Bloodlines and why it failed.
May. 10th, 2014 10:25 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ash48It's been announced that Bloodlines is not being picked up. I was only going to write a few lines about it and then I got thinking and it turned into an essay (of sorts).
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Supernatural: Bloodlines. How to misread your audience.
A spin off to Supernatural was announced at the beginning of Season 9. We were told it was going to be episode 20 and be called "Tribes". We were told a few of the basics - set in Chicago, rival monster families and some of the characters were mentioned. I didn't particularly have any strong feelings either way about the idea, only that it could be interesting and it showed that the producers thought there would be a strong enough audience to get it off the ground. It was Supernatural after all.
As the cast was announced and more information came I was actually looking forward to it. Supernatural can't go on forever (I know, it's hard to believe, but there it is). I thought a spin off might be a good way to ease into another show. I was interested to see what could be done in the same universe - and a bit excited that another show would be set in a universe that I've loved for so long.
It wasn't until it aired that it became clear what the producers were trying to do.
Supernatural fans are known for being passionate, loud and pretty powerful. We've kept the show running for 10 years and have voted the show, characters, actors and ships into first place in many polls and winning a few awards. If you get us onside we can be a force to be reckoned with. On the flip side, get us offside and we can be a pretty vocal and (unfortunately) nasty bunch.
It seems that Bloodlines got many of us offside.
My reaction to Bloodlines not being picked up is one of annoyance. Not because I particularly wanted to watch the show, but because the failure of this lands squarely on the shoulders of those who made the decision to launch the show the way they did. I'm annoyed because, with a little bit of thought and consideration to its audience, this could have been a success story for the CW. Instead, fans were expected to come to the party, sing its praises, flood the interwebs with passionate pleas and support the show simply because it was associated with Supernatural.
I am also annoyed because I didn't want to be put in that position. I didn't want to be a person who made a decision about this show. I didn't want to have to support a show JUST because I love Supernatural. Because now, with the lack of support from Supernatural fans, we can be considered part of the reason why it's not being picked up. Due to fans not being all those things the producers obviously hoped we'd be, the show has failed. I feel like WE have failed them rather than them failing us.
The question is...is it our fault? I for one, went into the episode well aware that it would be Sam and Dean light and despite that I had my cheerleading frame of mind on. I was READY to get excited. I wanted to support the people who have brought me a show I have loved for years. And I gave it a good chance.
The problem was, I wasn't the show's target audience. I don't watch Supernatural because it has monsters in it. I don't watch it for all the family drama. I don't watch it because enjoy seeing all the struggles and arguments between Sam and Dean. I LIKE those aspects of it sure (well, not the arguing so much) - I enjoy genre TV as a rule, but it's the two central characters of Sam and Dean that captured my heart and basically sold me on the rest of the show. And even though the show does have occasional romantic story lines and family dramas, it still remains a (mostly) monster of the week formula with massive myth arcs driving each season. I would also say that for many the show is also enhanced with Castiel and many of the other "regular" characters. Though, initially, the show was been built around two incredibly strong and charismatic characters. Without them it just wouldn't be the show it is - or the show I fell in love with.
That's not to say Bloodlines was all that bad. As a pilot we might forgive its clunky start - introducing new characters isn't easy and it takes a while to warm up to them (unless you are Sam and Dean of course). We might even forgive the cliched characters and similar story lines because as the show progressed they might have started to get more interesting. In fact, I think it had potential. But as they didn't give the show a chance with a NON-Supernatural audience we'll never know. Just because much of the Supernatural audience decided it wasn't for them, it doesn't mean that other audiences wouldn't have loved it. Supernatural only draws in about 2 million viewers each week. What about all those viewers who don't like Supernatural? Or the ones who watch The Vampire Diaries? Maybe younger audience members who have never watched SPN? Maybe fans of the actors?
By launching this as a Supernatural spin off I believe they shot themselves in the foot. Not only did they not try it on non SPN fans but they asked SPN fans to like something that was nothing like their show. They expected us to support it (maybe even love it) because it was loosely connected to Supernatural. It had a similar story line after all - a character who wanted to be "normal", a character seeking revenge, a missing father, a dead girlfriend, two male leads - but it didn't have the same essence, the same look, or even seemed to occupy the same universe (even though it actually did). (As this isn't a review of the actual episode I won't go into that any more, but I'm sure there were things people loved and didn't love about it. I'm also sure there are many SPN fans that did like it. Just not enough to get it off the ground it would seem).
