AfterEllen 1/12 – Adam and Eddy Answer on SwanQueen Questions

[nevermore]

I don’t think they meant any harm by it and I don’t think they believe their fans are idiots.

Hmmm. I think that maybe @Bar Farer is on to something, though. It could, of course, just be the product of the editing of the interview — but there is something slightly, well, not derisive, exactly, but a bit dubious about their apparent “surprise” at the fan reactions. I don’t think they’re maliciously lying to fans, necessarily. But based on their reactions to criticisms, those two don’t seem to always hold the highest opinion of the OUAT fandom. Again, this could be just coming out as the result of the editing, but some of Kistowitz’s Twitter comments/interviews over the years had all the social grace of a cement mixer.

Maybe the fact they’re being a bit defensive is understandable, though. I mean OUAT is, by its very nature, a fanfic. It’s derivative by definition, and because all these characters are part of a kind of “cultural commons” I think many fans feel that they should have a say in what happens to them and how their stories are told. Shipping is just an extreme manifestation of this. And A&E can’t do anything about this. So when they’re saying “we just want to tell stories about these characters” — sure. Fine. But I think what they don’t seem to acknowledge is that these characters aren’t theirs, or Disney’s, or ABC’s — some are hundreds and thousands of years old, and will likely outlive all of these structures. So the very nature of the project produces the sort of fandom they now have. Feigning surprise — oh golly, we had no idea! ships? what ships? — is either disingenuous, or staggeringly un-self-reflexive.

I also suspect that some works/writers lend themselves to “shipping” more than others — try shipping anyone from GRR Martin. If you know what’s good for you, you just won’t. And no amount of whining on social media by the fans will change the fact that he will eventually get around to killing them all [characters, not fans]

Your other point, about having run out of stories to tell, is dead on.

[RumplesGirl]

They may not believe that their fans are idiots, but they sure as heck hope that we have amnesia or are unconcerned with tiny details or that we will be willing to swallow whatever magic handwave/mcguffin they present for why X is suddenly different than it was a season ago. The fact that they haven’t figured out that we are obsessive fans with an eye for tiny little details is disturbing.

"He was a lot of things to me" "The only conclusion was love"

[thedarkonedearie]

because all these characters are part of a kind of “cultural commons” I think many fans feel that they should have a say in what happens to them and how their stories are told. Shipping is just an extreme manifestation of this. And A&E can’t do anything about this. So when they’re saying “we just want to tell stories about these characters” — sure. Fine. But I think what they don’t seem to acknowledge is that these characters aren’t theirs, or Disney’s, or ABC’s — some are hundreds and thousands of years old, and will likely outlive all of these structures.

Couldn’t have said it better myself.  Unfortunately because we already “knew these characters before the show existed, it leaves open more scrutiny I think.  But that’s sort of the door they opened when they dig into our childhood and revamp the stories and characters we loved.  It was awesome, but when they make some mistakes, it truly is annoying beyond belief.

They may not believe that their fans are idiots, but they sure as heck hope that we have amnesia or are unconcerned with tiny details or that we will be willing to swallow whatever magic handwave/mcguffin they present for why X is suddenly different than it was a season ago.

I don’t think they hope we have amnesia.  I don’t think they hope we are unconcerned with tiny details.  It has nothing to do with their relationship with fans.  I honestly think that THEY just don’t care enough.Things get changed in the writer’s room a lot.  It’s bound to happen with so many writers on a show thta has gone on for 4 1/2 seasons.  And I think they just are willing to sacrifice some canon and odd character behavior to move the plot where they want to get it.  Not saying this is a good idea.  It’s annoying as hell.  But I’m sure they know by now that the loyal fans will catch the inconsistencies, but they just don’t think it’s as big of a deal as we think it is.  And that’s their fault for being so arrogant.  But I don’t think it’s a shot at their fans at all.

[Author]

Posts