Ok, for a second I'm going to take the form of an internet troll and give some constructive criticism (invited or not).
The show hasn't developed any real continuing plot lines. Most episodes are very self contained. Even as much as I like the show and the cast, its getting a bit less interesting. I know exactly what to expect during each show. Melinda will find a ghost, try and help it, wear a low cut top or night gown.. maybe cry a little.. and then help the ghost move on in the presence of friends or family.
This can be entertaining, but the really interesting stuff would be the development of the whole good vs evil plot lines. For instance, a continuing (and common) villain would be nice, maybe a nemesis who remains persistent throughout the series. Throw in a long story arc, where Melinda is working towards something (like defeating an evil foe) through a few episodes... Make it deep, with more than a vague insinuation of what is going on..
Drama stops being drama when it becomes too predictable. All the suspense and the emotional catharsis is gone. The goal should be focusing on keeping people wondering what is about to happen. That is what keeps people tuning in, and that is what keeps the story interesting.
Right now the focus is on helping people, but its been that way for every episode. There were some good oppurtunities to mix it up a little with things like the laughing man, the guy with the hat, and that whole evil brother and father thing... but the first one sorta faded out and never took hold, while the latter seems to have been put off with minimal exposure. Go deeper, go bigger (after all this life/death thing is on an EPIC scale, at least according to religion). The season finale was a step in the right direction, but it needs to go further.
In such a situation, the movie/comic Constantine comes to mind. The idea is very similar, where only one person can see the "other side" and there is a fight between good and evil with a higher purpose. Contrarily, what Ghost whisperer is missing is the additional supporting cast & appearences from the "other side" (other than the recently dead). Start putting their interests and conflict into the plot in some way, and you have a more intricate storyline.
Otherwise the show will just be riding on gratuitous cleavage. Unless the show starts with all bikini episodes, I'm sad to say that this isn't enough to keep the viewers watching...
Thier is a ongoing villan that you've seemed to forgot. remmember the dark figure who took all the people from the plain crash. or the other guy who can see ghost just like mallinda. And most recently them playing up the whole it's comeing from underneath thing. So yeah there is a non-stop villan all the time, they just arn't in every episode.
I love Ghost Whisperer, but seriously, can we finish a nemesis here?! What ever happened to the laughing man or the brimmed hat guy? Mel's mom obviously knows something...she almost seems as if she has a deceitful agenda. What's going on with Gabriel? And now there's these arms that grab spirits, I guess...the arms try to take Melinda in at the Hall of records and then it helps her last week with creepy stalker guy turned creepy stalker ghost, Shane. And what's up with that bitter, uppity ghost at the Hall of records? How many different story lines of nemesis' will there be?
I do hate when a conflict is dragged out too long in a story, like the daytime soaps I used to watch with my mom as a kid...that becomes aggravating. Definitely bring a climax, by all means, but please give us an explaination for these conflicts that arise. At the end of some episodes, Melinda would have some ghost following her and then it was never heard from again. I mean, WTH!
12 comments:
So I guess this blogger guy is going to be part of the storyline for a while?
Ok, for a second I'm going to take the form of an internet troll and give some constructive criticism (invited or not).
The show hasn't developed any real continuing plot lines. Most episodes are very self contained. Even as much as I like the show and the cast, its getting a bit less interesting. I know exactly what to expect during each show. Melinda will find a ghost, try and help it, wear a low cut top or night gown.. maybe cry a little.. and then help the ghost move on in the presence of friends or family.
This can be entertaining, but the really interesting stuff would be the development of the whole good vs evil plot lines. For instance, a continuing (and common) villain would be nice, maybe a nemesis who remains persistent throughout the series. Throw in a long story arc, where Melinda is working towards something (like defeating an evil foe) through a few episodes... Make it deep, with more than a vague insinuation of what is going on..
Drama stops being drama when it becomes too predictable. All the suspense and the emotional catharsis is gone. The goal should be focusing on keeping people wondering what is about to happen. That is what keeps people tuning in, and that is what keeps the story interesting.
Right now the focus is on helping people, but its been that way for every episode. There were some good oppurtunities to mix it up a little with things like the laughing man, the guy with the hat, and that whole evil brother and father thing... but the first one sorta faded out and never took hold, while the latter seems to have been put off with minimal exposure. Go deeper, go bigger (after all this life/death thing is on an EPIC scale, at least according to religion). The season finale was a step in the right direction, but it needs to go further.
In such a situation, the movie/comic Constantine comes to mind. The idea is very similar, where only one person can see the "other side" and there is a fight between good and evil with a higher purpose. Contrarily, what Ghost whisperer is missing is the additional supporting cast & appearences from the "other side" (other than the recently dead). Start putting their interests and conflict into the plot in some way, and you have a more intricate storyline.
Otherwise the show will just be riding on gratuitous cleavage. Unless the show starts with all bikini episodes, I'm sad to say that this isn't enough to keep the viewers watching...
Thank you for the good insights -- what can I say? I'm a blogger not Mayor or Showrunner, but I appreciate your thoughts.
P.S. I think there's something big coming down the pike in Grandview. Or should I say... under the pike.
Thier is a ongoing villan that you've seemed to forgot. remmember the dark figure who took all the people from the plain crash. or the other guy who can see ghost just like mallinda. And most recently them playing up the whole it's comeing from underneath thing.
So yeah there is a non-stop villan all the time, they just arn't in every episode.
Ssly -- you're paying attention -- love that!
I love Ghost Whisperer, but seriously, can we finish a nemesis here?! What ever happened to the laughing man or the brimmed hat guy? Mel's mom obviously knows something...she almost seems as if she has a deceitful agenda. What's going on with Gabriel? And now there's these arms that grab spirits, I guess...the arms try to take Melinda in at the Hall of records and then it helps her last week with creepy stalker guy turned creepy stalker ghost, Shane. And what's up with that bitter, uppity ghost at the Hall of records? How many different story lines of nemesis' will there be?
I do hate when a conflict is dragged out too long in a story, like the daytime soaps I used to watch with my mom as a kid...that becomes aggravating. Definitely bring a climax, by all means, but please give us an explaination for these conflicts that arise. At the end of some episodes, Melinda would have some ghost following her and then it was never heard from again. I mean, WTH!
how is it that Gabriel always disappears whenever someone is following him. And that quick.
When is will there be a Ghost Whisperer reboot
Melinda Gordon Is beautiful real woman
She is a goddess
Jennifer Love Hewitt is awsome.
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