The thing is, I think Bloodlines would have had an audience. I absolutely believe that SPN fans would have supported the hell out of it if we hadn't been used as an insta!audience. I think if we have been treated honestly and they made some effort to get us onside then the power we have as fans could have been used to great effect. If we were told there was a show coming out written by Andrew Dabb and many of the SPN crew were involved in it and "it's very different to SPN, but we'd love it if you checked it out" I have no doubt we would have cheered them on. Even if it wasn't something we'd watch, I know that the interwebs wouldn't have been full of the abject dislike it received (more as protest rather than actually hating the show I feel). The young actors in the show seem amicable and many may have thrown their support behind them.
Rather strangely, I feel cheated because we weren't given the chance to show our support.
I know they saved money and labor by doing it this way, but in the end they lost a lot more. By understanding their audience, working with their loyal following I think they could be celebrating a new show, rather than commiserating its demise.
End note: I think there is still huge potential for a Supernatural spin off. There are certainly enough beloved characters who could probably carry a show on their own. Castiel comes to mind. "Supernatural: Angels and Demons" has a nice ring to it. There's already an epic ton of canon and all sorts of potential for further story and character development. It might even be a good way to separate Sam and Dean from the Heaven and Hell battles so they can get back to their routes of hunting urban legends. Even Bloodlines could have another shot if they took they time to develop the characters within the show we already have. The premise has potential.
The thing is - I want to be given the chance to support the endeavours of the hard working writers and crew of the show. Just please do it in a way that doesn't leave me feeling used.
.
Supernatural: Bloodlines. How to misread your audience.
A spin off to Supernatural was announced at the beginning of Season 9. We were told it was going to be episode 20 and be called "Tribes". We were told a few of the basics - set in Chicago, rival monster families and some of the characters were mentioned. I didn't particularly have any strong feelings either way about the idea, only that it could be interesting and it showed that the producers thought there would be a strong enough audience to get it off the ground. It was Supernatural after all.
As the cast was announced and more information came I was actually looking forward to it. Supernatural can't go on forever (I know, it's hard to believe, but there it is). I thought a spin off might be a good way to ease into another show. I was interested to see what could be done in the same universe - and a bit excited that another show would be set in a universe that I've loved for so long.
It wasn't until it aired that it became clear what the producers were trying to do.
Supernatural fans are known for being passionate, loud and pretty powerful. We've kept the show running for 10 years and have voted the show, characters, actors and ships into first place in many polls and winning a few awards. If you get us onside we can be a force to be reckoned with. On the flip side, get us offside and we can be a pretty vocal and (unfortunately) nasty bunch.
It seems that Bloodlines got many of us offside.
My reaction to Bloodlines not being picked up is one of annoyance. Not because I particularly wanted to watch the show, but because the failure of this lands squarely on the shoulders of those who made the decision to launch the show the way they did. I'm annoyed because, with a little bit of thought and consideration to its audience, this could have been a success story for the CW. Instead, fans were expected to come to the party, sing its praises, flood the interwebs with passionate pleas and support the show simply because it was associated with Supernatural.
I am also annoyed because I didn't want to be put in that position. I didn't want to be a person who made a decision about this show. I didn't want to have to support a show JUST because I love Supernatural. Because now, with the lack of support from Supernatural fans, we can be considered part of the reason why it's not being picked up. Due to fans not being all those things the producers obviously hoped we'd be, the show has failed. I feel like WE have failed them rather than them failing us.
The question is...is it our fault? I for one, went into the episode well aware that it would be Sam and Dean light and despite that I had my cheerleading frame of mind on. I was READY to get excited. I wanted to support the people who have brought me a show I have loved for years. And I gave it a good chance.
The problem was, I wasn't the show's target audience. I don't watch Supernatural because it has monsters in it. I don't watch it for all the family drama. I don't watch it because enjoy seeing all the struggles and arguments between Sam and Dean. I LIKE those aspects of it sure (well, not the arguing so much) - I enjoy genre TV as a rule, but it's the two central characters of Sam and Dean that captured my heart and basically sold me on the rest of the show. And even though the show does have occasional romantic story lines and family dramas, it still remains a (mostly) monster of the week formula with massive myth arcs driving each season. I would also say that for many the show is also enhanced with Castiel and many of the other "regular" characters. Though, initially, the show was been built around two incredibly strong and charismatic characters. Without them it just wouldn't be the show it is - or the show I fell in love with.
