LOL! Actually I think so many people confuse what they or others may want in fantasy with what they want in real life. For me, at least, the darker more angsty stories in fiction are more interesting than the happy ones - partly because no relationship is completely happy and partly because there's more chemistry between characters when they are at odds with each other - it shows up on screen more - it's the anticipation of that kiss which may or may not ever happen, the desire to seem them embrace, to see her admit her love for him or vice versa that captures us. In real life? It's just annoying - no one wants to sustain that tension forever or even deal with it. But onscreen or in a book - where we get but a brief snap-shot? It's enthralling. I was watching part of Gone with The Wind with my mother over the holidays - and she pointed out that part of the appeal of the Scarlett/Rhett relationship is you are dying for her to tell him she loves him - but know she never will until it's far too late. That tension between the two of them is why the romance has been popular for over 50 years. In reality? Shudder.
I agree the problem with Syd/Vaughn is the conflict between them isn't based so much on the characters themselves a la Rhett and Scarlett, but on outside forces or events that have just interfered. They'd be together if he didn't think she'd died and had remarried. That's not true conflict - so much as contrived conflict and it gets dull after a while on screen at least for me. Much more interesting is the relationship between Jack and Irina, who love each other, but whose personalities and allegiances get in the way, or even Sloan and Emily - where it is Sloan's own interests and flaws that cost him Emily. That's more complex. Same is true in BTVS - B/A only had Angel's pesky curse keeping them apart, how dull. B/S had so many other murky issues - such as Buffy's romantic ideals, Spike's mother issues, etc...you could write five to six essays and still not cover everything - this gives the writer far more story to examine. It's something worth keeping in mind as a writer, I think - if you create a romantic relationship between two characters make sure the relationship gives you something interesting to explore in each character and doesn't stagnate them. I think JJ Abrahms discovered this with Vaughn/Syd being together and happy last year - which is why he split them apart. The problem is the split is still a contrived one...the audience knows if Lauren were to betray Vaughn or leave, Syd/Vaughn would be back together. They need something more for it to be unpredictable or interesting, as it stands Lauren has unfortunately become, in some fans minds, nothing more than a hated obstacle.
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branchandroot
LOL!
Date: 2004-01-07 08:20 am (UTC)LOL! Actually I think so many people confuse what they or others may want in fantasy with what they want in real life. For me, at least, the darker more angsty stories in fiction are more interesting than the happy ones - partly because no relationship is completely happy and partly because there's more chemistry between characters when they are at odds with each other - it shows up on screen more - it's the anticipation of that kiss which may or may not ever happen, the desire to seem them embrace, to see her admit her love for him or vice versa that captures us. In real life? It's just annoying - no one wants to sustain that tension forever or even deal with it. But onscreen or in a book - where we get but a brief snap-shot? It's enthralling. I was watching part of Gone with The Wind with my mother over the holidays - and she pointed out that part of the appeal of the Scarlett/Rhett relationship is you are dying for her to tell him she loves him - but know she never will until it's far too late. That tension between the two of them is why the romance has been popular for over 50 years. In reality? Shudder.
I agree the problem with Syd/Vaughn is the conflict between them isn't based so much on the characters themselves a la Rhett and Scarlett, but on outside forces or events that have just interfered. They'd be together if he didn't think she'd died and had remarried. That's not true conflict - so much as contrived conflict and it gets dull after a while on screen at least for me. Much more interesting is the relationship between Jack and Irina, who love each other, but whose personalities and allegiances get in the way, or even Sloan and Emily - where it is Sloan's own interests and flaws that cost him Emily. That's more complex. Same is true in BTVS - B/A only had Angel's pesky curse keeping them apart, how dull.
B/S had so many other murky issues - such as Buffy's romantic ideals, Spike's mother issues, etc...you could write five to six essays and still not cover everything - this gives the writer far more story to examine. It's something worth keeping in mind as a writer, I think - if you create a romantic relationship between two characters make sure the relationship gives you something interesting to explore in each character and doesn't stagnate them. I think JJ Abrahms discovered this with Vaughn/Syd being together and happy last year - which is why he split them apart. The problem is the split is still a contrived one...the audience knows if Lauren were to betray Vaughn or leave, Syd/Vaughn would be back together. They need something more for it to be unpredictable or interesting, as it stands Lauren has unfortunately become, in some fans minds, nothing more than a hated obstacle.