Is it jsut me or is everyone just jaded?

[trappedslider]

When it comes to tv shows, it feels like everyone wants something new and fresh but when it manages to happen no watched it and so we end up complaining about how things are predictable and or over used.

So is it just me or have we reached the point where there really isn't a new way to put a spin on anything anymore?

 

[was]

It seems that most shows advertised as 'new' end up being old shows/movies repackaged. The only thing I have seen that is 'new' are a few of the 'reality' shows which save the execs money by not employing writers. IMO, being a jaded viewer is a result of being continually disappointed.

 

[Ryujin]

I agree with was. By and large Hollywood, especially, is averse to trying anything new. After all, new isn't proven. What's not proven isn't guaranteed to make money. For that reason they like to give us the same ol' same ol', just wrapped up in a different package. Or, quite frequently, wrapped in the paper they saved from the last time that they unwrapped it.

There are people who are doing new, innovative stories. They just don't get funding, so they come directly to us for it. Sometimes those more innovative stories are a new spin on something that already exists. For example look at "Star Trek: Renegades" and "Star Trek: Axanar"; two very different takes on the Star Trek universe, done by professionals who love ST.

 

[Crothian]

It's the internet of course people complain. But even so new ideas don't always work well on the big networks. We are seeing TV innovation with Netflix original shows though so it is out there.

Some stuff that is new and fresh is good but I do like the standard stuff as well. TV is entertaining and I enjoy the familiar plots and characters that we get with many shows.

 

[Umbran]

So is it just me or have we reached the point where there really isn't a new way to put a spin on anything anymore?

We need to define "new".

The Walking Dead was a graphic novel that only some people had read. Was it "new" enough?

How about Arrow, the Flash, and Daredevil, Agent Carter, and Agents of Shield? All based on previous properties, but done in ways on TV not done before, telling new stories with an interpretation of those characters. Are they "new"?

Syfy is going to do a version of Fredrick Pohl's "Gateway" on TV. It is a book from the 1970s that I doubt many here have read, and has never had a visual media adaptation. Is it "new"?

Star Wars: Rebels is supposedly pretty good. Old setting, new story - is it "new"?

 

[tomBitonti]

Syfy is going to do a version of Fredrick Pohl's "Gateway" on TV. It is a book from the 1970s that I doubt many here have read, and has never had a visual media adaptation. Is it "new"?

Wait, what?

But I bet there are plenty of folks here who have read who have read Gateway

Thx!
TomB

 

[Jhaelen]

Dunno. I guess part of being jaded simply comes with age: The more you've watched, the more refined your tastes get. E.g. a few years ago I realized I simply cannot bring myself to watch another typical 'popcorn' action movie. It simply bores me to death. I want a good story to accompany the action, otherwise it's just a waste of my (increasingly!) precious time.

However, tv shows don't have to be 'new' to excite me. If they're well done, retreading well-known themes is just fine, especially if they feature intriguing characters. E.g. the original 'The Killing' or 'The Bridge' were simply awesome without telling anything remotely 'new'.

And despite it becoming more and more difficult to tell a 'new' story, there are exceptions, e.g. I really thought that 'Pushing Daisies' or 'Real Humans' were rather unique (and well done).

 

[Janx]

Wait, what?

But I bet there are plenty of folks here who have read who have read Gateway

Thx!
TomB

no kidding! I was like "what!?! Gateway! Cool!"

 

[Mallus]

And despite it becoming more and more difficult to tell a 'new' story, there are exceptions, e.g. I really thought that 'Pushing Daisies' or 'Real Humans' were rather unique (and well done).

Bryan Fuller's Pushing Daisies was wonderful. His Hannibal is also remarkably good -- I got into it about two weeks before the cancellation announcement!

I've heard great things about Mr. Robot, BTW. Oh, and Sense8 on Netflix is wildly ambitious, unlike anything else (well, except for Cloud Atlas), effing great, and just got renewed for at least one more season.

 

[Crothian]

I've heard great things about Mr. Robot, BTW. Oh, and Sense8 on Netflix is wildly ambitious, unlike anything else (well, except for Cloud Atlas), effing great, and just got renewed for at least one more season.

Both of those might suffer from when they get to the answers. Shows like Lost and Heroes also came out with neat ideas but when they had to bring answers they failed either in trying to or ignoring them. Right now they are just potential and with luck they will live up to that potential.