Dear Writers... (Have something you want to say?)
- Thread starter Faylinn
- Start date
chaostheory08
CSI Level Three
Yeah. Just goes to show that these writers spent most of their energies to the romance bit -- which does.not.work. -- and almost nothing on Lindsey's backstory -- which could be interesting had they been paying attention to it.
And yes, I have noticed that when she left, a lot of other -- "more interesting and engaging" -- characters got built-up. Not to mention the coherence amongst the characters was there again. They can function better without her. Or maybe with her iff they drop the romance crap.
**This is a very edited version of a letter I posted on a blog yesterday afternoon.**
Dear Writers,
I want to tell you of the corner you have written yourselves into, how the show you are currently creating has old fans leaving for grittier better written and developed grounds. I will be the first to admit the writing has improved drastically from Season 2, which was largely a waste of television airtime and many hours of my life that I can’t get back. Personally, I think you should feel a small shame over spending valuable hours of your life turning out such poorly written crap when you could have done something to better the world, such as collecting trash along the highway. There are notable exceptions from Season 2, “Run Silent, Run Deep” and “Live or Let Die” come to mind, but few others. However, I expressed the whole of my disgust over Season 2 numerous times on the board, so much so that the anger I felt mentally exhausted me and I simply walked away from the franchise.
I was wooed back a third of the way into Season 3 by tales of a rejuvenated CSI: NY, a move back to the spark of Season 1, or as we like to call it the season of utter brilliance, save one glaring exception. There was truth in the tales I’d heard and the one glaring exception finally rode off in a cab with one last painful moment of horrible acting, there was rejoicing and celebratory dancing. The three week bacchanalia ends tonight and I find the anticipation of what is on the horizon almost unbearable, I go between not wanting to watch and yet needing to see for myself the final nail of crucifixion being hammered into the show’s most dynamic character.
You’ve shackled Danny Messer with this farce of a love story that I lovingly call a fauxmance and saddled him with a regular character without substance or standing. She is for me the worst character in the history of the CSI franchise, I honestly cannot think of any other series regular that is so irreedemable . She lacks charm, likeability, charisma, wit, and general appeal, you take all those things I mentioned which are nothing more than the obvious outcome of a poorly written character, you add into the mix an actress that simply cannot deliver, and what you have is the most unpleasant of experiences. She seemingly lacks the ability to emote and forces the viewer out of the temporary fictional NY they attempt to inhabit for 42 minutes each week. Her weaknesses are all the more apparent when she stands side by side with absolutely fantastic actors that certainly deserve better material and perhaps they would be rewarded with such if you would stop breaking your backs trying to fit a square shrieking and shrill peg into a shining star hole.
I want to see more of the characters not unclothed but uncovered, their secrets, their pasts, their pains, their joys, their demons.
I know that sex sells but the exploration of Danny’s inner character would still be wrapped up in an appealing package. He should never be Lindsay’s, not simply because she is unappealing in every way but because Danny is an enigma and by dousing his spark you have done a great injustice to the actor and your audience.
There are countless pages and posts on TalkCSI over the demise of Danny Messer. There are those that feel a change is blowing and any moment we will see the rebirth of excellent character development, the writers going back to the character’s histories for lush storytelling. I am not willing to be so optimistic about a show run by, written by, and broadcast by a group that is so willing to disappoint and ignore the obvious. I do wonder what happened in the dark back alleys of CBS that a bland character without substance has curried such favour with the powers, while the show's moneymaker has been put to pasture and reduced to a chemistry free interaction.
Where does one begin when attempting to address where Lindsay went wrong, I honestly don’t know. I will tell you the moment she became irredeemable for me. The moment she snatched from Sid was crass, tasteless, and ugly. A better actress would have made the character seem an absent-minded and eager science junkie imbued with a quirky cuteness that contrasted with the New York edge the other characters possess, and wasn’t that the goal of Lindsay Monroe, formerly Summer Hamilton.
The question some of us are know toying with in moments of private conversation is could a better actress have overcome the character’s pathetic situation as Danny’s shadow, could a better actress have made that shadow seem less sinister and more pleasant, could a better actress have stood tall and delivered her poorly written lines in a way that made her liked and appreciated? I say yes, and I would point out that Drive on FOX is not long for this world and were I you I would stop reading and contact Amy Acker’s people before it is too late.
