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spiderbraidsThe recap for 2x04 will probably be finished, and posted, tonight. Meanwhile, I will be on vacation until Friday. May not have any time to post my recaps then.
For now, here's some Winx Club-related filler.
I've watched the whole of S1 (and have just started S2), read fans' criticisms of every single ep, and distilled them into one dynamite list. A list of 28 rules that cartoon writers, and in some cases cartoon dubbers, should follow when making their shows. Remember, you're not doing your job if the fans can do it better.
How not to tick off your fans, Winx Club edition
...or If we were in charge of WC
Although I don't name names (or episodes), I will say this: the events all the entries in the list relate to are in order of their airing. Some of these are obvious, some of these are more cryptic. Come on, take a guess ;)
1. Don't have a character talk like she was in a rap video 24/7. Especially when she doesn't even look the part.
2. Don't have a character's actions contradict what the character said about herself just one episode ago.
3. In relation to #2, let conflict happen naturally. Don't make it happen because of a character's stupidity. (While I'm glaring at an S1 ep in particular, there's an S2 ep which, as good as it was, doesn't escape scrutiny either.)
4. Something that happens in a storyline should be explained, if not ASAP, then eventually. Preferably ASAP if the event doesn't have any long-term effects and won't be brought up again.
5. Try not to make a major change to a minor detail, especially when it makes no sense.
6. Don't completely change the outcome of a scene through editing, especially when said scene was originally only meant as the equivalent of a grace note.
7. If a character falls for a trick once, she should not fall for it again, especially within 5 minutes of the last time. Not having characters learn from their mistakes reeks of lazy writing.
8. Don't have a character rush to a conclusion, especially when said conclusion is not obvious to the viewer from the evidence given. Or to paraphrase Tecna, "Be logical!"
9. When your show's building up to a big battle in the season finale, keep notes on weapons and attacks that were used throughout the course of the season. Come the big battle, make sure the most powerful weapons get used, and that two similar weapons get to face off against each other, because it'll make the fight exciting, and the viewers won't complain that their "gimme" moment wasn't used / that someone conveniently forgot to use their big weapon.
10. Don't have a character who had completely betrayed the others in his group just return to their fold so easily. Have the others question his loyalty first.
11. When two groups that hate each other have to fight a common menace, give both group's efforts decent screen time, instead of focusing on just the group that the main characters come from, and bonus points if the other group is where the common menace came from. It's almost racist not to do so.
12. Meanwhile, when two lovers are coming to terms with their romance, don't ruin a sweet moment by having someone make fun of it, even if it is meant to be amusing.
13. In relation to #9, come big battle time, both sides are to go all out at each other. Neither side should throw away any advantage they have (especially the villains, since it will make their de rigueur defeat look stupid, and the fans will go on and on about it).
14. The most important attack of a battle is the one that takes out the main antagonist. Don't show just the aftermath of this attack, show the actual attack itself. That, writers, is another "gimme" moment the viewers want to see.
15. When one character wants to have a smackdown with another, that smackdown should happen eventually.
16. Minimize references to events that we did not see. (Okay, while I have an S2 ep in mind, this could apply, in minor cases, to at least 2 S1 eps.)
17. Besides that conflict should not happen because of a character's stupidity, a character should also not suddenly behave stupid when she has already been already established as being the smart one, and it wouldn't hurt the storyline not to have her lapse into stupidity. And do not make the excuse that you are writing for a kids' show, instead, write it so that the kids will go along with it, and that the older viewers don't rant as much on how they would have improved it.
18. Also, when introducing a new character, and given a chance to show how bad-ass he is, don't make his efforts amount to nada.
19. Don't give a "major" character her first focus ep of the whole series... and then proceed to mostly ignore her for the rest of the season.
20. In relation to #3 and #8, if a character is known to have more common sense, don't make her behave illogically, especially when her illogical behavior is inexplicable.
21. Besides #16, try not to blot out references to events in previous eps. To paraphrase Daphne, "Remember!" (While a certain S2 ep is VERY guilty of this, there are many times in S1 where this happens.)
22. Also, if a non-regular character is known to hold a grudge against a main character, and she's returning to the show for an ep, the non-regular absolutely must make it known that she's holding a grudge against her.
23. Continuing from #22, if those two characters have already met, make sure that those two characters meet again.
24. When airing the eps, don't air them out of order so that you end up airing a big downer ep right across from a cheerful filler ep.
25. If a character has not used a particular attack after earning the ability to do so, when given a chance to use it, have her use it. Especially when said character was the first to earn the ability to do said attack. (Okay, it's not an attack I have in mind, but it bugs me nonetheless.)
26. If you create a major plot twist, make sure you tie up the loose ends it creates. And do not crib said plot twist from a lame Simpsons ep ;)
27. Always have the characters use the most obvious (and most practical) attack to use for a job. Don't throw common sense out of the window just to get one character (whose attack isn't very practical for the job) a moment in the sun.
