I was wondering what you thought about the possibility that participation in fandom breeds a higher level of expectation in the show and a greater level of disenchantment when that expectation isn't met.
Hmm - I think it does to some extent. I mean, I'm so used to all of Buffy's creaks and foibles now that it would be weird if it were more coherent than it was, but I think fandom definitely encourages you to pay attention more - you rewatch episodes and buy the DVDs between seasons, and if you're talking with other people about the show then you end up with a really high working knowledge of what happened in the past. And I think you immediately think that the writers/creators (if they're doing their job properly) should have the same sort of knowledge.
There've been clear moments in S8 where Joss has just forgotten things, and I think he's heavily implied that he works with BtVS on a continuing basis, as a series of stories going from one to another (and sometimes going on on at the same time as he decided which he was interested in), rather than one long cohesive WIP, so I wouldn't be surprised if he were working in the same way on the show when it was airing. So there are a lot of loose threads with the show - whereas fanfic tends to aim for satisfaction first and foremost, limiting itself to what it can successfully conclude in its constraints.
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Date: 22/04/2010 16:24 (UTC)Hmm - I think it does to some extent. I mean, I'm so used to all of Buffy's creaks and foibles now that it would be weird if it were more coherent than it was, but I think fandom definitely encourages you to pay attention more - you rewatch episodes and buy the DVDs between seasons, and if you're talking with other people about the show then you end up with a really high working knowledge of what happened in the past. And I think you immediately think that the writers/creators (if they're doing their job properly) should have the same sort of knowledge.
There've been clear moments in S8 where Joss has just forgotten things, and I think he's heavily implied that he works with BtVS on a continuing basis, as a series of stories going from one to another (and sometimes going on on at the same time as he decided which he was interested in), rather than one long cohesive WIP, so I wouldn't be surprised if he were working in the same way on the show when it was airing. So there are a lot of loose threads with the show - whereas fanfic tends to aim for satisfaction first and foremost, limiting itself to what it can successfully conclude in its constraints.
I don't know if any of that rings true with you?