Comments on: The Black, the White and the Grey http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/ about the craft and business of genre fiction Fri, 12 Mar 2010 01:53:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Marsha Moyer http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4619 Marsha Moyer Fri, 23 Feb 2007 15:02:39 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4619 I saw the first episode and was sufficiently put off by the treacly writing and ludicrous plotting not to watch Part 2, other than the last 5 minutes. (Thank goodness! I would've missed the guest spot by my personal McDreamy, Kyle Chandler.) I did watch Part 3 last night (yay! more Kyle!) and was fairly satisfied by how it all played out. There was some really touching stuff, and most of the characters seem to be moving back toward their original personalities or growing in interesting or important, but viable, ways. Maybe the show will redeem itself after all. The writers had better stay on their toes, though; they came really close to blowing it, and I don't think most of the show's core audience will be quite so blindly trusting after this. I saw the first episode and was sufficiently put off by the treacly writing and ludicrous plotting not to watch Part 2, other than the last 5 minutes. (Thank goodness! I would’ve missed the guest spot by my personal McDreamy, Kyle Chandler.) I did watch Part 3 last night (yay! more Kyle!) and was fairly satisfied by how it all played out. There was some really touching stuff, and most of the characters seem to be moving back toward their original personalities or growing in interesting or important, but viable, ways. Maybe the show will redeem itself after all. The writers had better stay on their toes, though; they came really close to blowing it, and I don’t think most of the show’s core audience will be quite so blindly trusting after this.

]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4617 Therese Walsh Fri, 23 Feb 2007 13:24:06 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4617 I'm glad they made sense of the no-swim scene, at least, though I didn't see a Great Depression brewing with Meredith that would set up an attempted suicide. Maybe the writers should have shown the beginnings of psychological trouble in a few of the preceeding episodes? I was also glad to see the gang shoo'ed back to work. I’m glad they made sense of the no-swim scene, at least, though I didn’t see a Great Depression brewing with Meredith that would set up an attempted suicide. Maybe the writers should have shown the beginnings of psychological trouble in a few of the preceeding episodes? I was also glad to see the gang shoo’ed back to work.

]]> By: Cathy J http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4601 Cathy J Fri, 23 Feb 2007 03:50:46 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4601 I do watch Grey's Anatomy and I love it! It's my one guilty pleasure!! Things make more sense now, as far as Meredith goes. She chose not to swim because her mother (who has alzhimers - sp?) told her that she was just common and made her feel worthless since she was a young girl. I can completely understand that. In the end, Meredith's mother came through for her and in death told her that she was not common. She gave Meredith the self-worth that is so important in every child's life. She helped Meredith want to live and go back to Derek I love the Izzy / Denny connection. I love his character and the warm, loving relationship that he had with Izzy. I love McDreamy (Derek) and his love for Meredith. Everyone should be loved like that. I do watch Grey’s Anatomy and I love it! It’s my one guilty pleasure!!

Things make more sense now, as far as Meredith goes. She chose not to swim because her mother (who has alzhimers – sp?) told her that she was just common and made her feel worthless since she was a young girl. I can completely understand that. In the end, Meredith’s mother came through for her and in death told her that she was not common. She gave Meredith the self-worth that is so important in every child’s life. She helped Meredith want to live and go back to Derek

I love the Izzy / Denny connection. I love his character and the warm, loving relationship that he had with Izzy.

I love McDreamy (Derek) and his love for Meredith. Everyone should be loved like that.

]]> By: Mary Castillo http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4572 Mary Castillo Thu, 22 Feb 2007 01:00:21 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4572 I don't watch Grey's Anatomy but I do watch The Closer, Rome and Weeds. These are shows with writers who know how to use the characters to surprise, shock and titilate the audience. Just when you think you know, i.e. Brenda from The Closer, she says or does something that you might not agree with per se, but you have to find out what happens next. So for me, it's all about using what you've got right in front of you: the characters. Killing of Meredith is dangerous ground. If they bring her back, it'll be like Buffy, which in my opinion, killed the show. Mary C I don’t watch Grey’s Anatomy but I do watch The Closer, Rome and Weeds.

