Non-spoilery comment on TVD 3x18, "The Murder of One".

[intrikate88]

Something I don't get about people on TV, just in general.

Why is everyone generally incapable of talking rationally about their feelings? It's all I'm just going to say something ambiguous and then stand there silently while the other person hears what they want to hear. It's ridiculous. I mean, maybe I'm just a clockwork girl who talks too much, but I have found myself perfectly able to say "I am interested in you. Shall we see how that goes?" or "I know you like me and I have made the attempt to reciprocate but find it impossible. I'm sorry but don't want you to go on with a mistaken impression." 

It's really not that fucking difficult. I've had a few awkward moments but never received anything less than respect for my honesty and understanding.

And maybe it's been a minute since I've seen the episodes but as I recall, Elena and Stefan used to talk rationally. As Caroline said, "I miss well-adjusted Stefan."

Anyway. Caroline is beautiful and nothing hurts. 

Comments

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

This drives me crazy in television writing. I've heard this kind of noncommittal emotional dialogue in movies, too; but it seems to be a specific kind of television language now. So many plots depend on people misinterpreting these statements or not getting the whole picture or what have you, in a way that seems purely constructed and not reflective of how people really talk when they're in relationships or friendships or partnerships; or hell, in danger. It drove me bananas on Lost and it drives me bananas everywhere.

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

I guess I GET why it's written that way; you have at least three episodes' worth of misunderstandings and people doing stupid shit because they think the person they're in love with doesn't feel the same way, or whatever. But it's purely artificial drama, and I think it's lazy writing: instead of having a productive conversation and moving the characters forward, they're just chasing their own tails. You're right, it's not reflective at all of how people in relationships talk. Especially when they may have something important or difficult to say emotionally, but they ignore the fact that there is a practical context as well (such as when a character is trying to say if they have feelings for X or for Y, and it is evident to anyone that those feelings are irrelevant given that neither is a viable relationship choice at that time.)

Ugh, lazy writing.

[orange-crushed.livejournal.com]

It is the laziest writing. Are television writers so hard up for ideas to stuff into the second half of an episode or whatever? When characters are mad at someone, in love with someone, worried about someone, and you've established that they're an honest and forthright person, I expect that character to spit it out in a timely fashion. If they are a sneaky asshole, then have them obfuscate. Fine. But there are all these supposedly normal characters on shows running olympic-style rings around factual statements, and it makes me feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

[dreamingahead.livejournal.com]

WORD. This is why I could never quit GA no matter how much it messes with my favs. I've always appreciated how its characters would just come up to each other and say it exactly how they feel BEFORE the entire issue had become too artificial for me to buy it. I mean, they have legitimate conversations about things! It's like my haven after all the vagueness so many other shows like putting me through.

E.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o0_NyVK-zCg - show kills off half my OTP & leads the other half to believe he's survived the surgery for hours after that; I'm furious yet keep watching b/c it's explicitly addressed rather than lost in vagueness, so I get to process it too. GA may be many things, but I never had a problem with it dialogue-wise.

Also, I love your "Math/Drama" icon because it's true! Mind if I snag?

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

Snag away! I don't know where the icon came from or it'd be credited.

And yeah, the few eps of GA that I've watched I've noticed that the dialogue is straightforward that way, and I appreciate it. And in general, there is PLENTY of room for dramatic writing if the writers have to address what has been said, rather than tortuously have characters misunderstand what hasn't been said. I think everybody's seen TVD by now, so- if Elena, WHO HAS ACTUALLY IN THE PAST BEEN GOOD ABOUT DEMANDING CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE AND IN FACT DID SO WITH CAROLINE IN THIS VERY EPISODE, had said "I love you, Stefan. Damon also seems to have become someone I care about. If things had been the same before you went off the rails, I would still choose you, because you aren't crazy. But now both of you are making choices that are not going to end up being in my best interests, and I have family and friends to look out for, so our feelings? Need to be put on hold until we're at a point that acting on any of them makes sense. Okay?" I feel like that would have been in character for her. And I feel like it's something that Stefan, even in his current state, would understand. Because he admits to loving her but he's put her on hold too. I mean, his priorities and actions (in terms of: keep Damon alive, keep Elena alive, try not to let romance get either of them killed) are fairly equivalent to Elena's, so why is she the one left standing there speechless while he stalks off?

I JUST DON'T GET IT.

[dreamingahead.livejournal.com]

Thanks. :)

And in general, there is PLENTY of room for dramatic writing if the writers have to address what has been said, rather than tortuously have characters misunderstand what hasn't been said.

WORD.

Your scenario is definitely very in character for Elena - and way less frustrating. I only hope she hasn't confessed her feelings to Stefan because she wants to talk to Damon first, which I could at least understand.

[goldy-dollar.livejournal.com]

Late comment is late but YES. That conversation was terrible lol. I feel like they're stretching things out now for the sake of it in order to build up the ~who will Elena choose~ drama which they've always been pretty good about not playing into before.

[intrikate88.livejournal.com]

I agree. Maybe Stefan's not capable of thinking clearly, but Elena is capable of communicating, and yeah, they're stretching out the drama at the expense of characters we know.

SO READY for Caroline and Elena and Bonnie to gtfo of town on a girls-only roadtrip.