I know television creators ...
Question: I know television creators are taught to live in fear of the dreaded
Moonlighting fiasco of getting fan-favorite characters together, but doesn't the opposite hurt a show just as much? Shows like
Veronica Mars, in order to keep Veronica and Logan apart, sacrifice character development (and ratings). I also know of people who are getting tired of the Jim-Pam, Pam-Roy runaround on
The Office, wishing she'd finally gain a little self-confidence, if nothing else.
Veronica Mars only showed the relationship's good moments in brief flashbacks.
The X-Files' Chris Carter believed in the Maddie-David cautionary tale, but at least Scully and Mulder evolved emotionally season to season. In some situations, an actual romantic relationship between main characters can be just as entertaining to watch as lust and angst; that's why so many have caught on to
Grey's Anatomy.
Gilmore Girls went downhill because of writing and plot, not Luke and Lorelai hooking up. What's your take on it? Thanks!
Answer: As with most things, it depends on the show and the situation. Romantic drama and/or comedy is embedded in the premise of shows like
Grey's and
Veronica, so keeping core characters apart makes no sense. But adding complications to their relationships does, because that's the way of ongoing weekly drama. I'd argue that breaking up Veronica and Logan makes more sense than the way the Lorelai-Luke mess played out because of 1) the characters' respective ages, 2) the age of the shows themselves and 3) the circumstances.
Veronica is in many ways a youth noir about a girl living a hard-knock life in terms of social status and love life. It shouldn't be easy for her. Whereas on
Gilmore, Lorelai and Luke kept their distance for a good long time, working through a number of relationships before they finally started playing house. I agree that putting them together did not ruin the show. What ruined the show was separating them by a surprise daughter and a surprise proposal, two contrived twists this once-wonderful show has never quite recovered from and which is why I wish it would just gracefully fold tent. As for
The X-Files, one of the earliest victims of Internet "'shipper" mania, they mostly got that one right, up until David Duchovny chose to leave and Scully experienced her "miracle" pregnancy. There was no bouncing back from those ill-fated decisions.
