I’ve been watching shows on Syfy and Netflix lately, and I have to say they’re some of the most angst filled I’ve ever seen. What’s up with the doom and gloom shows? And a better question is why in the hell do I watch them?
On Syfy, I’ve been watching Defiance and Dominion. I have to say they do occasionally have a little sunshine to come through the story-line. But I’m tired of seeing the good guys getting beaten up so much.
[Though not on air at this time, Walking Dead from AMC is another one. GEEZ!]
Then there are the Netflix shows: Sons of Anarchy (originally on FX) and Hemlock Grove. Let’s start with Hemlock. Each time you think things are getting better, they don’t. Okay I understand it’s human nature not to see others do well, we get jealous and we find it boring when they do. But geez, Louise, the fellows (and ladies) need a break!
*spoiler alert – do not read if you have not seen and plan to watch SOA*
The worse of the batch is Sons of Anarchy. I watched two (or was it three – drawback of watching so many without much of a break) seasons and I truly don’t remember one scene that went well without some type of letdown or ass-kicking. OMG! I was so upset when the little boy’s adopted parents were killed. Yeah, I know it was fiction. I couldn’t sleep that night from thinking about it. That’s when I decided I don’t need this crap. I want happy. Maybe even romantic comedies and such.
Action-adventure is my all time favorite, and it’s not lost on me that they usually have an happy ending. The bad guys lose and sometimes those bad guys are actually just badder guys. You know, the badder guys lose and the regular bad guys win. Think Fast and Furious (any number) and The Italian Job.
Oh, one of my favorite action-adventure movies is Knight and Day. Love the scene with Tom Cruise in his sunglasses (the man knows how to use them) walking on top of a wall. Oh, yes, so iconic that it could be a romantic novel. He shows up at the perfect time. And the scene where Cameron Diaz complains that he won’t kiss her, and he walks through gunfire to do it. Sweet!
Of course, I also like most of the James Bond movies, a few of the Mission Impossible ones, and the Die Hard movies (#4 is my favorite).
And you wondered why I write romantic suspense with action/adventure.
Carla Swafford, Author 