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How to create a good sci tv show
Dear Writers of Sci Fi Shows,
You make me sad. Why .... why do good shows get cancelled! Why?
So as a long time fan of science fiction and fantasy, I have both watched and read a great deal of genre specific media. In particular, I have seen a lot of short lived sci fi shows and ones that went on for years and years, good and bad. I have gleaned a few ‘tips’ as it were for current and future sci fi tv show writers, which will only make the show a) good b) long running. These tips are:
Plot it all out for five years.
If you are going to have aliens, create a plausible solution for ‘universal’ translation
Good Villains
Character development over Plot/Convenience
Consistency in technology/rules/behaviour (don’t break them for plot device sake)
Plot over special effects
Interesting Character does not equal SOB
Balance action and Drama
Plot it all out for five years.
It doesn’t have to be complicated or overdetailed, but have a clear, delineated end goal for the main characters and main story. Seasonal arcs are to be expected, if not encouraged but should all tie into a main overall arc. Writing season to season only encourages inconsistency and unnecessary changes.
If it looks like the show is going to go for more season than five, plot that out too, for more than one or two seasons.
Yes there is a risk of cancellation and unresolved plot lines, but gives fans all the more impetus to demand the show’s renewal etc. And personally I appreciate good story over hurry up and finish plots.
Warning: do not over complicate storylines – soap operas in space are not required. If we wanted a soap opera, we’d watch Grey’s Anatomy.
Good Example: Babylon 5
Bad Example: SG1 and Star Trek
If you are going to have aliens, create a plausible solution for ‘universal’ translation
Sounds simple, I know, but it becomes a basis for the ‘consistency’ mentioned in point 5. If you don’t establish this right off, it becomes a running joke. As viewers we understand that we can’t have subtitles for everything, or a lot of episodes around miscommunication but, make it reasonable, sensible or something. And do it in episode one.
Good Example: Farscape (eh?)
Bad Example: Stargate SG1
You need ‘good’ villains
Whether alien or human, or something in between, make them worthy villains. Not caricatures or stereotypes of mustache twirling mad men. Not confused and conflicted, just misunderstood people. Villains! With evil plans, with rational goals, who kill people directly and not with elaborate Bond-style traps.
We need someone who we love to hate, who has interesting qualities, but whose purposes are directly in conflict with the heroes/main characters. And resolving the villain’s plots should not be a easy feat, not insurmountable.
A good villain is almost, if not, as important as the hero, as we define the hero against their performance to the villain.
Good Example: Borg
Bad Example: Cylons in BSG. So much potential so little interest in the end
Character development over Plot/Convenience
Often, especially in big casts, character development is used as a plot device – a person’s secret past, or hidden agenda, or tragic family story. While this can be an effective story, the trick is not to reveal the character development in the episode in question, but to do so gradually (see point 1, planning). That way a viewer is rewarded for their loyalty by knowing already that character b has serious issues with neglectful fathers, before episode 12, in which a neglectful father is revealed, because in episode 3 character b confided, revealed such.
Treat the characters as plots themselves, rather than simple chess pieces to move out the plot.
Last note on this point would be around – reaction and aftermath to major events. This needs to be demonstrated, shown, mentioned, something in subsequent episodes. If something traumatic and terrible happened in episode 5, episode 6 should start with people crying, or mentioning that someone is crying. It does not have to be overworked, or drawn out, and pref not covered in a flashback, but cover it, allow continuity of the characters between episodes.
Consistency in technology/rules/behaviour (don’t break them for plot device sake)
It’s science fiction and we get the fiction part. Majority of viewers are happy to handwave physics impossibilities or inconsistencies however, but universe specific technology or rules or social conventions, stick to what you institute from one episode to the next. And don’t break rules or whip an exception out, simply for the sake of an interesting plot.
Treat your audience like reasonable adults who pay attention to these things, because we do. Its ok to reveal a hidden flaw or weird exception, but it shouldn’t be something so massively contradictory to previously stated rules. And it’s the same with alien races. Be consistent with their history, culture and issues.
Good Example: Babylon 5
Bad Example: Stargate SG1 and any rules around stargates or history of the Ancients
Plot over special effects
Sci fi tends to be special effects heavy, with a large part of the budget on special effects. But trust me, we want decent plots, decent characters and actors over special effects. Green screen and actors are not actually your friend – actors vs actors is best. And there is more to space than space ships and stars, and worlds that look like BC. Get creative on your worlds and requirements for technology.