As portrayed by Anna, Lindsay’s banter with Danny lacks Aiden’s spice and crackling fire. Her flirty, ignore the vomit in my mouth, attempts lack Maka’s elegant sexuality and lightening fast wit. Her attempts at conviction and authority lack Stella’s class, refinement, and the power that a true woman in control conveys. Essentially, she is nothing more than space filler, she brings nothing new to the show and has served only to disrupt the cohesiveness of the team dynamic. How I miss the days of Flack and Danny’s friendship, Stella’s heart to Mac’s brain, Hawkes as the endless fount of wisdom to them all, and . . .
I could go on for days and write on what a mess has been made out of what was once an excellent and enjoyable television show. In the nature of fairness let me tell you what you have done right over the course of Seasons 2 and 3 – exactly six things.
• Robert Joy
• AJ Buckley.
• Hung Out to Dry, Raising Shane and Eddie Furlong
• Emmanuelle Vaugier
• Kyle Gallner
• Claire Forlani
I am polite only to a point and what I would truly wish upon you was the fate of Prometheus, the Titan that stole fire from the gods and brought light and new life to the human race, but if I am honest with you and you are honest with yourselves you lack his nobility, so, upon you I wish nothing because I find it would be a waste.
Thank you.
Dear Writers,
I want to tell you of the corner you have written yourselves into, how the show you are currently creating has old fans leaving for grittier better written and developed grounds. I will be the first to admit the writing has improved drastically from Season 2, which was largely a waste of television airtime and many hours of my life that I can’t get back. Personally, I think you should feel a small shame over spending valuable hours of your life turning out such poorly written crap when you could have done something to better the world, such as collecting trash along the highway. There are notable exceptions from Season 2, “Run Silent, Run Deep” and “Live or Let Die” come to mind, but few others. However, I expressed the whole of my disgust over Season 2 numerous times on the board, so much so that the anger I felt mentally exhausted me and I simply walked away from the franchise.
I was wooed back a third of the way into Season 3 by tales of a rejuvenated CSI: NY, a move back to the spark of Season 1, or as we like to call it the season of utter brilliance, save one glaring exception. There was truth in the tales I’d heard and the one glaring exception finally rode off in a cab with one last painful moment of horrible acting, there was rejoicing and celebratory dancing. The three week bacchanalia ends tonight and I find the anticipation of what is on the horizon almost unbearable, I go between not wanting to watch and yet needing to see for myself the final nail of crucifixion being hammered into the show’s most dynamic character.
You’ve shackled Danny Messer with this farce of a love story that I lovingly call a fauxmance and saddled him with a regular character without substance or standing. She is for me the worst character in the history of the CSI franchise, I honestly cannot think of any other series regular that is so irreedemable . She lacks charm, likeability, charisma, wit, and general appeal, you take all those things I mentioned which are nothing more than the obvious outcome of a poorly written character, you add into the mix an actress that simply cannot deliver, and what you have is the most unpleasant of experiences. She seemingly lacks the ability to emote and forces the viewer out of the temporary fictional NY they attempt to inhabit for 42 minutes each week. Her weaknesses are all the more apparent when she stands side by side with absolutely fantastic actors that certainly deserve better material and perhaps they would be rewarded with such if you would stop breaking your backs trying to fit a square shrieking and shrill peg into a shining star hole.
I want to see more of the characters not unclothed but uncovered, their secrets, their pasts, their pains, their joys, their demons.
I know that sex sells but the exploration of Danny’s inner character would still be wrapped up in an appealing package. He should never be Lindsay’s, not simply because she is unappealing in every way but because Danny is an enigma and by dousing his spark you have done a great injustice to the actor and your audience.
There are countless pages and posts on TalkCSI over the demise of Danny Messer. There are those that feel a change is blowing and any moment we will see the rebirth of excellent character development, the writers going back to the character’s histories for lush storytelling. I am not willing to be so optimistic about a show run by, written by, and broadcast by a group that is so willing to disappoint and ignore the obvious. I do wonder what happened in the dark back alleys of CBS that a bland character without substance has curried such favour with the powers, while the show's moneymaker has been put to pasture and reduced to a chemistry free interaction.