That's not to say Bloodlines was all that bad. As a pilot we might forgive its clunky start - introducing new characters isn't easy and it takes a while to warm up to them (unless you are Sam and Dean of course). We might even forgive the cliched characters and similar story lines because as the show progressed they might have started to get more interesting. In fact, I think it had potential. But as they didn't give the show a chance with a NON-Supernatural audience we'll never know. Just because much of the Supernatural audience decided it wasn't for them, it doesn't mean that other audiences wouldn't have loved it. Supernatural only draws in about 2 million viewers each week. What about all those viewers who don't like Supernatural? Or the ones who watch The Vampire Diaries? Maybe younger audience members who have never watched SPN? Maybe fans of the actors?
By launching this as a Supernatural spin off I believe they shot themselves in the foot. Not only did they not try it on non SPN fans but they asked SPN fans to like something that was nothing like their show. They expected us to support it (maybe even love it) because it was loosely connected to Supernatural. It had a similar story line after all - a character who wanted to be "normal", a character seeking revenge, a missing father, a dead girlfriend, two male leads - but it didn't have the same essence, the same look, or even seemed to occupy the same universe (even though it actually did). (As this isn't a review of the actual episode I won't go into that any more, but I'm sure there were things people loved and didn't love about it. I'm also sure there are many SPN fans that did like it. Just not enough to get it off the ground it would seem).
The thing is, I think Bloodlines would have had an audience. I absolutely believe that SPN fans would have supported the hell out of it if we hadn't been used as an insta!audience. I think if we have been treated honestly and they made some effort to get us onside then the power we have as fans could have been used to great effect. If we were told there was a show coming out written by Andrew Dabb and many of the SPN crew were involved in it and "it's very different to SPN, but we'd love it if you checked it out" I have no doubt we would have cheered them on. Even if it wasn't something we'd watch, I know that the interwebs wouldn't have been full of the abject dislike it received (more as protest rather than actually hating the show I feel). The young actors in the show seem amicable and many may have thrown their support behind them.
Rather strangely, I feel cheated because we weren't given the chance to show our support.
I know they saved money and labor by doing it this way, but in the end they lost a lot more. By understanding their audience, working with their loyal following I think they could be celebrating a new show, rather than commiserating its demise.
End note: I think there is still huge potential for a Supernatural spin off. There are certainly enough beloved characters who could probably carry a show on their own. Castiel comes to mind. "Supernatural: Angels and Demons" has a nice ring to it. There's already an epic ton of canon and all sorts of potential for further story and character development. It might even be a good way to separate Sam and Dean from the Heaven and Hell battles so they can get back to their routes of hunting urban legends. Even Bloodlines could have another shot if they took they time to develop the characters within the show we already have. The premise has potential.
The thing is - I want to be given the chance to support the endeavours of the hard working writers and crew of the show. Just please do it in a way that doesn't leave me feeling used.
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no subject
Date: 2014-05-10 04:32 am (UTC)But i don't understand where this feeling of being deceived or used comes from. From the moment that Bloodlines (aka Tribes) was announced at Comic Con in July 2013, it was made abundantly clear it was going to be a very different show to Supernatural. In fact nearly all of the publicity focussed on these differences - its was a serialised show, an ensemble cast, ubran, no characters from Supernatural, a totally separate storyline.
So it seems pretty disingenuous to act as if episode 20 arrived 9 months later and we all sat down expecting one thing and getting something else entirely. The same as if the pilot had aired as a one off, people could choose to watch or not, and know what they were getting.
I just don't understand fans anger towards the people who have given them nine seasons they ostensibly love to try something new. If the people who make SPN never tried anything new, we'd never have Changing Channels or The French Mistake. Angels would never have entered the story and we wouldn't have the Men of Letters Bunker. Creativity needs a space to take risks and try things. And I'm on board for that.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-10 05:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-05-10 07:28 am (UTC)it was made abundantly clear it was going to be a very different show to Supernatural.
I think I missed the abundantly clear part. I did know it was a pilot and spin off etc, but I didn't realise how different it was going to be. I'm not sure how it was promoted in the US (I didn't watched the promo due to spoiler avoidance), so maybe the casual viewer and non-spn view did realise it was going to be very different. A couple of people commented on my review post that they had no idea and thought it was another AU episode. There are many who don't read the info out there or spend a lot of time online.
I did know quite a bit (urban, no SPN characters etc.) but assumed that there would be some similarities (other than just the monsters). Perhaps my surprise fuelled some of my annoyance (and clearly I needed to spoil myself more for the episode).
The same as if the pilot had aired as a one off, people could choose to watch or not, and know what they were getting.
Yes, but for me I wouldn't have watched a separate pilot expecting it to be similar to an SPN episode. I had to watch this episode because I wanted to see what was going of with Sam and Dean. I was curious to see how they would be approaching these monster families. I also didn't want to miss any potential information about what was going on between them. As it was I could have skipped this episode - but that's like asking me to skip a fix. I just couldn't do it!
