My Yearly Defense of TV (and love for Buffy)

I was feeling sentimental and reflective this week after the announcement that Warner Brothers was going forward with the idea to reboot Buffy The Vampire Slayer without Joss Whedon. For the record, I do think it's quite early to reboot Buffy, it hasn't been 10 years since the show went off the air. And I love Joss Whedon, especially for Buffy, Angel, and Dr. Horrible, though I did enjoy Firefly and Serenity. Even so I think Buffy is an extraordinarily important character for our culture and I'm not opposed to the idea. It might, after all, introduce a new generation to Buffy as the show becomes more dated.

So since I was thinking about Buffy, I spent some time watching my favorite episodes from the sixth and seventh season, taken aback, again by how a story can reveal itself to you in fresh ways. While stories remain told as is, we as people change and new life experiences, relationships, and circumstances help us see the same tale from different perspectives. I loved it just as much as ever, fell in love with Buffy all over again, and was utterly delighted and moved again. I've watched the series through twice and some episodes multiple times but it's been awhile. I completely enjoyed feeling like I was both visiting a dear friend and discovering the show again.

This may be a politically incorrect thing to say on a book blog, but Buffy is one of the most important stories of my life. One that shapes the way I see story and the world, one that is in my personal "canon", when discussing other stories, I'll often say, "it's like when on Buffy..."

It's not, of course, just because it's a great story. I watched season 2 of Buffy when it originally aired. I went to college after that and when I heard a certain character was back on season 3 I felt like it cheapened the beautiful and dramatic ending of the second season and I stopped watching. I didn't watch again until I was living in Japan. The year and a half I spent in Japan are some of my most formative years...so much more happened than simply living in Japan and teaching English my entire worldview started to shift or expand and during that time I discovered Buffy again. I was completely obsessed. (this is how I get--can't help it!) I'd go home on Saturday night and my friends and I would order pizza and watch Buffy. (the cable channel would show 2 episodes at a time--this is also when I started watching Felicity, Friends, Sex and the City, and Angel--after years of not watching TV!) I loved it.

So I think that while I was changing as a person there was this story with these fabulous characters that I loved so much that filled in the down time in my life. The show of Buffy taught me so much about what I value in storytelling, it taught me about how deeply moving and transformational even watching TV can be. I realized it could be touching, funny, and thought provoking. And how could I not love this character--so complex, powerful, and yet alone. And even though Buffy isn't flawless, I love it for exactly what it is--as I always do with the most significant stories and art in my life. (think: Mockingjay)

Of all the arts TV gets the worst reputation. While you may be called nerdy for liking to read, when you like TV people assume you sit there in a vegetative state unable to think for yourself. While people will admit there are "fluffy" books, they think the act of reading is superior to watching TV. The assumption is that quality television is rare and that most of it is, well, American Idol. Reading--even if you've shut your brain off--somehow taxes you more.

But when I think about the stories that have impacted my life and the characters I love most, they are equal parts television characters and characters from books. I love both Scarlett O'Hara and Brenda Leigh Johnson, Katniss Everdeen and Buffy Summers, Jo March and Felicity Porter, Harry Potter and Dean Winchester, Peeta Mellark and Desmond Hume, Nancy Drew and Veronica Mars.

Television is just another excellent medium for telling a story, for inviting us to reflect on our own lives even as we get swept away into the lives of others. It IS an art and it can change your life if you let it. The best shows raise new ideas and reflect on age old concepts and entertain us all the while. They are layered and open to interpretation, discussion, and debate. Like books, it's up to the viewer to decide how much they want to invest.

I enjoyed my visit back to Sunnydale and will probably go back sooner this time. The end of the year makes me crave the comfort of dearly loved stories.

Want to give it a try? Some of my favorite smart shows are: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, LOST, Mad Men, Breaking Bad, The Closer, and Damages.

What are yours?

Disneyland for Nerds--My Day at Comic Con

I went to Comic Con today for the first time ever. I'm not really all that knowledgeable about comics though I suspect I would really enjoy them if I took the time to. That doesn't matter though, because these days, Comic Con is more a celebration of the popular arts.

