Monday, November 30, 2015

Don't Come Back No More

My daughter and I have the best conversations about books and entertainment when she's home. We both caught up on Doctor Who over the weekend and (SPOILER ALERT) and cried together when Clara Oswald died. Clara has been almost dying or thought to be dead for a while now. We loved her as the Doctor's companion but now she's gone, and because the actress is leaving the show, we know she'll stay gone. Unlike the inability to die of other fictional characters such as many, many of the recurring characters over the yeas in Doctor Who.


I've been a Supernatural fan since the show started ten years or so ago. And I don't want either of the main characters to leave the show, but seriously? Those guys have died so many times and have been brought back along with other members of the cast.

We've all read books or watched movies where a characters dies but then surprise! They're not dead. It was a trick, magic or some intricate plan to fool the enemy. But it doesn't always delight the audience. It has to make sense in some way. In Supernatural, well it's supernatural. There are angels, demons and visits to hell, heaven and everything in between. Anything can happen. But if dead doesn't mean gone, the emotional impact of the loss is not only lessened but lost entirely.

Crime shows fake death all the time. How often is the same trope used? If a writer is going to do this in their book, they must find a way to make it fresh and new. In real life, faking a person's death would not be near so easy so how do writers make it believable? What are the complications? Does it help the reader or viewer connect to characters and does the plot remain believable?

Don't forget, IWSG post time is this Wednesday. We can all bemoan the fact that December is upon us and the end of the year in sight. ALREADY! I'm still shaking my head in amazement at the terrific short stories submitted by this impressive groups of writers for the anthology contest. The entries were awesome!

Can you name another show or book that uses the fake death or return from death trope? Does every crime show use it at least once every season? Perhaps I just want to know how Jon Snow is not dead this season. Are you ready for December?

For cyber Monday, I'm going to order a book online. I have a B&N coupon for 20% off and my daughter has three books on her Christmas list. Are you shopping today?


21 comments:

nashvillecats2 said...

I can remember the first DR. WHO episode, there that's teeling my age.
Thought the series were great but of late have not watched it.
Great post Susan.
Yvonne.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Jon Snow isn't dead. I almost guarantee it.
Star Trek used that trope many times. Just think of the ending of Wrath of Khan.

M.J. Fifield said...

I agree with Alex...Jon Snow isn't dead.

The most recent example I can think of is Glenn from The Walking Dead.

Happy shopping!

betty said...

No; not shopping today, but I'm sure there are lots of great deals out there! My hubby likes the Arrow series that is on; one of the characters Sarah died a season ago; they brought her back this year. The way they did through conjuring with a spell kind of turned me off with the show (not that I watched it much, mostly background noise when I'm on the computer). Also kind of turned hubby off for the show too. It is true though on most series either someone will die or all of the characters will be injured somehow, some life threatening, as a way to get ratings I think :)

betty

Maria Zannini said...

Big Dr Who fans here. Fortunately, we don't get it on our channels. We have to wait a whole year to catch it on Netflix.

Clara has died and been reborn so many times, I don't even care anymore. I hope he gets a snarkier companion next time. He needs someone to ruffle his feathers.

Madeline Mora-Summonte said...

Oh, I was just going to say what MJ said abut Glenn from TWD. On the one hand, I'm happy about what happened. On the other hand, I feel a bit cheated.

So nice you and your daughter talk about that kind of stuff. Fun!

L. Diane Wolfe said...

When a character basically can't be killed, that takes away a lot of the suspense.

Jo said...

I haven't watched Dr. Who since it's inception in the UK many years ago.

Jon Snow isn't dead Alex?

Ann Bennett said...

I don't know if I'm lucky or really missing out. The only shows I watch with dedication is The Big Bang Theory and Saturday Night Live which shows where my love lies.
Happy shopping, I hope you get some good deals.

Liza said...

I hadn't planned on shopping today, but the 28 emails in my in-box seem to think I am. Haven't clicked on one yet...but the day is long and I am off from work...

Glad you have such fun with your daughter.

Pat Hatt said...

Stargate SG1 used it a ton. Daniel died like 50 times. Supernatural has used it a lot on those two, as well as many others, but they always come back in weird ways for an episode or two and then back to being dead. Figured Bobby would be back by now, but they are keeping him dead.

Arlee Bird said...

No cyber stuff for me unless it's a last minute impulse thing. I did order some books over the weekend. I have not seen Supernatural and sadly I've yet to see any episode of Dr Who which is something I should do since I like time travel. I started to watch an older Dr Who movie not too long ago, but I couldn't finish because there was something else pending that prevented me from finishing. And untechnological me doesn't have one of those devices to record shows.

Arlee Bird
Tossing It Out

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

HI Susan - I sometimes get to see the Dr and I was fond of Clara - liked her name too! Yes - they certainly bring characters back to life ... did Conan Doyle kill Sherlock off - I don't think so ... it's those elves messing around again! Delighted you both have these great discussions ... cheers Hilary

Tammy Theriault said...

I only have seen a few episodes because I'm not a big sci-fi fan. Don't scold me!!!

J E Oneil said...

I think it's cheap when a character seams to die and then is miraculously alive again. The Walking Dead did that just last week and as much as I like Glenn, it just felt like a tease. If you don't want a character to die, don't write them into such a corner!

Jemi Fraser said...

Wrath of Khan & Search for Spock - but I still cry when Spock's in the chamber!!

Chrys Fey said...

I used to be a big fan of Supernatural but got out of it when one brother would go to hell and come back different and then the samething would happen to the other. Ugh!

Chrys Fey said...

I used to be a big fan of Supernatural but got out of it when one brother would go to hell and come back different and then the samething would happen to the other. Ugh!

Heather R. Holden said...

I've lost count of all the times I've seen this trope used. I'm more surprised when a character actually stays dead at this point, haha. I must admit, I have a couple projects where characters return from the dead, but I always make sure it destroys the status quo in some way. If things could easily go back to the way they were before, then the death feels as if it was done purely for shock value, which gets old fast!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

I downsize my satellite service and lost Supernatural. I've since learned that many episodes were filmed in Vancouver. I know the city, yet I didn't realize. Which makes me wonder if I pay attention to details. Not like in writing where your brain registers what your eyes see. Most times. As for he's dead, he's alive. Remember the first TV version of Dallas?

Patricia Stoltey said...

I have that same question about Jon Snow....

I can't believe 2015 is almost over but I'm definitely ready for a fresh start in a new year. Shopping though....maybe I'll just buy everyone a book whether they want one or not1