I way off base? Are there other shows you can think of that have a problem like this?
I'd love to hear. And I'm not lying*g*...
Karin
I returned to the show, because I have to have something to watch on the treadmill (if I don't, I can't do it. I have to distract myself) So I went back and I figured out my problem. It's a problem the writers created from day one. Empathy.
It's a classic writer's technique. Elicit empathy for your characters and people will love them and care about what happens to them.
One of the most basic ways to create empathy is to submit a character to unfair criticism.
Cal Lightman is the hero of the show. He can be arrogant, but I still like him because of the many rooting interests the writers give him, other people like him, he's good at his job, he's very active. But, Lightman is always picking on one character, Loker.
Because of this constant unfair criticism (and, I have to be honest the actor is handsome. I know it's shallow. Don't judge me*g*.) which is barely explained, Loker is my favorite character on the show. Now, we have a situation where the hero is always bashing my favorite character. Therefore, making me like the hero less and care less about what happens to him and...I stopped watching. I'm not saying characters an't have conflict. Dean and Sam are always fighting. Sean and Gus fight. But, their relationships are equal. Loker is Lightman's employee, not his brother or his best friend from childhood. What do you think? Are you a fan of Lie to Me? Am I way off base? Are there other shows you can think of that have a problem like this?
I'd love to hear. And I'm not lying*g*...
Karin
Shiny Things 1/7/2015
Shiny Things January 7, 2015
Things that are distracting me this week...
Galavant on ABC. With music by Alan Menken, a pretty cast, and hilarious lyrics and one-liners, this irreverent cross between Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Once Upon a Time is not to be missed by musical fans! And we Psych and Supernatural fans get the bonus of Timothy Ormundson as the bad King Richard. He sings, he dances, he hugs. 'Nuff said!
More TV. Josh Gates from Destination Truth returns in a new Travel Channel show called Expedition Unknown! If you don't know him, you should. I love his tongue in cheek sense of humor. I wrote a ode to his old show Destination Truth (too ten reasons you should watch Destination Truth) and I listed him twice.
Still more TV. (I think we know what my Kryptonite is) American Haunting on Amazon Prime. This, new to me, ghost show fits the low bar I've set. It's about ghosts, but the first episode was very satisfying, as instead of just investigating and leaving the family to their haunted life, they end up ghost free.
Edits for my new YA Fantasy Romance HALFLING. Technically, since this is my actual work, it's not a distraction, but it's certainly concerning me. I actually love this part. Unfortunately, I love it a little too much and spend waaay too long thinking of the perfect word, simile, or metaphor! :-)
What's distracting you this week?
Things that are distracting me this week...
Galavant on ABC. With music by Alan Menken, a pretty cast, and hilarious lyrics and one-liners, this irreverent cross between Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Once Upon a Time is not to be missed by musical fans! And we Psych and Supernatural fans get the bonus of Timothy Ormundson as the bad King Richard. He sings, he dances, he hugs. 'Nuff said!
More TV. Josh Gates from Destination Truth returns in a new Travel Channel show called Expedition Unknown! If you don't know him, you should. I love his tongue in cheek sense of humor. I wrote a ode to his old show Destination Truth (too ten reasons you should watch Destination Truth) and I listed him twice.
Still more TV. (I think we know what my Kryptonite is) American Haunting on Amazon Prime. This, new to me, ghost show fits the low bar I've set. It's about ghosts, but the first episode was very satisfying, as instead of just investigating and leaving the family to their haunted life, they end up ghost free.
Edits for my new YA Fantasy Romance HALFLING. Technically, since this is my actual work, it's not a distraction, but it's certainly concerning me. I actually love this part. Unfortunately, I love it a little too much and spend waaay too long thinking of the perfect word, simile, or metaphor! :-)
What's distracting you this week?
Is this TMI? Shiny things 1/13/2015
Shiny Things 1/13/2015
Things distracting me this week–
Congratulations, Ohio State Buckeyes on winning a true National Championship!