My main objective was to attend the LOST panel, but I had a few others I was interested in seeing. I didn't spend much time looking at booths because I needed to stand in line. Plus, there was no room to breathe in there. I heard much grumbling from attendees about how overcrowded it was this year.

I met lots of interesting people while standing in line for the LOST panel. The Heroes panel was right before the LOST panel and the entire cast was there so Heroes fans started camping out in line the night before. I'm not even kidding. I enjoy Heroes, I'm somewhat obsessed with LOST, but I would never do that. Thankfully, showing up a couple of hours early I still managed to snag a decent seat. The Heroes panel was loads of fun because the energy was so high among the fans. They also showed us the season three premiere! It was typical Heroes, but very good, lots of laughs, lots of drama, and of course some surprises. I had somehow managed to forget how hot Sendil Ramamurthy is too, but he was looking good. ;)

The LOST panel was Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse. They were funny and gave gifts to the fans who asked questions and that in itself was amusing. Of course they didn't really give us any of the answers we all really want, but they did say that Rousseau's story will be told in season 5! That's good news. Matthew Fox showed up as a surprise guest, and that was nice. He was also looking good. (sorry guys, but these things have to be said sometimes.) They also showed us a new Dr. Marvin Candle video in which we learned his real name. He seemed very distressed. He said...."Time is not of the essence, time IS the essence" hmmm... I'm sure it's already available in multiple places online. ;)

After the LOST panel I decided to head out and check out the rest of the Con. But having learned my lesson about the lines, I soon headed up to where the Pushing Daisies panel was to be held. That line was also massive. In order to guarantee my seat for Daisies, I sat through the panel before it, which is something I never would have chosen on my own but turned out to be incredibly fascinating. It was called Comics Across Media and was about the influence of comics in all media with a variety of guests (mostly writers). I might share more about that later.

Pushing Daisies also had the full cast and I just love Lee Pace! :) They were all very fun and interacted well with the audience. It's always fun to be with other fans. Pushing Daisies is really such an original and sweet show and unlike anything else on television right now. They teased the season ahead and Kristen Chenoweth even sang an impromptu song for us!

After Daisies, I went to the Fringe Q&A session. I missed my chance to see the pilot, but I was delighted at the chance to see J.J. Abrams in person. He had a hand in two of my most beloved TV series (Felicity and LOST) and this one looks good as well. It turns out he talks a lot. In any case, Josh Jackson and the two of the other actors were there as well (sorry to tired to look up their names) and while this panel was interesting, it's hard to think too much about it since I don't yet know the show.

One thing I have to say that I loved about all of this is that the writers and showrunners are truly the stars. I couldn't help but notice that the actors and actresses said very little and that most questions were for the writers. I love that!

So even without being a total comic geek, I still had the sense that these were my people today. :) I met a lot of interesting people and learned a lot. And it was good fun.

But I'm dead exhausted. So if you read this thanks for reading! (btw, the title is what someone I met called Comic Con...not me!)

Everybody Likes Vampires and I Do Too

I know I've mentioned before that I have a certain fondness for the vampire mythology. I have since I was like 13 years old and it has always horrified my mother. I know it shows up here from time to time...my love for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, etc.

I generally don't like to go around shouting about it because well a couple of reasons. The first being that some people have more than a mere interest in vampires--they are obsessed. They file their teeth into fangs, wear nothing but black, and join little vampire cults where they drink each other's blood. Yeah, I'm not like that. I can go for months without even thinking about vampires. :)

The other is that some people are not very open minded about the idea and might try to perform an exorcism on me or something.

But there's just so much to love in a well written vampire story. Angst, forbidden love, quest for redemption, good vs. evil, etc. And the past few years, vampires have been explosively popular. I think part of it is due to Stephanie Meyer's series of books. (I haven't read those--but I have my own vampire YA series I love from when I was young) But I think the vampire mythology will always be reasonably popular if not explosively. Last fall CBS had a vampire series called Moonlight that quickly amassed a very devoted fan base. Not enough to keep it on the air, sadly. HBO is now introducing a new series this fall based on the popular series by Charlaine Harris. It's called True Blood and maybe it will be succeed where Moonlight failed. Now of course I don't get HBO, so I'll have to keep my fingers crossed for a DVD release.

