How is it possible that shows like Dexter and Hannibal are so popular?
Very nice topic to discuss! If only I had had more time, I would surely do this. We can discuss who shows like this are both, a good and a bad thing in our society. – Abhimanyu Shekhar9 years ago
I like this topic, and it's very interesting to talk about how its done. The key to it is that the serial killer has to have a motive that is relatable to its viewers. Light Yagami from death note starts killing criminals because he wants the world to be a better place, and slowly over the course of the show he loses his way making his journey interesting. – Cojo9 years ago
I am one of those people who sympathize with such characters, they are always my favourites in the show. It's an interesting topic and I think it's important to discus why people like them so much. In Dexter's case especially it's easier for viewers to relate with him because he has "Harry's Code," shows present them as still having a sort of moral code. For example, Dexter's later girlfriend who is also a serial killer was not exactly a favourite character because she didn't share those moral guidelines and attacks Debra because she feels threatened by her ability to take Dexter's attention away from her. The show argues that Dexter can't help his urges, it's a mental disorder that he struggles to overcome. Hannibal doesn't have the same excuse as Dexter to be liked (underlying morals) but I think because he is presented as so intelligent and aware of what he's doing, viewers side with him because they feel that he's a product of his society. – Slaidey9 years ago
We can add The Following and Criminal Minds to the mix. To better tackle the question involves asking about popularity and does it make people more apathetic? Can we humanize them yet not forget their heinous acts? I suggest waiting until Richard Armitage does his take on Francis Dolarhyde to really get this topic cooking. – fdemelo9 years ago
Don't forget other shows that glamorize and almost sexually lavish themselves in serial murder. There was [The Following] and the failed attempted clone [The Cult]. [Dexter] is mild compared to [The Following] and [Hannibal]. – wolfkin9 years ago
There's definitely a romanticization element to it as well. Shows like Hannibal and Dexter have created fandoms where people even romanticize actual serial killers (i.e. entire blogs dedicated to Jeffrey Dahmer).
I also think it'd be helpful to note that this trend started in literature. Hannibal Lecter is Thomas Harris' creation in "Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs." If you'd like to look to non-ficiton, there was also a bit of controversy surrounding Truman Capote's "In Cold Blood" (which is also a movie) where he humanizes murderers Dick Hickock and Perry Smith to a point where Capote was speculated to have romantic feelings towards Perry Smith. – pixiemina9 years ago
Compare the film adaptation and the recent TV adaptation by Netflix and discuss some of the reasons why the latter seems to have proved very successful with audiences and critics while the former received more of a mixed reception.
What Daredevil does is show a superhero unlike the other marvel cinematic universe characters. He is human, and cannot take a punch as easily as Captain American or Iron Man can. He is the first real street level superhero we have seen in this universe. – Aaron Hatch9 years ago
I think some characteristics to be discussed could be the cinematography, the sound effects (particularly in the film), the choice to kill in the film and the moral decision of choosing not to kill in the series, the use of sonar in the film vs heightened senses and a world on fire in the series, the lack of humour in the film, the fight choreography, and the characterization of the villains in the series. Etc. – VelvetRose9 years ago
I feel like someone should be more specific here. – Kristian Wilson9 years ago
Construct a similarly ambitious socio-cultural examination with more consistent performances, production values, and dedication to realism. The show is visually uninteresting; too many of its performances feel amateurish -- I'm looking at you, McNulty and Snoop; and too often its plot feels forced or opportunistic -- yeah right, Hamsterdam. These inconsistencies are made worse by the great deal the show gets right. – robertmousseau9 years ago
You will have to be more specific as to what you will be talking about. Will you compare it to currently successful television shows? Shows of similar genre? Perhaps you can touch base on what made the show so revered and successful. – Nicole Wethington9 years ago
The Simpsons, South Park, Family Guy. These three programmes in particular have received a fair amount of criticism in recent years for their apparent decline in quality and a lot of he time earlier seasons are superior. But is this really the case? Are earlier seasons genuinely better than later ones or have the shows themselves just evolved into something slightly different? Or is it even the case of the audience changing overtime; these shows have run for a staggering amount of time. With The Simpsons, for example, a person who first watched the show at Bart's age would now be watching the show as someone the same age as Homer. This can be done show by show and can, of course, include other long running shows that may not be exclusive to animation.
