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The Throwdown ended in a tie, 5 to 5
When minor, uninteresting characters die on TV, I really just don't care.
Mr. Strong said
There's a tremendous number of examples: Ida on "Desperate Housewives", Meredith's mother on "Grey's Anatomy," Maya on "Heroes," and a ton of other UNINTERESTING, non-fan favorites who have kicked the bucket. Yes, it may be upsetting watching the major characters react to such deaths, but when Isaac died on "Heroes" or Naomi on "Lost," I quite frankly just did not care.
To advertise a death on a show is a tricky problem. If it's a major character who I admire, I'm angry. If it's a minor character and I've been tricked into thinking an important figure will die, well then, I'm just a little big angrier.
Also, for another example, consult tonight's "Lost" -- I don't want to ruin it, but think about it. A bit of a let-down in that department, I might say.
hmorsey said
I think there are plenty of minor characters who might be considered uninteresting to some have sad deaths. For instance, the two deaths on Lost tonight had me very shocked and upset. They might have been minor and uninteresting to some, but they were interesting to me. When Linda Hamilton's character died on Thief, it was upsetting to me. When Jesse died in the first episode of Buffy it was very sad to me as well. I dont think it matters how minor the characters are, if they become relatable to you, the deaths matter. I thought it was sad when Meredith's mother died because of the reactions of other characters.
Mr. Strong said
I'm always upset when a character dies, especially if he/she did nothing to deserve it. But take Ida from "Housewives," for instance. Yes, it was upsetting when she died, but by the next episode, she wasn't mentioned again and she's basically erased from existence. Deaths of minor characters just seem useless and cruel if they're not meant for something.
If an episode is touted as "Tonight someone dies!" then I expect that someone to have a bigger impact on the major characters than just a thirty-second mention and then complete banishment from the show.
My argument, remember, is 'uninteresting' characters. None of those I've mentioned have frankly been that uninteresting, and I need some better examples -- although Maya from "Heroes" was just damn uninteresting, I'd say.
hmorsey said
The same thing that happened to Ida(sorry I dont watch DH, just using what u said) also happens to major characters in shows as well. Take Cordelia's death on Angel, she was definitely a major character but her death isn't even given a mention the rest of the season. In a lot of shows deaths are quickly forgotten, that doesnt mean that the character's death isn't sad or interesting. I agree that Maya isn't that interesting...but she came back to life anyway so her death doesn't really count. There are plenty of characters that only have one episode arcs in shows such as Grey's Anatomy or Tru Calling where I cry when they die. It doesnt matter how minor a character might seem, even though they are seemingly uninteresting, the way that major characters react to their death is what really makes their deaths sad.
Mr. Strong said
True. When people die in "Desperate Housewives," it's incredible to watch the reactions: Lynette for Nora and Ida, Danielle for Matthew, Bree for Rex... they do a fantastic job, and it makes me care, no matter how boring the deceased may be.
I think my apathy comes not from the actual character's death, but the show's production team and the major characters. It just bothers me when characters are completely erased from existence without so much as a sniffle. It's more of a gripe with the writers (who don't write lines to emote about the death) and the actors (who may not even show a hint of remorse).
There are always going to be character deaths who I'm upset about, whether I know the characters or not -- any patient on Grey's is tear-jerking, often times -- but it's all just a matter of uninteresting vs. interesting. If the show takes time to make me care, I often will, but if it's a slap in the face like Karl (not Rousseau, but Karl), then I just yawn.
hmorsey said
I agree that it is usually the major character reactions that have that have the biggest effect on me, rather than the death of the characters themselves. Although Monica Keena's character in season 2 of Grey's Anatomy(the one with a pole through her body) had me absolutely bawling because of her death alone, not the reactions, although Meredith's was sad.
I agree that it can be annoying when writers pretend like some character's death never happened in the very next episode when the episode before the entire episode was centered around it. That can be quite obnoxious, but it doesnt detract from my still being effected by deaths of minor characters.
I was actually quite upset by Karl's death, just like Rousseau's...they were equally sad to me because I enjoyed both of the characters. But most of all, I was upset about the affect their deaths would have on Alex.
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Comments
scarsandstories8 03/21/08
how was Ida's death not sad? do you not have a heart? because that might explain it...
Mr. Strong 03/21/08
Haha, no, Ida's death was in fact sad. But after initial sadness, I'm just kind of over it and wishing the character's death had a bigger impact.
The Counteragent 03/21/08
Unless it's someone totally nameless and faceless, I can't help but care. Grey's Anatomy almost always manages to make guest stars interesting and sympathetic, so I do get emotionally invested, and as far as other shows are concerned, I'll at least feel bad for the character who misses them. For example, I was never a big Karl fan, but Alex is awesome, and no 16 year old should have to experience her boyfriend dying right in front of her.
RobGrizzly 03/21/08
It's okay, Strong. I don't care either...
loglady 03/21/08
what a loaded argument to begin with...if they were uninteresting than really no one should care...i disagree with you merely b/c some of the people you reference really were interesting...karl=suck rousseau=great, so you don't care about her either?
Mr. Strong 03/21/08
I didn't want to go too in-depth about Lost (I didn't want to name how many people died). I'm very upset about Rousseau. :( Karl, not at all.
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