Many creators strive to drive emotion into the hearts of their audience. And while important, if this mentality is overemphasized it can diminish a terrific narrative.
Take the ending of Game of Thrones (GOT). Many considered the finish to the overall stellar show to be a catastrophic failure. Why? A perceived breach in character. In an attempt to make a large finale that would strike the biggest chord, the writers broke one of the core building blocks in audience investment. From the reception you can tell it wasn't pretty. Compare the conclusion of GOT with a show like Gravity Falls for example. The finale itself, Wierdmageddon, displays the highest stakes and action we've seen in the whole show; along with a heart wrenching change to a beloved character and a satisfying defeat of an antagonist -- an event teased since the first episode. But rather than stop on that note, the writers decided to end on the two children getting on a bus and leaving the small summer town. It feels like a proper conclusion, like every decision would eventually lead to that point. And it yields a huge gut punch, because even though you expected it, it produces such a wide range of emotions. It almost replicates leaving a real beloved place. Game of Thrones also ends with a goodbye and sendoff. But because it doesn't elicit the correct emotional response, this arguably same set of actions results in audiences panning it almost universally. The lesson is simple. Emotion should come from your story -- not a shocker. It is okay to want your audience to feel something. But their investment counts for more than a surprise. The world of emotions you've created counts for more than the singular emotion from a death, ending, or otherwise. Don't ruin your story at the expense of an emotional hook.
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AuthorMcRae Walker, an 20-year-old writer and lover of many dorky topics. Archives
September 2022
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