Where does one begin when attempting to address where Lindsay went wrong, I honestly don’t know. I will tell you the moment she became irredeemable for me. The moment she snatched from Sid was crass, tasteless, and ugly. A better actress would have made the character seem an absent-minded and eager science junkie imbued with a quirky cuteness that contrasted with the New York edge the other characters possess, and wasn’t that the goal of Lindsay Monroe, formerly Summer Hamilton.
The question some of us are know toying with in moments of private conversation is could a better actress have overcome the character’s pathetic situation as Danny’s shadow, could a better actress have made that shadow seem less sinister and more pleasant, could a better actress have stood tall and delivered her poorly written lines in a way that made her liked and appreciated? I say yes, and I would point out that Drive on FOX is not long for this world and were I you I would stop reading and contact Amy Acker’s people before it is too late.
As portrayed by Anna, Lindsay’s banter with Danny lacks Aiden’s spice and crackling fire. Her flirty, ignore the vomit in my mouth, attempts lack Maka’s elegant sexuality and lightening fast wit. Her attempts at conviction and authority lack Stella’s class, refinement, and the power that a true woman in control conveys. Essentially, she is nothing more than space filler, she brings nothing new to the show and has served only to disrupt the cohesiveness of the team dynamic. How I miss the days of Flack and Danny’s friendship, Stella’s heart to Mac’s brain, Hawkes as the endless fount of wisdom to them all, and . . .
I could go on for days and write on what a mess has been made out of what was once an excellent and enjoyable television show. In the nature of fairness let me tell you what you have done right over the course of Seasons 2 and 3 – exactly six things.
• Robert Joy
• AJ Buckley.
• Hung Out to Dry, Raising Shane and Eddie Furlong
• Emmanuelle Vaugier
• Kyle Gallner
• Claire Forlani
I am polite only to a point and what I would truly wish upon you was the fate of Prometheus, the Titan that stole fire from the gods and brought light and new life to the human race, but if I am honest with you and you are honest with yourselves you lack his nobility, so, upon you I wish nothing because I find it would be a waste.
Thank you.
Springmoon
CSI Level Two
Hear, hear! Those are exactly the six things that have gone well this season and "Hung Out to Dry" in particular has been one of my favorite episodes ever. Pitch perfect in every way. If I could have my way with Hammerbeck in a back room at the morgue, my life would be complete.
MrsGiovinazzo
CSI Level Three
Dear Writers,
Thank you for last night. It transported me back to that magic time when my girlfriends would cluster in my college dorm room with me so that we could glue ourselves to Beverly Hills 90201, sip from our Big Gulps, feast on Sweet Tarts and debate whether Jason Priestly or Luke Perry had the cuter butt.
Unfortunately that was a lifetime ago and my tastes have grown more sophisticated. When I cast aside the sugary treats, I also lost my appettite for saccharine romance. It's a pity you've decided to transform a top rated crime drama into something targeted to appeal only to the segment of Middle America that sits on their pudgy asses eating bon bons, watching soap operas and longing to have a man look at them as if he were interested just once in their dull existences.
While you continue your ruination of one of the formerly best written characters on television, you leave me seeking more engaging Wednesday night pursuits -- such as fishing lint out of my bellybutton or defrosting my freezer.
Should you ever wish to send a resume to the WB, please know I would be delighted to write you a glowing letter of recommendation as your current work would be a perfect match for that network.
Regards,
Mrs. G
Thank you for last night. It transported me back to that magic time when my girlfriends would cluster in my college dorm room with me so that we could glue ourselves to Beverly Hills 90201, sip from our Big Gulps, feast on Sweet Tarts and debate whether Jason Priestly or Luke Perry had the cuter butt.
Unfortunately that was a lifetime ago and my tastes have grown more sophisticated. When I cast aside the sugary treats, I also lost my appettite for saccharine romance. It's a pity you've decided to transform a top rated crime drama into something targeted to appeal only to the segment of Middle America that sits on their pudgy asses eating bon bons, watching soap operas and longing to have a man look at them as if he were interested just once in their dull existences.
While you continue your ruination of one of the formerly best written characters on television, you leave me seeking more engaging Wednesday night pursuits -- such as fishing lint out of my bellybutton or defrosting my freezer.