I just don't understand fans anger towards the people who have given them nine seasons they ostensibly love to try something new.
I'm not angry that they tried something new. I think it's pretty cool that they wanted to try another set of story lines in the SPN universe. My annoyance (I'm not really angry) mostly comes the assumption that because we love SPN we'd love this, that it feels like they missed an opportunity to appeal to non-son fans and that instead of fans being able to show support it seemed to have the opposite effect of creating anger (from some of the tweets etc. that I've seen).
Creativity needs a space to take risks and try things.
Oh my gosh yes. I believe that totally. I love that the show seems to enjoy that level of creativity. We've had some awesome, off-the-wall, creative, thought provoking, fourth wall breaking episodes. I think perhaps if Bloodlines had been any one of those things it might have gathered more support. Maybe. I think if we could have seen (and my "we" I mean "me" mostly) an attempt to be daring or different my response to the actual episode might have been more positive.
But as I said. I hope they can work out a spin off. The universe is extremely rich in possibilities. It would be a shame if it didn't have another chance to appear in another TV show.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-11 04:53 am (UTC)The major "audience" for this ep was the network execs. They would be the ones who gave the go-ahead for the concept originally and they would be the main "audience" who mattered. The use of a planted episode was a proof of concept mechanism, the only one available without funding for a standalone pilot. Obviously ep ratings and reviewer/fan reaction on social media plays a role but very very minor.
I have no idea what the CW execs thought, they may have hated it, or liked it well enough, but the decision by The CW not to cancel say Beauty and the Beast and The 100 (as expected by many) meant there were 2 less spots available for new shows. So four new shows got picked up. (Notably 3 of those are based on other material, so there has been some defacto audience testing, the fourth one is an original concept untested on an audience) For all we know Bloodlines would've been next in line.
Maybe the makers of Bloodlines did misread their audience - its just that WE weren't that audience.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-11 08:33 am (UTC)Oh. Ok. It's not an assumption I would have made (well, didn't make). I figured as they made it for us to watch, our reaction to it would have been somewhat important. But if, as you say, it was made for the network execs then yes, we are completely out of the picture and that kind of makes me even more annoyed. I know I am speaking as an "entitled" fan (and I realise what I've written sounds like that too), but if we don't feature at all (and I can absolutely believe that considering we clearly weren't that audience) then I can understand now why I felt like the way I did after watching it.
Maybe I shouldn't be annoyed or even surprised, I am pretty naive when it comes to the way things work in the TV world. I know it's a business and it can be pretty cut throat. I suppose I've end up believing that the "spnfamily" was actually something TPTB respected. Which, yeah, is probably a pretty childish and an entitled way of looking at things.
Actually, I remember having a similar discussion a while back about how little influence fans actually have on the show. Perhaps this is a reminder of that.
ETA: Sorry, I do know what you mean. Even if the response had been largely positive the Execs were mostly looking at how it might fit in their line up - not what the audience thought of it. I did make the assumption in writing this that the response would hold some weight. Which means even if they showed it to a non-spn audience, as a different show, they would be in exactly the same position. It was essentially one way of Dabb & Co to pitch an idea - whether we liked it or not was immaterial. Cool. I get that (doesn't make me any happier about it, but that is also immaterial. ;D)
no subject
Date: 2014-05-10 07:39 am (UTC)Bloodlines, even if it had had nothing to do with SPN was just badly done and it wasn't just a brainless SPN fan like myself who thought so, but many of the professional tv sites also gave a negative opinion.
The fact that Bloodlines was ostensibly connected to SPN made things worse IMO, because it pretended to reflect the world of Sam and Dean which it couldn't have been further from.
No hunter knew that Chicago was packed with elegant monsters?
Just the idea was enough to rock the boat.
There were just so many things that didn't work with this spin-off, and even if SPN fans are loyal and at times obsessive when it comes to their show, they are not stupid, and when presented with an inferior product as Bloodlines was, they react accordingly.
no subject
Date: 2014-05-11 04:44 am (UTC)My problem with the spin-off, apart from it being boring as fu.. and it being undistinguishable from just about any other boring urban fantasy show out there, is that someone at CW actually thought that I'd watch more of that.
I mean, the show would had been harmless, and I'd just not watched it, but in my corner of fandom, people actually are slightly offended that TPTB underestimated and misread SPN fandom to the extent that they counted on us supporting a show that had very little of what people generally seem to love about SPN.
If they had actually been creative and tried something new, and CC and FM are some of my favourite eps, so yes. But they didn't and served us a bland and boring dish of reheated, overcooked tropes.