Very recently my wife and I have decided to take a small
detour from our normal evening activity of watching Japanese TV to watch some of
the American TV shows that have been all the rage recently.
With my memory refreshed as to the wonders and doldrums of TV dramas,
I've noticed some consistencies. American TV dramas are almost always demand
driven as opposed to being script driven. This
can be both good and bad. As long as
there is a strong fan base, writers will always continue to churn out new
episodes to appease the viewers and, of course, rake in the dough. Most fans
enjoy this particular aspect of American TV because they can watch their
favorite show for years. However, the downside is that inevitably the
storywriters won't be able to sustain an interesting story causing your favorite
show to degrade into mediocrity.
|
|
Japanese
TV dramas, on the other hand, seem to always have a fixed length. Even if a show
is extremely popular, after only about 11 or12 episodes, it finishes. Although
this leaves some viewers yearning for more, it also lets the show be remembered
as great, as opposed to a show that was once great but became unbearable to
watch.
Although not watching TV would probably make me more productive, I have to say
that I enjoy both American and Japanese TV dramas. All I can say is to enjoy the
ride while it lasts, and regardless of its length, happily there will always be
a new one to fill its place.
|