Should you ever wish to send a resume to the WB, please know I would be delighted to write you a glowing letter of recommendation as your current work would be a perfect match for that network.
Regards,
Mrs. G
Dear Writers,
Have you finally wreaked your worst upon your poor audience? Is the last scene from 'Sleight Out Of Hand' the swansong of the Danny/Lindsey debacle or do we have to suffer more of this trite, pathetic, teenage-crush romance? When are you going to understand that a talented actor like Carmine Giovinazzo will eventually tire of having his well-crafted character of Danny Messer destroyed with an ongoing story arc of such debilitating crassness? Or perhaps you are gleefully rubbing your hands at the thought of writing Lindsey's reaction (which will come across as lame as any of her other attempts at emotion) to the tragic death of her 'love interest' when Carmine finally throws in the towel and leaves, taking the majority of your audience with him?
Have you finally wreaked your worst upon your poor audience? Is the last scene from 'Sleight Out Of Hand' the swansong of the Danny/Lindsey debacle or do we have to suffer more of this trite, pathetic, teenage-crush romance? When are you going to understand that a talented actor like Carmine Giovinazzo will eventually tire of having his well-crafted character of Danny Messer destroyed with an ongoing story arc of such debilitating crassness? Or perhaps you are gleefully rubbing your hands at the thought of writing Lindsey's reaction (which will come across as lame as any of her other attempts at emotion) to the tragic death of her 'love interest' when Carmine finally throws in the towel and leaves, taking the majority of your audience with him?
:lol: Indeed, those were the days. I too loved watching Beverly Hills 90210- when I was actually in high school and could relate to the teen romances.
Thank you! While the teen romances and saccharine filled romances are suitable for some, it isn't so for others. I for one would prefer to watch the show for the science of the show, I am after all receiving my graduate education in the field of forensic science and this show has slowly become one of high school drama and a soap opera, to boot. How sad that one of my favorite shows has transformed right before my eyes into CSI:NY 10091 (or whatever a NY zip code is). Perhaps Criss Angel can do another magic trick and bring the old Danny back and turn this show back around.
I had more fun last night trimming my cats nails.
MrsG, You never fail to crack me up!
MrsGiovinazzo
CSI Level Three
Sadly, I can see that. Given the opportunity that theme song would allow for Danny to hoist Lindsey up into his arms as David did with Donna, I fully expect to see that fresh, cutting-edge change in theme song and opening credits implemented by the end of the season.
Nice posts, shaofu and Thumpy. While the writing this season falls short of entertaining me, the morning-after message board posts never fail to amuse with their painful truths.
Dear Writers,
You know, I thought about you guys today. No really, I did! I was watching "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," which is my favorite of the books so far, so I love the movie, but that's not important. The point is, I was watching it today, and I was suddenly strongly reminded of the Danny/Lindsay thing. Cross my heart, it's the truth! Harry taking Hermione's hand to lead her up the stairs, Hermione laying her head over on Ron's shoulder when Buckbeak has been 'executed,' etc. *sigh* It was great! Those, kids, they're just so much fun to...crap. I forgot, they're 13. Never mind.
Wishing she wasn't reminded of D/L when watching marginally-decent teenager actors do 'flirty' scenes,
-Faylinn
You know, I thought about you guys today. No really, I did! I was watching "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban," which is my favorite of the books so far, so I love the movie, but that's not important. The point is, I was watching it today, and I was suddenly strongly reminded of the Danny/Lindsay thing. Cross my heart, it's the truth! Harry taking Hermione's hand to lead her up the stairs, Hermione laying her head over on Ron's shoulder when Buckbeak has been 'executed,' etc. *sigh* It was great! Those, kids, they're just so much fun to...crap. I forgot, they're 13. Never mind.
Wishing she wasn't reminded of D/L when watching marginally-decent teenager actors do 'flirty' scenes,
-Faylinn
Heh, you and my 12 year old sister both. The "Bulgarian Bon-Bon" indeed. *giggles*
Maybe I should have put a disclaimer with the letter--I hope you didn't gunk up your keyboard. That would be a bad thing.
(But you have to admit, it's the damn truth...which is sad.)
Maybe I should have put a disclaimer with the letter--I hope you didn't gunk up your keyboard. That would be a bad thing.
(But you have to admit, it's the damn truth...which is sad.
)