All of a sudden, cable dramas have gotten sucked into a prestige trap: If they needlessly elongate and stretch their plotlines, then somehow that slowness can be worn as a badge of honor. The Killing dared to spin its wheels for a full season and still not answer a damn thing by the end, while AMC's Rubicon spent several episodes barely budging from its starting position, and the only thing swift about it was its cancellation.
Last night, Ryan Murphy unveiled his upcoming FX drama American Horror Story to reporters, and of the many rules it breaks, the biggest one might be its gleeful defiance of the slow-as-molasses trend. So much happens in the first episode of this haunted-house series — so much that you would normally expect to be seeded over the course of several episodes or even several seasons — that you can't ever look away. By the time this show hits episode three, the characters could plausibly be in outer space at the pace it moves at.
Source: Full article @ Vulture
American Horror Story - New Scoop from Ryan Murphy
4 Aug 2011
American Horror Story
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Well that sounds interesting... maybe. Too much chaos without context is a bad thing, but if they can find a way to balance many, many events with a coherent story...... it might be good.
ReplyDeleteSeeing as it's Ryan Murphy..... I'm more skeptical than hopeful now ......
If anyone else would be behind this, I guess I would be really excited by now. But Ryan Murphy... I'm still reserved, but intrigued for sure.
ReplyDeleteIt's just as big a trap to get so wrapped up in telling a lot of story quickly that you don't tell it logically and in a compelling way. I'm looking forward to what I hope is actually a scary ghost story. I hope they can live up to their goals.
ReplyDeleteI must say I share your reservations...Glee, storywise, is really uneven for me. The few eps I have managed to watch all the way through.
I'm interested, but Ryan Murphy has me wary.
ReplyDeleteOn one hand I hate the purposefully slow storytelling trend. On the other, Ryan Murphy. Ugh. Tough call.
ReplyDeleteWell, it always depends on how well they do it. I don't often have an issue with pace (possibly because I'm easy to please), but I'd rather feel a little impatient than overloaded. Hopefully, they'll do a good job of it, and it could start a new trend...maybe?
ReplyDeleteHow dare they have the nerve to bash Rubicon. It was by far one of the most complex and engaging television shows of the last few DECADES. And to say it didn't go anywhere just proves how little people were paying attention. The story gradually and subtly develops with each episode.
ReplyDeleteIt'll be a miracle if American Horror Story comes even remotely close to matching up to it.
Agreed completely. Plot should never be the primary purpose of a show (even if it is high concept). If I don't care about his characters, regardless of the hundreds of insane plot twists, I'm not going to care about his show.
ReplyDeleteAnd then there's the Ryan Murphy factor...
Don't know what's the problem with slow-paced TV shows. It's not like there are so many TV shows that do it like that and then again Rubicon and The Killing are both great shows.
ReplyDeleteI am definitely looking forward to watch American Horror Story :)
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