In tribute to the completely amazing revelation in the Dexter season 4 finale tonight, I’d like to talk about other ballsy things shows have done that changed the game. For those slow on the up-take, this is a spoiler thread. You have been warned and will be mocked if you start bitching.
Alias: Sydney, her dad, and the rest of the CIA take down SD-6 in the middle of the second season.
Venture Bros: When Hank and Dean were killed at the end of season 1, we learn in season 2 that the boys have been killed many times and that there’s a huge supply of clones of them. No more tension, right? Wrong, the clones get destroyed at the end of season 3.
Chuck: “I know Kung Fu.”
Buffy: Angelus kills Jenny, letting the viewers at home know that no one is safe. See also: Angel turning evil
West Wing: As much as I don’t really like this show, finding out Bartlett had MS was great.
Veronica Mars: Aaron Echolls is declared Not Guilty.
The Shield: Season 5, Shane killing Lem.
The year jump forward in BSG.
John Connor jumping into the future at the end of TSCC. Then again, the series was cancelled so it didn’t end up having any real effect.
I disagree with Buffy though. It always seemed like the characters all lived unless it was to make a point. Except for a few side characters in Graduation, it wasn’t like anybody randomly died in battle. And frankly, Jenny’s death didn’t actually have that much of an effect over the long term.
“College” episode of Sopranos.
The Wire: The death of Stringer Bell. Like Richard Kimble finding the One-Armed Man halfway through the run of The Fugitive.
Quote:
|
| Originally Posted by neoolong View Post I disagree with Buffy though. It always seemed like the characters all lived unless it was to make a point. Except for a few side characters in Graduation, it wasn’t like anybody randomly died in battle. And frankly, Jenny’s death didn’t actually have that much of an effect over the long term. |
I dunno, Anya’s death was pretty random in battle.
Always thought it was pretty gutsy back then to have the female lead of NYPD BLUE be not only a dirty cop, and to not only shoot a Mafioso boss in cold blood, but to do all that within the first episode.
Deadwood, Season 2, Episode 1: “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part I.” Swearengen mouths off to Bullock one too many times about fucking the widow in the camp on the day his family is arriving. For the entire ensuing sequence, you actually believe that there is a chance that one of the two main characters in the series is going to kill the other in the middle of the street. Then Swearengen sees the kid and it “unmans” him. It sets everything future conflict in the series in motion and puts you on notice that Milch is willing to take the show anywhere he wants.
Quote:
|
| Originally Posted by Renn Brown View Post “College” episode of Sopranos. |
Expand.
Also, not so much, Richard.
Quote:
|
| Originally Posted by Cuchulain View Post Deadwood, Season 2, Episode 1: “A Lie Agreed Upon, Part I.” Swearengen mouths off to Bullock one too many times about fucking the widow in the camp on the day his family is arriving. For the entire ensuing sequence, you actually believe that there is a chance that one of the two main characters in the series is going to kill the other in the middle of the street. Then Swearengen sees the kid and it “unmans” him. It sets everything future conflict in the series in motion and puts you on notice that Milch is willing to take the show anywhere he wants. |
That’s an awesome call. I’ve only just started working my way through the series and that fight had me on the edge of my seat.
As for “Buffy”, the real game changer for me occurred in the first season. Up until “The Pack”, the show was nothing more than a mildly entertaining distraction. Then, they had Xander–along with some delinquents–get possessed by hyena demons and proceed to EAT THE FREAKIN’ SCHOOL PRINCIPAL. At that point, I had to sit up and take notice. Having one of your male leads devour another character, WOW.
Further, “Angel” was chock full of shocking game changers (at least to my mind): Angel setting Darla and Dru on fire in cold blood; Doyle sacrificing himself to save the Jewish demons; Wesley kidnapping Connor. The list goes on and on.
Quote:
|
| Originally Posted by RathBandu View Post Also, not so much, Richard. |
Maybe it came from watching the entire series in one run and knowing there would be two more seasons afterward, but seeing the death of the “Big Bad” – and having it come with the cops just about to close in and finally nab him – seemed a pretty big move to me. Lesser shows would have milked Stringer out until the series finale. So maybe not game changing in terms of The Wire itself, but game changing to me in how to view a continuing drama.
As for “College”, wasn’t that the first time we saw Tony actually get his hands dirty?
Calling Stringer “the Big Bad” is such a surface, fundamental misunderstanding of the show. Also, you want to talk about Wire game-changers, effectively “dropping” the Barksdale/Bell storyline for an entire season to focus on the plight of fat white guys is probably a better choice.
Or making an audience think they had a star and leading man and then saying “aw, we’ll get back to ol’ McNutty some other time”.
Quote:
|
| Originally Posted by RathBandu View Post Calling Stringer “the Big Bad” is such a surface, fundamental misunderstanding of the show. |
I don’t think he is, but a lesser show would have set him up like that, and The Wire bucked that convention.
Honestly, my post should have probably just been “The Wire. Period.”
Yeah, but the whole character of McNulty is a game-changer, especially in how it subverts/presents the reality of that lone-wolf cop archtype of tv/modern fiction. But sticking him on the boat and/or abandoning him for most of season four are totally in the wheelhouse of what you’re talking about.
Would-be game-changer: Zoey Bartlet getting kidnapped.
I’d say the bigger DEADWOOD game-changer was Wild Bill getting unceremoniously shot in the head, with no dramatic build-up, no music cues, nothing. Just a quick pop and there goes the most famous character in the show.
Quote:
|
| Originally Posted by RathBandu View Post Calling Stringer “the Big Bad” is such a surface, fundamental misunderstanding of the show. |
I always thought that the “big bad” in the series were the different social institutions that each season of the show focused on. The show seemed to be making the point that these institutions in the show’s depiction of Baltimore–and all institutions in life itself–ultimately compromise the individuals of which they are composed.
The show seems to tip its hand here in season 1 when McNulty confesses he’s pursuing the case not because its the right thing to do but to show how smart he is and highlight the dysfunction of the police department.
Quote:
|
| Originally Posted by Merriweather View Post I’d say the bigger DEADWOOD game-changer was Wild Bill getting unceremoniously shot in the head, with no dramatic build-up, no music cues, nothing. Just a quick pop and there goes the most famous character in the show. |
I could see that, but–historically speaking, knowing where Wild Bill was AND who he was playing cards with–it certainly wasn’t a surprise.
Quote:
|
| Originally Posted by neoolong View Post The year jump forward in BSG. |
I immediately thought of that when I saw the title of this thread. A very bold move indeed and the writers pulled it off.
Not surprising in the historical sense, but certainly surprising in the “this is a Wild West drama with Bill Hickock as one of the leads, and yet he was just gunned down with no fanfare and very little drama preceding it” way. It set the tone for DEADWOOD’s take on history.