Thoughtful Thursday – Cliffhangers, Character Assassinations and Continuity

Photo Courtesy of Microsoft Clip ArtAs you may have realized by now, I am a TV junkie and so today’s Thoughtful Thursday is about some happenings in my favorite shows and the cliffhangers and character assassinations that effect the continuity of those shows.

For starters —

STOP IF YOU WATCH NCIS, BONES OR CRIMINAL MINDS and haven’t seen the season finales. THERE WILL BE SPOILERS in this post!!

Okay, you’ve been warned . . .

I’m watching the two part NCIS and never saw it coming. A good thing I guess, except . . . Did we ever have a clue before the show the other night that Jenny Shepard was dying from some kind of wasting disease? Did I sleep through that (my family will likely say YES!) Truly character assassination and I will miss Lauren Holly because romantic optimist that I am, I kept on hoping her and Gibbs would reunite.

But if that wasn’t enough (especially after they killed off the other female agent a few years back just when it was getting good with DiNozzo), they end the show by transferring out all of the major characters. HUH?? They pulled a HOUSE?

I didn’t much care for it in HOUSE when we lost most of the regular cast that we had grown to know. I’m not sure how NCIS will start off the next season, but it would sure be damned disappointing if we didn’t have Ziva, Dinozzo and McGee back as regulars because without them, the show is losing continuity much like HOUSE lost continuity. To be honest, HOUSE used to be a do not miss and now, I have a backload of DVR’d episodes to watch since I lost interest with some of these new characters.

In CRIMINAL MINDS, the show ends with each of the characters getting into the similar black Suburban SUVs and then fade to a shot of one of them blowing up! So who is dead? Who knows? Will it be the newly pregnant and about to be happy one, the dour one, the quirky one . . . You get it (Sorry, but I tend to forget their names on this show. Maybe not a good thing).

I wonder why the writers feel they need to do these shake-ups? Do they assume the fans don’t want continuity? Do they think the show needs some new blood?

One of the things I admired most about Buffy was how in general, the characters grew with each show and season. We learned more and more about their strengths and weaknesses. What led them to where they are and how they will take that knowledge and move forward with it — in their careers and their lives.

With new characters we don’t get that. We lose all continuity and all the time we’ve invested in these characters (not much different from books and series in print).

BONES at least has seemed to strike a better note with its season finale. We lost a favorite and yet that loss will certainly prompt the other characters to reconsider not only what they knew about him, but about themselves. Already Hodgins is questioning how his actions may have led a friend astray. Bones is wondering what she gave Zak and maybe will wonder how much she gives of herself to others (I hope). The relationship with Bones and Seeley has certainly progressed, making all of us romantic optimists salivate at what will come next season.

Now that’s what I call a good cliffhanger!

Women, Words and Wisdom Blog Tour!
Don’t forget to join me tomorrow, May 23, for my contribution to the Women, Words and Wisdom blog and the related contest.

Leave a message on tomorrow’s blog to win a prize of a complete collection of the SOUTH BEACH CHICAS books as well as a HOLIDAY WITH A VAMPIRE color t-shirt! Here’s the line up for the tour and I hope you enjoy hearing words of wisdom from these amazing women.

And don’t forget to check out all the other stops on the tour for their stories and prizes!

May 19 – Mary Castillo (http://www.marycastillo.blogspot.com/)
May 20 – Barbara Ferrer (http://www.fashionista-35.livejournal.com/)
May 21 – Lara Rios (http://www.lararios.blogspot.com/)
May 22 – Mayra Calvani (http://www.thedarkphantom.wordpress.com)
May 23 – Caridad Pineiro (https://www.caridad.com/blog)
May 24 – Jamie Martinez (http://www.jamiemartinezwood.blogspot.com/)
May 25 – Berta Platas (http://www.bertaplatas.blogspot.com/)
May 26 – Tracy Montoya (www.tracymontoya.blogspot.com)
May 27 – Kathy Cano-Murillo (http://thecraftychica.blogspot.com)
May 28 – Misa Ramirez (http://chasingheroes.com)

10 Replies to “Thoughtful Thursday – Cliffhangers, Character Assassinations and Continuity”

  1. Caridad is a crazy Chica. I too would like to see Seeley and Bones get together in a romantic way next season.

  2. LOL couldn’t resist reading up on the spoilers as on this side of the world we are behind you guys…Unfortunately most of the good TV series are done by the time I get home! But I do love watching them when I get a chance, especially NCIS!

  3. I agree with the above comments. I am so tired of the writers killing off a character to end a season. And I heartily aggree about House!!!

  4. I, too, wondered about that mysterious
    file which was quickly shredded before he
    called in the team. I never have liked
    this particular character, he seemed
    somewhat “shady!” I, for one, feel there
    should be a change in the writing team!
    Not the acting team!!

    Pat Cochran

  5. Caridad,

    I was the lucky receipient of one of your books. I loved it. Please keep them coming. Thanks.

  6. I’m wondering if they are really going to get rid of all the characters on NCIS because they appeared to have something secretive in the past of the new directer. Did you notice he pulled a file out and destroyed it?? Something suspicious?????
    And on Bones I don’t trust Dr. Sweets!!!! Could he be a bad guy????

  7. I was really upset about Zack in Bones. Personally, I wish it had been Dr.Sweets! I am hoping Seeley and Bones will get closer next season romantically.

Comments are closed.