Now, having said all of that I'd like to discuss...what's the appeal of vampires? I think part of what I love about the vampire mythology is always the vampire who seeks redemption. I loved Spike's arc on BTVS once he got his soul and sought redemption, and even continuing on into the fifth season of Angel. That same self-conflict in Mick St. John on Moonlight. Then of course there's the celebration of humanity in every vampire story. Haven't you noticed they usually wish they could be mortal again? And there's so much sorrow just in the living forever killing people sort of life.

On the flip side, we all know vampires in real life..the people who feed off of the life forces of others. We can hate them vicariously in a vampire horror story.

Do you enjoy vampire stories? If so, which are your favorites? Why do you think they are so popular? Please share! (also what do you guys think about the new embedded comments feature? yay or nay?)

Life Changing Fiction?

Have you ever read a fiction book and had it change your life? I mean real change...concrete noticeable changes in your life as a result of reading a work of fiction? It doesn't have to be a classic, in fact, I'd love for it not to be!

If so, please tell me all about it! You can either email me at mypalamy AT gmail DOT com or use the contact form.

Alternately, I'm also open to stories about how film (though not documentaries) or scripted television has changed your life.

These don't have to be big changes like you gave up drinking alcohol or moved to another country or something, but stories about how you became a different person in some way because of a book (or film or tv show)

I'm closing comments because I want you to contact me directly. Please spread the word and send all of your friends here to tell me their stories as well. Thank you!

Another Defense of TV

This week's weekly geeks question is what other methods of storytelling you like besides the obvious favorite of books.

Well, dear loyal readers it will come as no surprise that my choice right now is a well executed serialized television show.

I think TV is highly underrated. If you actually admit to liking TV, people look down their noses at you. Sometimes, they'll say things like...I don't have time to watch TV. (this goes along with "I don't have time to read fiction") You don't have to watch TV every night, you can have one show you like and it will take at most an hour a week of your time. Less if you TiVo it.

I have spent a lot of time here lately extolling the virtues of my favorite TV shows, but last week's Booking Through Thursday question about books and movies and the difference and this week's Weekly Geeks question have all made me think a bit more about these issues. One participant in last week's Booking Through Thursday said that movies and television require nothing of the viewer which naturally, I heartily disagree with. It's important to understand this in the context that I am first and foremost a lover of books. I will always love books best, that's just the way it is, but loving books doesn't mean that I can't see the value in a good movie or a TV show.

Here's why I choose TV over movies. I love character development. I also like an interesting plot, but movies tend to be more fully plot driven than television. (a book can be either/or/and quite easily) Television has the opportunity to develop characters while also telling a great story. LOST (I haven't seen the finale yet due to the no internet/cable fiasco so don't spoil me!) is a perfect example of this. My favorite characters on LOST are Sayid and Desmond. (the conflict in their characters are the most interesting to me) The episode Enter 77, about Sayid coming face to face with a woman he had tortured in the past and receiving her unsolicited forgiveness is one of my very favorite episodes of any television series ever. However, if you were simply telling a story about "a magical island" in a movie, you would not have the chance to tell a story that shows how a variety of people from completely different life situations interact with trying to survive and facing unexplained phenomenon. The story of Sayid would be completely untreated in favor of a much less developed Jack Shepherd. Speaking of...
While Jack can get on my last nerve on the show, I think his character is one of the best developed and true to life characters on the show. They have really done a masterful job with him, and I hope Matthew Fox gets an Emmy.

I have also slowly been working my way through the first season of The Tudors. This is a great example of being able to tell this story in a more complete fashion than a movie like the Other Boleyn Girl, which made no sense as it was much too rushed. (but the book is wonderful) Also I think Jonathan Rhys Meyers is a fantastic King Henry!

But wait! This discussion would not be complete without talking about Buffy. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is another excellent example of prolonged character development while telling a whoppingly good story. She spouts off a one liner, stakes a vampire, and in the end, it's really all about this magnificent character of Buffy, one of my favorites ever.

The downside of TV is that at times ratings dictate a story. If the audience is unhappy with the direction a show is going, they have a lot of sway. Additionally, some stories are stretched out because they just don't know when to stop.

So those are my thoughts, my defense of TV as a storytelling medium, and this was a lot longer than I planned...sorry!