I’m not really a football fan, but the Buckeyes are special to me for more than just geographical reasons (I live in a suburb of Columbus).
The last time the Buckeyes won a National Championship was the 2002 season. I remember it very well, because I was in the hospital having my first child.
(Warning labor story) she wasn’t due until February 6th, so it was quite a surprise when my water broke on January 3rd! I’d just been to the doctor the day before and been told everything seemed fine for her original delivery date, for goodness sake! But at seven am it happened. Because it happened so early, I acted like a total moron. (Me: It can’t be my water! It’s too early! DH: Call the doctor. Me(the moron): but no one will be there yet!) I finally got my brain together, called and was told to come to the hospital, back then it was called the Ohio State Medical Center, or OSUMC.
Skipping ahead, I am not a hero and was soon drugged up and attached to so many devices I told my sister over the phone that I felt like a Borg. Twelve hours later, around ten, the serious work began, but no luck. Meanwhile, OSU was busy playing in the Tostidos Fiesta Bowl.
I swear to this day, my doctors dragged their feet getting the OR ready so they could finish watching the game. My proof? At one in the morning my daughter was delivered and as the OB handed her over he said (and we have this on DVD), “and by the way, OSU won.”
So when you say, O-H and my kids return I-O, they come by it honestly.
Anybody else have kids born on “special occasions?”
Other things–
(Warning excessive whining) I’ve been fighting a cold/sinus attack from Hell/migraine since Saturday, so my edits for my New YA Fantasy Romance are going very slowly. Part of me says, “come on, push through you wimp!” But the other professional writer part says, “you’ll start to skim and miss things.”
Have you seen that commercial where the guy opens the door and says, “I’m really sorry, I’m going to have to call in sick tomorrow and he’s talking to a baby in a crib?” I feel the same way about edits, unfortunately, NyQuil (or any number of drugs) hasn’t made any difference.
My tree is still up. Yes, it’s artificial. You don’t have to picture a pathetic stick, dropping needles all over my hardwood floor. We always keep our tree up until after my daughter’s birthday, but I’m pleading edits. I have a history, though of getting it down late. One year, it was still up when my Mom came to visit in February (she’s never let me forget it!) Still, as I get older I’m trying to do better.
What’s the latest you’ve had yours up?
Wish me luck!
Karin
Things distracting me this week–
Congratulations, Ohio State Buckeyes on winning a true National Championship!
I’m not really a football fan, but the Buckeyes are special to me for more than just geographical reasons (I live in a suburb of Columbus).
The last time the Buckeyes won a National Championship was the 2002 season. I remember it very well, because I was in the hospital having my first child.
(Warning labor story) she wasn’t due until February 6th, so it was quite a surprise when my water broke on January 3rd! I’d just been to the doctor the day before and been told everything seemed fine for her original delivery date, for goodness sake! But at seven am it happened. Because it happened so early, I acted like a total moron. (Me: It can’t be my water! It’s too early! DH: Call the doctor. Me(the moron): but no one will be there yet!) I finally got my brain together, called and was told to come to the hospital, back then it was called the Ohio State Medical Center, or OSUMC.
Skipping ahead, I am not a hero and was soon drugged up and attached to so many devices I told my sister over the phone that I felt like a Borg. Twelve hours later, around ten, the serious work began, but no luck. Meanwhile, OSU was busy playing in the Tostidos Fiesta Bowl.
I swear to this day, my doctors dragged their feet getting the OR ready so they could finish watching the game. My proof? At one in the morning my daughter was delivered and as the OB handed her over he said (and we have this on DVD), “and by the way, OSU won.”
So when you say, O-H and my kids return I-O, they come by it honestly.
Anybody else have kids born on “special occasions?”
Other things–
(Warning excessive whining) I’ve been fighting a cold/sinus attack from Hell/migraine since Saturday, so my edits for my New YA Fantasy Romance are going very slowly. Part of me says, “come on, push through you wimp!” But the other professional writer part says, “you’ll start to skim and miss things.”
