And so time goes on.

[rogueslayer452]

++ So, the midterms elections happened and I can honestly say that I'm relatively relieved with the outcome. It's obviously not perfect, depending on individual states and their voting was like, but in the overall terms of the country it's a good step forward in comparison to how shitty the last few years have been. It gives a sense of hope and optimism for the future. Although after that came the sad stuff like another mass shooting and now the California wildfires that are still going (we're fine here, but the sky is very hazy and the air quality is shit).

++ For anyone who hasn't really been paying attention to this news, remember when Photobucket did the stupid thing by holding their images hostage unless you paid an obscene amount of money, and then reversed it after they got a new CEO? Apparently they done fucked up yet again by automatically adding watermarks on images that I think can only be removed if you pay for their new hosting package. Which yeah, no, fuck that. It makes looking to save icons and graphics people in fandom have made impossible, which pisses me off. And apparently Flickr has done something stupid too, similar to that of what PB initially did but worse. So if you have a Flickr account might as well save and move your images elsewhere.

++ I've been thinking a lot about the current state of television, or rather the way reboots/remakes/revivals have dominated everything. I answered a question a while back about not wishing any reboots of older shows because, at this point, they are unnecessary cash grabs with little to offer, which I've ranted about multiple times, but thinking about that got me wondering. Instead of reboots, what about spin-offs? It still holds the nostalgia factor of the originals but focuses on new characters and stories while expanding the already existing canon. I can think of quite a few shows that I feel would benefit from having spin-offs, to have their worlds further explored. I think it would be a better option than just resorting to completely remaking or reviving something entirely. While it could get out of hand like what's currently happening in media, since not everything needs spin-offs the same as not everything needs to be rebooted or have a revival series, I still think in moderation it can be done well when there's a decent idea behind it and if there's more to tell from that universe, not done only for the popularity.

Comments

[violateraindrop]

I'm shocked at how some people just see it as given that not all votes are counted. That's not how a democracy works...then again, voting shouldn't require registration, let alone with a fixed party affiliation.

Photobucket is not loading at the moment and all images are broken. I wonder how long that has been going on. For now, I'm safe and my icons don't have watermarks, probably because I use less than 10% of the storage space. But the watermarks look really ugly and make saving icons and screencaps nearly impossible.
Flickr is actually worse...

One of the topics I read up on for my MA thesis actually explains nicely why reboots and revivals are a big thing at the moment: Seriality. People feel safe consuming things they already know, things that get repeated. It actually makes sense in the current political climate. Obviously, it is about money, but they wouldn't be making money if people wouldn't watch the rebooted/revived shows.

I wouldn't mind if some shows got additional seasons, but most of the shows they decide to reboot make me go "What? Why that one?" I have not watched a single reboot so far. Off the top of my head, the only revivals I watched were The X-Files and Prison Break. And it's not like anyone would do another season of BrainDead (which nobody watched) or Kings, shows I'd actually be interested in to see more of. If you asked me a couple of years ago, my answer would be a loud and clear "Pushing Daisies"! But I kinda lost faith in Fuller by now :/

I'd love a Person of Interest spin-off with Shaw and maybe the small group from Washington.
Supernatural tried two spin-off backdoor pilots which didn't work out, although a lot of people wanted the Wayward Sisters show. I also remember NCIS: LA doing one with a mobile investigator unit and these two episodes were awful. I think that spin-offs could also potentially add more diversity and more shows with female leads. If they have established something like Supernatural with only male characters, why not try a similar formula with a female, POC, or LGBT cast?

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

It sort of happens every election, doesn't it?

Photobucket continues to be a disappointment. I thought they had learned their lesson from keeping things hostage, apparently not. But ITA, Flickr's situation is much worse.

People feel safe consuming things they already know, things that get repeated. It actually makes sense in the current political climate.

This makes sense. I often find that while I do watch something new, if I had the choice between watching that new things and rewatching something I've already seen, I'll go with the latter. It's not that I don't want to watch something new, obviously, but sometimes it's a matter of being in the right mood and mindset, especially when it comes to something like binge-watching which is what most people seem to do nowadays. Having that sense of familiarity to fall back onto.

With that being said, I also haven't really watched any of the reboots that have been announced in recent years. Most of them sound dull, uninteresting, or are just super unnecessary to me. I already have the originals to watch, why would I bother looking at a remake? As for revivals, some can be good, but most are also completely unnecessary. Basically the lesson here seems to be: just because you can, doesn't mean you should.

If they have established something like Supernatural with only male characters, why not try a similar formula with a female, POC, or LGBT cast?

This is what I've been wondering, too. I stopped watching and caring about the show many years ago but I was among those who were confused when Wayward Sisters didn't get picked up because it seemed like that fandom was really wanting it and even pushing for it. But I recall the CEO of the CW saying that Supernatural wasn't ever going to have spin-offs because the main show is what mattered. Which is strange to say when The Vampire Diaries has, like, two spin-offs already. So it makes me think that TPTB at CW think that SPN only is successful because of its male leads. Which, yeah, take that how you will....

[violateraindrop]

I've actually heard about a study that found out that rewatching shows you know is more relaxing than watching something new which also makes sense.

being in the right mood and mindset, especially when it comes to something like binge-watching
That is so true!

Wayward Sisters had a lot of buzz online which is usually something the CW listens to. Well, actually they do that a little bit too much because I suspect that's part of the reason why they only care about the main show. I mean, that's what most people talk about online...I guess. I just watch the show.

When I saw that The Vampire Diaries got a second spin-off, I really started wondering who even cares about these shows. I occasionally see a gifset on my dash, but that's it.

[rogueslayer452.livejournal.com]

Yeah, imho it's mostly about the comfort of it because you already know what's gonna happen, as opposed to watching something new where you don't.

Well, actually they do that a little bit too much

That's essentially the CW in a nutshell, I think. They listen too much but at the same time don't listen enough, if that makes any sort of sense. I could say that about other networks too, but most television networks operate on ratings versus popularity, the CW is different since a show could have shit ratings but if a fandom is loud enough they'll still accommodate to them. But they're also very selective, too, since even if a fandom is loud the CW can still ignore them in favor of something else. idk, I kinda stopped watching the CW altogether at this point.

I occasionally see a gifset on my dash, but that's it.

I haven't seen anything about Legacies, to be honest. Granted, I follow people that don't really care about those shows, but in terms of Legacies I haven't even seen anyone talking about it. But still, it makes me wonder, who wanted these spin-offs? I could understand The Originals because those characters were well-liked on TVD, but after like, the first or second season that show went downhill just as quickly as TVD. So why is Legacies even a thing? idek. I feel like while some fans might've been interested, I think this was Julie Plec's idea and the CW just gave her the go-ahead anyway, regardless of whether it was in high demand from the fandom or not.

[violateraindrop]

They listen too much but at the same time don't listen enough, if that makes any sort of sense.
It totally does!

Some people I follow watched TVD and definitely The Originals and I see gifsets from these shows. Nothing from Legacies though, I think. I can just go by the tags since I haven't watched any of these shows.