d7d2d6fd   
   XPost: rec.arts.tv, rec.arts.drwho, alt.tv.the-west-wing   
   From: doctor@doctor.nl2k.ab.ca   
      
   In article ,   
   pbowles@aol.com  wrote:   
   >On May 14, 5:10=A0am, Duggy  wrote:   
   >> On May 14, 6:21=A0pm, "Adam H. Kerman"  wrote:   
   >>   
   >> > Duggy  wrote:   
   >> > >On May 14, 4:25 pm, "Adam H. Kerman"  wrote:   
   >> > >>The Great Man Formula. Never trust your audience to figure out that t=   
   >he   
   >> > >>lead character is the hero, even if the character's name is in your s=   
   >how's   
   >> > >>title. Make sure you surround him with regular characters who are the=   
   >re to   
   >> > >>have plot points explained and who cannot even tie their own shoes   
   >> > >>without his help.   
   >> > >>You don't create a hero just be creating an intriguing and selfless   
   >> > >>character. He must be contrasted with the low intelligence of his   
   >> > >>companions.   
   >> > >Sounds like lazy writing.   
   >>   
   >> > Ghod damn right it is. And the formula never goes away, endlessly used   
   >> > in movies and especially tv cop shows.   
   >>   
   >> I hated in the early seasons of The West Wing that it was usually   
   >> Mandy, Donna or CJ that filled that role. =A0The main female   
   >> characters... Donna made sense, the others did sometimes, but it was   
   >> still annoying.   
   >>   
   >> Worse, I guess is when there are no characters that fill that role and   
   >> they explain everything to each other anyway... Star Trek & cop shows   
   >> are bad for it. - sure (s)he's the new detective but they still did   
   >> basic training, right?   
   >   
   >Well, in things like Star Trek where they have to give the viewer bits   
   >of made-up backstory it's necessary, and sometimes they inserted it   
   >quite well. In DS9, for example, Quark or Kira could act as the foil   
   >because they were outside the military (Quark) or Starfleet (Kira,   
   >sometimes also Odo) structure and have relevant plot points explained.   
   >I particularly remember one case when Sisko and Bashir went back in   
   >time, and they got round the lack of an idiot lackey by establishing   
   >that Bashir had never studied 21st Century history (and he filled the   
   >same role in Trials and Tribbleations, apparently not having studied   
   >23rd Century history either).   
   >   
   >Doctor Who was more or less founded on the same premise - Susan's   
   >character served little purpose other than to scream and have things   
   >explained to her by her kindly granddad, and a character like that was   
   >essential for the show's original (loose) aim of using its scenarios,   
   >at least the historical ones, to educate the target audience.   
   >   
   >Phil   
      
   susan is part of the family moreso than the TARDIS.   
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