28. If there is an "ultimate power" which has been obtained, by golly, you have to use it in the climactic battle. You just can't have the obtainee throw it away.
For now, here's some Winx Club-related filler.
I've watched the whole of S1 (and have just started S2), read fans' criticisms of every single ep, and distilled them into one dynamite list. A list of 28 rules that cartoon writers, and in some cases cartoon dubbers, should follow when making their shows. Remember, you're not doing your job if the fans can do it better.
How not to tick off your fans, Winx Club edition
...or If we were in charge of WC
Although I don't name names (or episodes), I will say this: the events all the entries in the list relate to are in order of their airing. Some of these are obvious, some of these are more cryptic. Come on, take a guess ;)
1. Don't have a character talk like she was in a rap video 24/7. Especially when she doesn't even look the part.
2. Don't have a character's actions contradict what the character said about herself just one episode ago.
3. In relation to #2, let conflict happen naturally. Don't make it happen because of a character's stupidity. (While I'm glaring at an S1 ep in particular, there's an S2 ep which, as good as it was, doesn't escape scrutiny either.)
4. Something that happens in a storyline should be explained, if not ASAP, then eventually. Preferably ASAP if the event doesn't have any long-term effects and won't be brought up again.
5. Try not to make a major change to a minor detail, especially when it makes no sense.
6. Don't completely change the outcome of a scene through editing, especially when said scene was originally only meant as the equivalent of a grace note.
7. If a character falls for a trick once, she should not fall for it again, especially within 5 minutes of the last time. Not having characters learn from their mistakes reeks of lazy writing.
8. Don't have a character rush to a conclusion, especially when said conclusion is not obvious to the viewer from the evidence given. Or to paraphrase Tecna, "Be logical!"
9. When your show's building up to a big battle in the season finale, keep notes on weapons and attacks that were used throughout the course of the season. Come the big battle, make sure the most powerful weapons get used, and that two similar weapons get to face off against each other, because it'll make the fight exciting, and the viewers won't complain that their "gimme" moment wasn't used / that someone conveniently forgot to use their big weapon.
10. Don't have a character who had completely betrayed the others in his group just return to their fold so easily. Have the others question his loyalty first.
11. When two groups that hate each other have to fight a common menace, give both group's efforts decent screen time, instead of focusing on just the group that the main characters come from, and bonus points if the other group is where the common menace came from. It's almost racist not to do so.
12. Meanwhile, when two lovers are coming to terms with their romance, don't ruin a sweet moment by having someone make fun of it, even if it is meant to be amusing.
13. In relation to #9, come big battle time, both sides are to go all out at each other. Neither side should throw away any advantage they have (especially the villains, since it will make their de rigueur defeat look stupid, and the fans will go on and on about it).
14. The most important attack of a battle is the one that takes out the main antagonist. Don't show just the aftermath of this attack, show the actual attack itself. That, writers, is another "gimme" moment the viewers want to see.
15. When one character wants to have a smackdown with another, that smackdown should happen eventually.
16. Minimize references to events that we did not see. (Okay, while I have an S2 ep in mind, this could apply, in minor cases, to at least 2 S1 eps.)
17. Besides that conflict should not happen because of a character's stupidity, a character should also not suddenly behave stupid when she has already been already established as being the smart one, and it wouldn't hurt the storyline not to have her lapse into stupidity. And do not make the excuse that you are writing for a kids' show, instead, write it so that the kids will go along with it, and that the older viewers don't rant as much on how they would have improved it.
18. Also, when introducing a new character, and given a chance to show how bad-ass he is, don't make his efforts amount to nada.
19. Don't give a "major" character her first focus ep of the whole series... and then proceed to mostly ignore her for the rest of the season.
20. In relation to #3 and #8, if a character is known to have more common sense, don't make her behave illogically, especially when her illogical behavior is inexplicable.
21. Besides #16, try not to blot out references to events in previous eps. To paraphrase Daphne, "Remember!" (While a certain S2 ep is VERY guilty of this, there are many times in S1 where this happens.)
22. Also, if a non-regular character is known to hold a grudge against a main character, and she's returning to the show for an ep, the non-regular absolutely must make it known that she's holding a grudge against her.
23. Continuing from #22, if those two characters have already met, make sure that those two characters meet again.
24. When airing the eps, don't air them out of order so that you end up airing a big downer ep right across from a cheerful filler ep.
25. If a character has not used a particular attack after earning the ability to do so, when given a chance to use it, have her use it. Especially when said character was the first to earn the ability to do said attack. (Okay, it's not an attack I have in mind, but it bugs me nonetheless.)
26. If you create a major plot twist, make sure you tie up the loose ends it creates. And do not crib said plot twist from a lame Simpsons ep ;)
27. Always have the characters use the most obvious (and most practical) attack to use for a job. Don't throw common sense out of the window just to get one character (whose attack isn't very practical for the job) a moment in the sun.
28. If there is an "ultimate power" which has been obtained, by golly, you have to use it in the climactic battle. You just can't have the obtainee throw it away.
