Sunday, March 22, 2015

Deconstructing American Action Series (Arrow series 3 actually)

After going through 16 hours of american TV series Arrow. I am a champion on the corny dialogues. I am sure the entire series is being written by some nascent script writing computer program, as there is no other way that the human mind can be so devoid of creativity.Its not just our saas bahu serials that have corny dialogues,but hollywood has them too.

Arrow season 3 explained in 10 sentences (for that matter any action series)

- How could you do this to me

Something shitty will happen, after which 5 episodes will go into hiding it, and then some one will eventually come to know about it, and this is the dialogue that will be delivered.


- I am doing this to protect you

Used to justify any irrational or inconsistent actor which is just being done by the character to further the plot and complicate things, so that after this they can mope around in one on one conversations for 3-4 episodes.

- I trusted you

Again after the character says this, go to the kitchen make your coffee, and when you come back after 10 minutes, you have not missed anything. Generally the 10 minutes will go into a volley of all the dialogues listed here in no specific order.

- (any random reasoning) + Because you are family

For example: I was lying to you because i love you and you are family. I did not come home for 5 years because you are my family. I lied to protect you because you are my family. You get where this is going.

- (illogical choice) + That is my decision to make

This means that the next episode is going to be this character moping, some water works and long flash backs. Example : This character after 5 boxing lessons wears a fancy superhero costume and gets beaten to a pulp on the streets by the thugs. The next time when all the heroes are rushing out, she is still going back the reasoning being "Its my choice to make"

- (some dead person) + Would have(or not have) wanted this

I am wearing costumes and going out on the streets to fight crime without any training as "x person would have wanted it". 2 episodes later, i am not going out on the streets any more as the same "x person would NOT  have wanted it". Bravo.

- i know you are hurting right now

I know you are hurting right now directly leads to heavy arguments + anger issues with one person storming out on other. So if you want to keep the issues unresolved and the communication NOT  to progress or may be you want to plug something in the next episode while you are thinking on the arc, this is the line to use.

- I know what you are going to say

This is a substitute for " i know you are hurting right now" line


- You are keeping secrets from me

Well when the character has been keeping secrets for arbitrary reasons and needs to kill 10 minutes in random dialogue before the next action sequence can happen throw in this line. The moment this line comes out, expect some pouting or storming out. Only once has this line successfully forced the person to actually go ahead and reveal the secret.


- I have to do this

When the writers have literally given up on writing any logical reasons, or know that the character's action can not be explained by ANY explainable reason, just throw in this line. This line is the epitome of lazy writing.

That's all for now, will add more if i find any.

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