From: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org (chakram-refugees-digest) To: chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Subject: chakram-refugees-digest V7 #120 Reply-To: chakram-refugees@smoe.org Sender: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Errors-To: owner-chakram-refugees-digest@smoe.org Precedence: bulk chakram-refugees-digest Friday, September 21 2007 Volume 07 : Number 120 Today's Subjects: ----------------- [chakram-refugees] RE: Burn Notice ["Cheryl Ande" ] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Thu, 20 Sep 2007 22:17:30 -0400 From: "Cheryl Ande" Subject: [chakram-refugees] RE: Burn Notice Janice wrote: "You used the term "reveal." I think it was the reveal that I found worrisome. Why did there need to be a reveal? Maybe it's just me, but I would have been more entertained if I had had no clue what Evelyn's true objective was before she started shooting." You bring up an interesting point in that the "reveal" was obvious. Well I've been thinking about that and here's my take on it. First I think the writers/director really wanted the audience to be ahead of the curve on this one. This was already set up by Michael's narration when he says some thing to effect it's dangerous when an agent identifies too closely with people or situation he is involved with. So the audience is already clued in that Michael may be deceived. So the audience is watching for clues which Evelyn has to supply by her behavior. The audience is now becoming a participant in the drama - they begin to know something Michael doesn't and when the reveal happens they aren't surprised rather it confirms that they have been smarter than the hero. Secondly Evelyn's true nature is revealed early in the episode. This allows the character, frankly, to be more interesting. Let's face it 50 minutes of Lucy sniffling over her lost son isn't as much fun as watching Lucy shoot at people and try to seduce Michael over to the dark side. You however are right that this kind of plot twist is done way too often to be effective. The guest star who seems too good to be true often turns out to evil and the audience probably isn't surprised any more by the turn about, but then again guest stars have to be the villains don't they since regulars suddenly can't decide to turn on the hero. In fact I would say the only time I was really surprised by a plot twist on TV was the Xena episode "The Deliver". That was perfectly executed twist because the writer fooled us into thinking Caesar was the A plot and Gabby's friendship with Kraftstar was the B plot and suddenly it was revealed that everything we thought was wrong and the audience like the characters had been deceived. The only movie I have ever seen that really pulled this twist off successfully was Usual Suspects - I was completely surprised when the villain was revealed. Cheryl ========================================================= This has been a message to the chakram-refugees list. To unsubscribe, send a message to majordomo@smoe.org with "unsubscribe chakram-refugees" in the message body. Contact meth@smoe.org with any questions or problems. ========================================================= ------------------------------ End of chakram-refugees-digest V7 #120 **************************************