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(WARNING: Contains spoilers for New Girl, Glee, Sex and the City, Friends, Scrubs, How I Met Your Mother... seriously, how many shows have done this?)
I know this is supposed to be a book blog, but as constructing narratives comes in many different forms today I'm going to be looking at TV, because TV is great.
Today I was catching up with one of my favourite US comedies, New Girl, which I've been massively behind on due to forgetting that streaming exists, when the unthinkable happened: Jess and Nick broke up. But before you fall into a chasm of despair and start watching Dirty Dancing on repeat, remember: they WILL get back together. They are 'endgame' - the recurring relationship being such a re-used trope that it has its own title.
At least Glee are self-aware:
TV, to a certain extent, reflects real life and unfortunately breaking up is part of that. The demise of a romantic relationship allows for the development of a character as a single person, or in a new relationship. It's a way of reflecting on the fact that not everything works out the way you'd like it or expect it to.
There are, of course, a number of couples who have broken up and gotten back together. Ross and Rachel, Carrie and Big, Ted and Robyn, JD and Elliot... the list goes on. I'm sure if Cory Monteith hadn't sadly passed away then Rachel and Finn would have fulfilled his character's "endgame" prophecy. This perpetually gives dumped losers like myself unfortunate doses of false hope. Not that you should look to ANY show where a columnist for a lesser-known New York newspaper can afford (seemingly) weekly pairs of Manolo Blahnik's and Prada shopping sprees for gritty realism.
But these are usually comedies, and we love a happy ending. In the case of Sex and the City's Carrie and Big, their turbulent off-on relationship was necessary. Carrie's never-ending quest for 'the One' turns a full circle, showing that her match was in front of her the whole time (it was obviously difficult to notice that when he was married to someone else and screwing her around, but oh well). It was the different experiences and development of both parties throughout the six series that made them realise they were right for each other in the end (I didn't entirely agree with that ending).
But what about contriving issues in already perfect pairing which leads to the eventual break up? Jess and Nick's break up left me scratching my head. It seemed to come out of nowhere, based on issues that up until that moment, weren't really evident to viewers. There comes a point in many long-running series where the writers may find themselves scrabbling for fresh ideas - and this may have been one of them. It creates a brand new conflict for when ideas begin to go a bit stale.
We love a good break up - well, not if it happens to us, obviously - but when it happens to a favourite couple it generates the emotional response the writers crave. Not to mention excitement. Will they? Won't they? Etc. Etc. And then the much desired happy ending when the estranged lovers eventually reconcile. And if you don't love a happy ending then I don't even know.
And when a couple have fought for their love, it seems in fiction land that the relationship is more meaningful. Passion and arguing go hand in hand, apparently. You're not soul mates unless you're fundamentally incompatible in some way.
But the main issue is, such contrived situations just seem like a cop out. It's like once a couple are together, there's no other way to develop them, or each part as individuals. There are plenty of other channels to explore, sources of conflict and excitement that deviate from this tired old formula - platonic relationships, careers, maybe even getting arrested. Just anything else. Otherwise you get characters that seem to primarily exist for their romantic possibility.
But some kind of relationship is obviously necessary. Because heaven forbid a character should find themself single when your show has run its course.
 |
| I think all the viewers knew how this was going to end, too *sniff* |
There are, of course, a number of couples who have broken up and gotten back together. Ross and Rachel, Carrie and Big, Ted and Robyn, JD and Elliot... the list goes on. I'm sure if Cory Monteith hadn't sadly passed away then Rachel and Finn would have fulfilled his character's "endgame" prophecy. This perpetually gives dumped losers like myself unfortunate doses of false hope. Not that you should look to ANY show where a columnist for a lesser-known New York newspaper can afford (seemingly) weekly pairs of Manolo Blahnik's and Prada shopping sprees for gritty realism.
But these are usually comedies, and we love a happy ending. In the case of Sex and the City's Carrie and Big, their turbulent off-on relationship was necessary. Carrie's never-ending quest for 'the One' turns a full circle, showing that her match was in front of her the whole time (it was obviously difficult to notice that when he was married to someone else and screwing her around, but oh well). It was the different experiences and development of both parties throughout the six series that made them realise they were right for each other in the end (I didn't entirely agree with that ending).
But what about contriving issues in already perfect pairing which leads to the eventual break up? Jess and Nick's break up left me scratching my head. It seemed to come out of nowhere, based on issues that up until that moment, weren't really evident to viewers. There comes a point in many long-running series where the writers may find themselves scrabbling for fresh ideas - and this may have been one of them. It creates a brand new conflict for when ideas begin to go a bit stale.
We love a good break up - well, not if it happens to us, obviously - but when it happens to a favourite couple it generates the emotional response the writers crave. Not to mention excitement. Will they? Won't they? Etc. Etc. And then the much desired happy ending when the estranged lovers eventually reconcile. And if you don't love a happy ending then I don't even know.
And when a couple have fought for their love, it seems in fiction land that the relationship is more meaningful. Passion and arguing go hand in hand, apparently. You're not soul mates unless you're fundamentally incompatible in some way.
But the main issue is, such contrived situations just seem like a cop out. It's like once a couple are together, there's no other way to develop them, or each part as individuals. There are plenty of other channels to explore, sources of conflict and excitement that deviate from this tired old formula - platonic relationships, careers, maybe even getting arrested. Just anything else. Otherwise you get characters that seem to primarily exist for their romantic possibility.
But some kind of relationship is obviously necessary. Because heaven forbid a character should find themself single when your show has run its course.
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