We’re circling back to something we’ve discussed before and to which I’m not sure I’ve found a satisfactory answer; there may not be one, truth be told. The quandary I’m having is: a good watchable, engrossing storyline versus the morality this good watchable, engrossing storyline is built around. For a show that was always billed as a “family drama” I’m not so sure this label holds its water. And yes, this is still just a silly little fantasy show, but is there a morality switch in our heads that goes off when the TV goes on?
I keep using Snowing as an example because they’re held up as “perfect true love” on the show but I’ll dip my toes into the other ships as well.
Season one, for me, is hands down the best season of the show. I was rooting for Snow and Charming in the past…but I was also rooting for David Nolan and Mary Margaret Blanchard. Now, as @Surayya pointed out a page back, this was an extramarital affair. It’s called that in “The Stable Boy.” Now to David and Mary Margret’s credit, they recognized the amorality of their actions in regards to David’s wife, Kathryn. However, this did not stop me rooting for the couple who were doing something that is morally bankrupt because it was engrossing. And we covered ourselves with, “well, they don’t know who they truly are. If they did, David wouldn’t be with Kathryn in the first place. This is all the fault of the Curse.” So my realistic moral problem was squashed by the fantastical reality of the show.
A brief aside, but is this a problem of modern television? Affairs are left and right on TV. For the first few seasons of Grey’s Anatomy, I wanted Meredith Grey and Derek Shepard together more than I wanted air to breath, yet he was married to Addison. On Scandal, I actually like Olivia Pope and President Grant, but he’s married AND the President of the United States and if the affair was ever confirmed, he could loose his position! On Outlander, I am in desperate need of a Jamie/Claire hug, kiss, something other than the steamy snark happening. But she’s married and (understandably) lying to everyone about who she is. Is good quality television predicated on presenting something amoral to the audience as watchable? Is this an exercise in wish fulfillment? Are we all longing to be more open sexually, attachments and commitment be darned? (I’m wondering how many of you just shouted, “what?! RG NO!!!” And if you did…what does that say about what we find enjoyable?)
Moving away from Snowing, we were discussing earlier in chat the OutlawQueen and Maid Marian situation. Here again we have two people who have presented as “supposed to be together” (RH and Regina) yet someone else gets in the way, Maid Marian, Robin’s wife. How do we resolve this and still keep a sense of “morality” about the show? If Marian dies and Robin does running back to Regina, is that REALLY the kind of man we want for our favorite Evil Queen? If Robin decides to leave Marian for Regina, is that “fair” for Marian and with whom do our sympathies tend? If Robin decides to STAY with Marian and leave Regina, do we applaud this or do we hate him for this?
@PriceofMagic and I discussed Belle as enabler for a drug addict and what kind of moral message this is sending as far as how supportive is too supportive. But if Belle walks clean away from Rumple, will we shun her for not sticking by her man; after all she made promises and vows!
Dipping my toe briefly into the CaptainSwan ship, Hook was a pirate for some 300 years and I’m going to assume it was not sunshine and rainbows. Does he owe it to Emma to explain his past, even his most recent past like killing Blackbeard to get the Jolly Roger back, even though Ariel was counting on Hook’s help? What kind of lies are okay to tell your significant other? Is total honesty more morally responsible? And if Hook never fesses up, do we approve of a relationship that hasn’t been perfectly honest with one another?
There are more examples from other ships, but I wanted to spread out the love a bit more.
All of the things I have brought up make for GOOD programming, or else we wouldn’t be here. But what kind of moral message are we taking away from the show (and its ‘ships) as a whole?