These are shows with writers who know how to use the characters to surprise, shock and titilate the audience. Just when you think you know, i.e. Brenda from The Closer, she says or does something that you might not agree with per se, but you have to find out what happens next.

So for me, it’s all about using what you’ve got right in front of you: the characters. Killing of Meredith is dangerous ground. If they bring her back, it’ll be like Buffy, which in my opinion, killed the show.

Mary C

]]> By: thea http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4568 thea Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:48:31 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4568 this is why ER has lasted so long, and Grey's Anatomy might not. but ter, you sorted out the problem pretty well. it should be interesting to see how they work it out. and if its lame-Oh, oh well!!! this is why ER has lasted so long, and Grey’s Anatomy might not. but ter, you sorted out the problem pretty well. it should be interesting to see how they work it out. and if its lame-Oh, oh well!!!

]]> By: Therese Walsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4567 Therese Walsh Wed, 21 Feb 2007 21:35:35 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4567 The show is getting a little lazy, Kath; you called it. I agree, Teresa; why didn't she try to save herself? A hit on the head would've help the believability of that sequence a lot, IMO. (The fact that she was submerged for what looked like a half hour is another matter, though!) Larramie, that was the best moment, wasn't it? Thanks, Melissa! The show is getting a little lazy, Kath; you called it.

I agree, Teresa; why didn’t she try to save herself? A hit on the head would’ve help the believability of that sequence a lot, IMO. (The fact that she was submerged for what looked like a half hour is another matter, though!)

Larramie, that was the best moment, wasn’t it?

Thanks, Melissa!

]]> By: Melissa Marsh http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4566 Melissa Marsh Wed, 21 Feb 2007 18:18:37 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4566 I don't watch this show, so can't really comment on how good or bad this last episode was. But I loved how you broke it down and showed us just how they broke the rules. I don’t watch this show, so can’t really comment on how good or bad this last episode was. But I loved how you broke it down and showed us just how they broke the rules.

]]> By: Larramie http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4564 Larramie Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:23:44 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4564 While not weighing in with any solutions or criticism, I will say that the Sloan-Derek ten second "scene" reached far beyond the TV screen...really. While not weighing in with any solutions or criticism, I will say that the Sloan-Derek ten second “scene” reached far beyond the TV screen…really.

]]> By: Teresa http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4561 Teresa Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:49:35 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4561 Have to admit they pretty much lost me with this stunt. I too didn't understand how she could just fall in and disappear like that - it didn't even look like she'd hit her head or anything! Can't she swim? even so, you'd think she'd resurface and struggle a bit before going under completely. When I can watch The Office instead (campy fun), I'll choose that. Have to admit they pretty much lost me with this stunt. I too didn’t understand how she could just fall in and disappear like that – it didn’t even look like she’d hit her head or anything! Can’t she swim? even so, you’d think she’d resurface and struggle a bit before going under completely. When I can watch The Office instead (campy fun), I’ll choose that.

]]> By: Kathleen Bolton http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/comment-page-1/#comment-4559 Kathleen Bolton Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:39:37 +0000 http://writerunboxed.com/2007/02/21/the-black-the-white-and-the-grey/#comment-4559 I don't watch the show (I hardly watch any network tv anymore) but something similar happened to Alias. At first it was fun trying to figure out who the moles were, the family drama of having a spy family with personal issues getting in the way, the forbidden romance, all that good stuff. I was totally hooked. Then Season Three hit. After watching preposterous storylines unfold one after the other, thinking the writers either burned out or were plotting while drunk, I gave up on it. Even the actors seemed like they were having a hard time keeping their eyes from rolling. And I think this comes from not having enough distance in the project. After so many years of doing the same thing, it becomes easy to take shortcuts, get lazy, imo. I don’t watch the show (I hardly watch any network tv anymore) but something similar happened to Alias. At first it was fun trying to figure out who the moles were, the family drama of having a spy family with personal issues getting in the way, the forbidden romance, all that good stuff. I was totally hooked.

Then Season Three hit.

After watching preposterous storylines unfold one after the other, thinking the writers either burned out or were plotting while drunk, I gave up on it. Even the actors seemed like they were having a hard time keeping their eyes from rolling.

And I think this comes from not having enough distance in the project. After so many years of doing the same thing, it becomes easy to take shortcuts, get lazy, imo.

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