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Zap2it On the Scene: Comic-Con 2011
'Supernatural': Does fan reaction impact the writing? Sera Gamble and Ben Edlund weigh in
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"Supernatural" fans are amongst the most vocal on Zap2it, so when we had the opportunity to talk to executive producer Sera Gamble and consulting producer Ben Edlund at San Diego Comic-Con, we had to ask them about how fan reactions impact their storytelling process.
"It's hard not to read it," Edlund says of the fans' online rants and raves. "You're in a dialog. It's an amazing thing that the internet gives you this chance of seeing what people think... so we definitely take it in."
He says that just as fans respond to the material, he hopes that the material also responds to the fans. "Like any dialog, we're in that conversation. It gives us an indication of what viewer expectation is and that helps us play tension against viewer expectation. We want to scare people and surprise them and make them worried, so it tells us where the zeitgeist is moving so we can do a counter-move or move along with it."
Gamble says that while the writing team always wants to surprise the fans with unexpected twists, responding to fan criticism is often impossible. "We're so far down the line by the time something airs, we couldn't possibly shift courses based on the fact that unexpectedly, they don't like a certain twist or a certain character," she says. "And, by the way, at this point in the life of the series, there's always going to be a divided opinion. That's part of the fun."
One thing that's surprised Edlund in particular about the fans' response is that there has been a distinct lack of anger when it comes to the series' depiction of biblical figures and themes... with the exception, he jokes, of his in-laws, who are not particularly amused.
"They're very upset with the way we treat angels," he laughs. "My brother in law will come up and say, 'Raphael's not like that.' I don't know what he's like, I'm sorry! I didn't go to school for that! So I actually was very surprised by how little special interest we get. I mean, we have done some fairly subversive things with the Judeo-Christian tenets. But no one cares!"
It's the fans, of course, that have kept "Supernatural" alive for seven seasons -- far longer than anyone expected the show to last. Season 7 is already mapped out, including its ending -- to an extent. "As usual, it will slightly depend on whether or not we're picked up for Season 8, which is a possibility that we hope for," Gamble says. "We always hope for that."
She admits that there are days when the team is pessimistic, despite their endurance thus far. "In the morning we always feel like the glass is half empty, and this is it," she says. "Are we going to drive them off into the sunset, are we going to drive them off a cliff? What are we going to do today? But [series creator Eric Kripke] and I have talked about how to end the series. He stepped into my office and talked about that during Season 1 or Season 2. Some of what we talked about ended up in the end of Season 5, and the characters have gone on from that, so we have some new ideas now."
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Photo/Video credit: The CW
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I hope to god they never listen to fan reaction because whilst it's good it gauges a reaction from us viewers it is THERE show not ours and I'd hate them to change their writing for the fans, we fell in love with their concept and characters and as far as i'm concerned we should trust it, end of. I've seen many a good series jump the shark because it listened to its fans. We will love this show whatever,as long as the Winchester boys fight the good fight they won't lose us. Stick to your guns writers and change them for no-one.
tenets, not tenants. :) Other than that, I sort of love that they try and play AGAINST the fans, so long as they don't betray us in the long run. I'm all about being scared and surprised so long as they don't shatter us in the end. Yes, Sera, keep making us worry about Cas. But don't you dare not save him.
Do not listen to the fans guys, stick to your guns. I've seen many a show go downhill trying to please and change itself for the fans, it's never going to please every single rabid fan. The fans that love this show trust sam and dean and the characters and stories you create for us, and we will love it till the end. Never should a tv show become about writing for the fans, we want the writers creativity and we trust it. As long as the winchester boys keep fighting the good fight we will keep watching. Have the guts to stick to your guns and ignore fans or at least don't let them influence you massively. Just because a a certain portion of fandom liked Castiel doesn't mean he should become a major character or that if their initial decision had been to have his arc end that it should carry on. They should stick to their original gut reaction and ignore us all. And this is coming from a major fan.
"...I actually was very surprised by how little special interest we get. I mean, we have done some fairly subversive things with the Judeo-Christian tenets. But no one cares!"
Translation: "We are trying to **** some people off so that they will react and we can get some buzz for our show and some cool cred in Hollywood and no one is complaining!"
there have been many instances where i have been offended as a Christian, with the god characteristics especially. but i love how the storyline is written, woven & continued. i do not like castiel, an angel, being god but i love how he got there!
*eyeroll*
If fan reaction is important I hope the show focuses on Sam and Dean only and get rid of the angel plotline if possible.
Furthermore for guest appearances, can we finaly have Richard Speight or Sebastian Roche? Even for one episode? We've been screaming about it for months now...
Do you ever look at yourself in the mirror and have the urge to oink?
I agree Nat! The angel mythology has got to go it's been dragged out and beaten to death.
To kill off Sam and Dean in the series ending would not be a surprise,since Kripke and Gamble and their big heaed writing have overused killing them to the point death has no meaning anymore. The boys and others just pop back to life. Now letting the boys live now that would be a surprise,I'd like to see the boys ride off into the sunset living to hunt another day. Killing them off makes all they have dobe endured and suffered seem meaningless And God if they left Sam and Dean as they were in the ending of the 5th season that would be heartless and horrible of the writers leaving them separated and both in Hell.
You should listen to the fans, we're the ones that keep you fed.
I'm not saying you should listen to us all, or change an entire story just to please us, but when we spot gaping plot holes and how you make a character act extremely out of character, you SHOULD listen to us. I ship Destiel and I've made peace with the fact that it won't ever happen, but the way you guys made Castiel and Dean act in season 6 was cringe worthy.
Seriously? Listen to the fans. If you would take the time out of your day to read some very well thought out rants, you could keep the show how you want it, only it would be minus the gaping contradictions.
I loved the angel plotline, I saw it only made sense seeing as there were demons in the first 3 seasons. I don't think it's been beaten over the head, I think season 6 was poorly written.
What HAS been beaten over the head with a stick is watching two brothers never get to love or care about anyone without them either dying or betraying them. Seeing them 'die' just to be brought back. Seeing them cry manly tears and express their feelings on the hood of their car. That's awful. The show may be about two brothers and their lives, but that doesn't mean their lives have to be strictly about each other.