Good Example: Farscape and Dr Who
Bad Example: Transformers 2. Special effects and utter rubbish drivel for a plot. You need characters with more drama than just worrying about a hot girlfriend.
Interesting Character does not equal SOB
Someone who is interesting, multifaceted, layered, ‘human’ is not automatically a hard case or SOB. Strong female characters do not need to be physically tough and beat up the men. Tragic past does not equal interesting present. Aliens should not have the same emotional response to events as human characters. Would it not be more interesting, entertaining for a frightened alien character to become overly friendly and laugh, or for a strong female character to be firm and diplomatic and not be called an overbearing bitch?
Good Example: Defying Gravity cast – really interesting, strong characters
Bad Example: BSG and SGU
Balance Action and Drama
Last point. We are sci fi fans. We are not tuning in to a courtroom drama, medical drama, or soap opera. We need action and drama. That means space battles, fights, alien worlds, capture, slavery, torture, revenge, love, hope! Grey’s in Space might sound like a good idea, but its not, because that’s a lot of fake disease and fancy medical equipment. Action!
Good Example: SGA
Bad Example: Babylon 5 (overly political)
Thank you
no subject
Also, with #6, a dose of realism is never bad. Bad Example: Transformers 2. Special effects and utter rubbish drivel for a plot. You need characters with more drama than just worrying about a hot girlfriend. It is highly unrealistic that said hot girlfriend's lip gloss would remain so perfect during their entire "adventure" given the fact that I can't make mine last more than 60 minutes ;)
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There's a lot to be said for realism... esp with morning hair, dirt and make up :)
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Anyway, I was quibbling on a few points because I agree with you on everything else. But basically, it came down to I'm actually kind of leery of 5 year plans, and prefer really solid ideas of the characters of the world, and for things to develop naturally from there, allowing for flashes of brilliance. (I mean, apparently the whole neuro-clone/harvey/crazy thing in farscape was something they decided after they realized it worked really, really well in "Crackers Don't Matter".)
And I'm not certain about the translator thing, because short of "a wizard did it", they just really don't pass muster. I mean, they work as handwaves, but any explanation isn't going to work when you look at it closely. Universal translation is a narrative convenience. But if their rules aren't going to make sense, at least they could be consistent about it.
And the third thing was a super minor disagreement, which is I agree with you about "strong" women characters, but if they must kick ass, I would wish that they actually be physically tough. I mean, no more sexy waifs doing ridiculous gymnastics in stilettos. Give me the Zoes and Olivias, who wear sensible ass-kicking shoes and who (despite being tv-gorgeous) look like they might actually be capable of kicking ass.
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Ahhh... I agree with you on being flexible enough to utlise actors strengths and new ideas and would agree that 'limiting' an overall arc to what was planned 5 years ago, is short sighted, BUT I think overall plots and ideas should be planned. Its not an easy thing, I agree, but a good sci fi should have an end goal in mind, milestones to reach it and make allowances for excellent actors and innovative ideas. :)
On the translator thing, we can agree to disagree. I personally don't think a universal translator is the best option, and that something more akin to a crash course in a common basic or mind dump of common basic is better.
Third... I concur. As fun as River was to watch her beating up Reavers, and how scary 6 was beating up soldiers, I agree, give us better or more realistic female warriors. Hell, give us a world where there is no gender, and men and women's roles are so interchangeable your preconceptions around those roles are automatically challenged :)
no subject
I guess on the planning thing/not planning thing where you fall depends on where you feel burned. I'm far more tired of stories that are determined to hit point A, B, and C and ending in point D come hell or high water, regardless of whether that makes sense for the characters by the time they get there.
On the other hand, shows that are continuously distracted by the shiny and never finish anything and are just making shit up as they go along in the hope that no one will notice are also kind of annoying.
And...now that I think of it, somehow Supernatural managed to do both. They're not mutually exclusive flaws.
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Supernatural has def done both and while shows like lost who had an end game in mind but still lost me because it was too drawn out. And BSG who seemed to make it up as they went along. You are right its a fine balance.