Everyone is a number in this dystopian near-future where cameras track your every move. Score above 90 and your set for life. Score below 75 and you’re on your own, kid.
The Cycler Series
The Cyler Series: What would you do if you woke up one day as a member of the opposite sex? For Jill McTeague, this is no hypothetical question. It’s real life!
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The Non-Understanding Spouse. Usually the wife. Is always complaining about the Offending Spouse being too devoted to work. Found in movies far too numerous to mention. Requisite scene: Offending spouse finally sits down to have a heart to heart with Non-Understanding Spouse to prove he or she (usually he) really really cares and is, like, totally there for Non-Understanding Spouse. Offending Spouse’s cell phone rings and he or she (usually he) simply has to answer it. Non-Understanding Spouse shakes head in disappointment and hurt. Why this plot device blows: A) It’s a cheap way to slop on an extra layer of tension in an otherwise lackluster plot B) You never actually sympathize with the Non-Understanding Spouse. He or she (usually she) is basically a self-centered cow (occasionally bull) who has no respect for the Offending Spouse’s important work That is all. Just got off a plane. V tired. Goodnight. 4 Responses to “Overused Plot Device #23”Leave a Reply |
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don’t you just love Hollywood?
welcome back. (whereever that is)
thank you. i’ve always hated that character. particularly in spec fic flicks where something unbelievable happens to the offending spouse and the non-understanding spouse does this whole rolling-the-eyes, ugly sarcasm, throwing-offending-spouse-out-the-house thing. so annoying. the dialogue goes somewhat like:
OS: you wouldn’t believe me if i told you
NUS: try me.
OS: (tells the unbelievable story)
NUS: (duly doesn’t believe)
Yeah, it makes you wonder if an inordinate number of writers have bad marriages or something. I would never be so dismissive of my husband’s career, nor he of mine. All the couples I know are completely involved in and supportive of their spouse’s career. The whole thing feels very 1950′s to me, where women and men lead truly separate lives. Yuck.
Was momentarily offended by this very thing in House this week. There was a moment when I thought: “no, wait: maybe this illustrates the strange fragility of all our lives – maybe there is some tension in every relationship that will make it unravel at a moment’s notice if it receives just the right touch.” Then I thought: “girl, you suck at explaining. Boy, you just suck.”