Good insight about how part of the change might have to do with the audience. Fans who have been watching since a show's inception will respond differently than newer fans to a changes in a show. A show that has been on the air for a long time will have to face shifts in audience expectations and perceptions. – S.A. Takacs9 years ago
Perhaps you can compare this to newer adult cartoons, such as Archer, Bob's Burgers, and Rick & Morty? – Nicole Wethington9 years ago
Thank you! I still love The Simpsons. I think it is the same quality, but people are just bored of the humor even though it is the same as ever. But people must like it as it keeps getting renewed. As to Family Guy, even Seth McFarlene wonders why it is still going. – Erin Derwin9 years ago
Some shows and movies are rerun over and over again on popular TV networks (like ABC Family's Harry Potter Weekend that is repeated a few times per year and AMC's "The Walking Dead" marathons), while others are hardly ever replayed. Networks seem to choose shows that viewers want to see multiple times. What gives certain shows and movies rewatch value? What qualities do they have that makes viewers want to see them numerous times?
What are the main elements that keep viewers hooked to the television show that has quite literally taken the world by storm. This can be analyzed from a psychological perspective or from an entertainment-quality perspective
I think the Game of Thrones deserves this popularity. Rather, I reckon The Big Bang Theory is a bit overrated in the teenager circles because most of them are interested in sciences and they want to show it off. Plus, Firends is absolutely more overrated than anything, even if it's a historic piece. So, first we tackle them, Game of Thrones comes later. – Abhimanyu Shekhar9 years ago
The diversity of the characters would be an excellent point of discussion. There is something in GoT that appeals to everyone, there is at least one character that one can relate to, usually more. Another excellent point would be the universality of the themes in the show and books. It tackles a lot of concepts that appeal to a broad audience such as family, politics, love and responsibility. – Visenya9 years ago
Please answer this! I am so bored of the show at this point and people who love it get REALLY defensive of it. – Erin Derwin9 years ago
As someone who does not own a Television set and doesn't watch many shows, I have a hard time thinking of content for this category.
However, I think that someone who has a lot of background information in this area might be better at discussing this topic I've had in the back of my mind.
What do we mean when we "watch" TV? Does TV rather, watch us? Not like the novel 1984, but rather with the idea in mind we sometimes leave it on all the time – or feel constantly drawn to turning it on – when other things are around to do.
When I was growing up, I had a TV in my bedroom and left it on all day unless I was sleeping. Even when I was gone for the day at school I had it turned on, only with the mute button.
What is it about the Television that is so intriguing we feel we must watch it? And how do we "watch" TV now? This topic could explore the modern version of netflix, laptops, or anything to do with the connotation of "watch" when it comes to TV.
TV could stand in as an almost literal window into what people desire (whether it is recognition, satisfaction, justice, etc.), hence why it's so difficult to shut off that world of TV entirely by what it may promise its "watchers?" And those desires depicted by TV can literally change to whatever is of the moment, maintaining the TV fascination throughout everyday life. – dsoumilas9 years ago
I think that you can also take this in the direction of audience studies and question what it means to be an audience and what actions audiences/fans perform – DClarke9 years ago
The first four paragraphs of this topic seem too personal and unnecessary. – T. Palomino10 months ago
I recently read an interview with Stephen Falk commenting about the second season of You're The Worst and he commented that Chris Geere's character of Jimmy was not intended to be British but the character was specifically altered after seeing his Audition. This surprised me as a Brit because a lot of Jimmy's humour is so quintessentially British that I thought his character would have had that running through all of the early scripts. So an interesting article could be how much a certain actor can influence changes in their character, a few more examples springing to mind are Morgan Freeman in Shawshank and Mackenzie Crook in The Office. Could be Film or TV.