Have you seen that commercial where the guy opens the door and says, “I’m really sorry, I’m going to have to call in sick tomorrow and he’s talking to a baby in a crib?” I feel the same way about edits, unfortunately, NyQuil (or any number of drugs) hasn’t made any difference.
My tree is still up. Yes, it’s artificial. You don’t have to picture a pathetic stick, dropping needles all over my hardwood floor. We always keep our tree up until after my daughter’s birthday, but I’m pleading edits. I have a history, though of getting it down late. One year, it was still up when my Mom came to visit in February (she’s never let me forget it!) Still, as I get older I’m trying to do better.
What’s the latest you’ve had yours up?
Wish me luck!
Karin
Fear of what?
Since it’s NaNoWriMo, I’m going to share a writing struggle.
Every one of the Chimera Chronicles was inspired by something.
1. In Like a Lion has heavy the Pretender overtones.
2. Entity Mine was inspired by an episode of Discovery channel’s old A Haunting.
3. The Lion’s Share is inspired by an episode of Supernatural called Nightshifter.
4. Lion’s Prey in inspired by a Supernatural episode called Jus en Bello.
5. The Dragon’s Flame is a treasure hunt book.
I’m working on book 6 now, draft title Her Sexy Beast, and as you might guess, it’s centered on a Beauty Beast theme.
Oddly, I actually find it harder to write the parts that most closely mirror the original story. This morning I separated Sofia from Roan as called for in BATB, now I have to maneuver through the rest within the confines of the Chimera Chronicles mythology. I’m procrastinating. “I have to write a FB post!” Better check in on Goodreads, Instagram, Twitter, post to my blog, etc. it’s important to me that I do this well, and I fear my best will not be good enough.
It’s not the first time I’ve mentioned my persistent self-doubt, but I think it’s important to recognize, that these issues don’t just turn to ash like traditional vampires in sunlight after being faced. It can help to acknowledge the problem, but it doesn’t cure it.
Fear is often a motivator (though, I believe most steps taken as a result of fear are usually in the wrong direction). But for me it’s always been more of a roadblock.
Are you working on NaNoWriMo? Or just waiting eagerly for the fruit of us madly typing writers?
Is fear holding you back from something?
I’d love to hear! (Selfishly, it make me feel less alone)😊
If you’d like to see this post with the pix, visit my wordpress blog.
https://wordpress.com/view/karinshah....
Every one of the Chimera Chronicles was inspired by something.
1. In Like a Lion has heavy the Pretender overtones.
2. Entity Mine was inspired by an episode of Discovery channel’s old A Haunting.
3. The Lion’s Share is inspired by an episode of Supernatural called Nightshifter.
4. Lion’s Prey in inspired by a Supernatural episode called Jus en Bello.
5. The Dragon’s Flame is a treasure hunt book.
I’m working on book 6 now, draft title Her Sexy Beast, and as you might guess, it’s centered on a Beauty Beast theme.
Oddly, I actually find it harder to write the parts that most closely mirror the original story. This morning I separated Sofia from Roan as called for in BATB, now I have to maneuver through the rest within the confines of the Chimera Chronicles mythology. I’m procrastinating. “I have to write a FB post!” Better check in on Goodreads, Instagram, Twitter, post to my blog, etc. it’s important to me that I do this well, and I fear my best will not be good enough.
It’s not the first time I’ve mentioned my persistent self-doubt, but I think it’s important to recognize, that these issues don’t just turn to ash like traditional vampires in sunlight after being faced. It can help to acknowledge the problem, but it doesn’t cure it.
Fear is often a motivator (though, I believe most steps taken as a result of fear are usually in the wrong direction). But for me it’s always been more of a roadblock.
Are you working on NaNoWriMo? Or just waiting eagerly for the fruit of us madly typing writers?
Is fear holding you back from something?
I’d love to hear! (Selfishly, it make me feel less alone)😊
If you’d like to see this post with the pix, visit my wordpress blog.
https://wordpress.com/view/karinshah....
