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The Shady Post
Shadowed's Personal Blog From the Depths of Her Mind by: ShadowedSin  |
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My thoughts on the world and what is coming about for the future! Expect at least one post from the Shady Place of my mind at least once a week or once every two weeks when I'm busy.
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Dia daoibh mo gcairde! Nó sa bearla, "Hello my friends!"
I must be one of the weirdest girls around, but have anyone noticed how different fictional backgrounds construct plot? I mean the only way to really to think of is to sit back and devour content constantly. But, I'm getting ahead of myself. You see, I'm a big-big anime fan, a Queen of Weebs if you will! I'm kind of picky about the kind of shows that I binge and I spend as much time researching the world and the story as much as I watch it. It's a hobby of mine to absorb the content and pull it apart for ideas and more. I mean if you haven't figured it out, I'm like anyone else that studies Tropes as an art. I do it to make myself a better storyteller, and to build better worlds.
One of the biggest parts of western series is the formulaic way in how A and B plots are built up over seasons. This is pretty damn great if there is a Metaplot waiting in the wings. Most of the big series really show their true ability in writing when they actually move to check the King. Game of Thrones is perhaps one of the best damn examples of a series who spent years building and didn't know shit in how to finish it's own story. If you want a master class in how to finish a long term series, take a second to just watch Star Wars: Return Of The Jedi to see how you end a saga. Hell, Avatar The Last Airbender had a less shitty ending. I mean it, I refuse to watch all of Season 8 because I don't need to in how bad it was reviewed and more.
If you want a better way of thinking about it let's flip it. Anime especially Shounen Anime are all about setting up battles and shunting the story to the next big bad. Naruto does this on an epic level to the point of now inventing new intergalatic alien species. Let's not even get to Dragon Ball Z! Note: For those not in the know Shounen Anime are action stories focused on young male demographics. Some strangely enough seem strange, but have great storytelling. If you read through the plot structure and story in most animes their stories are broken up into specific miniplots. This is a lot like individual books in a long term series. Perhaps a good example is to follow simple cause and effect.
In the Safehold novel each story reveals new technologies and new movements in a world spanning war. Our main characters and their opponents gain new advantages and disadvantages for each movement. A good plot is a fantastic dance of move and counter move. The stakes are raise just in the right amount to pace it so that when the conclusion hits, baby, the audience begs for more. Some of the best long term stories aren't beholden necessarily to a mythical end game, but instead build the journey as it evolves. Perhaps one of the reasons the One Piece is the simple notion of becoming Pirate King and then watching the adventures grow from there. New powers arise and even more delicious plot is revealed. The best part about all of this is it feels part of the natural events of the world.
This all turns full circle back to my own current new project, Soul of Storms. I want it to be the first in a series, and while I have an idea for an overarching plot I'm letting it stew before going in-depth on it. This is a story that came to me a while ago, and I've wanted to tell for a while. A problem though is that it's all still being developed. I'm jotting down ideas and notes on each new character. The next step will be filling out the plot arcs I plan to attack and also the major antagonists. If you are curious about my work on Soul of Storms I'll be posting notes and more on my Ko-Fi Page.
Comments
I agree
Return of the Jedi was an excellent ending to the Star Wars saga. To me, the whole idea of 9 movies in the series was a wonderful idea when I was a child, but when it became the story of Anakin Skywalker, Return of the Jedi was a beautiful way to end it. It showed his redemption at the very end.
If 9 movies were a must, then they should have done 3 more in between the III, and IV. It would have been relatively inexpensive to change IV, V, and VI into VII, IIX, and IX.
Star Trek, showed a wonderful way to end a series too, with The Undiscovered Country. I would have preferred that Generations didn't kill off Kirk, however. I would like to think that he found Spock, McCoy, and Scotty and is now off exploring strange new worlds, and seeking out new life.
Nemesis was not the way to end TNG, nor was the last episode of Enterprise a decent ending.
So many series with weak endings. It seems as though Hollywood is able to get us hooked on a series, but doesn't have a decent way of closing it down. Their weak attempt at sequels shows it. They try to cash in on the success of the first movie, then have no way of repeating the success, with very few exceptions.
Hugs!
Rosemary
Nemesis is a terrible movie,
Nemesis is a terrible movie, gotta agree with that! I think my favorite Star Trek movie is still "First Contact" since I'm more of a TNG fan than anything else. I think one of the best ST series to have a meta arc was hands down - DS9. It spent two years building up to the Dominion War and the betrayal of Cardasia. That's a great way to spin a story. Later Star Treks have been super focused on either playing a series of arcs or spinning season long stories. Don't even get me started on certain other shows such as Angel which didn't do shit for conclusions :D
"I like to be creative in a fight. It gets my juices going."
-Xena Warrior-Princess of Amphibolis