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Post by lolaruns on Aug 1, 2009 7:54:42 GMT -5
But then bowing before an opinion of a few loud people on an Internet forum, how silly is that? But where does "a few loud people on the internet" stop and where do genuine grievances begin? Like, I don't know, the Nuke campaign. And the VL TPTB actually have confirmed at various times that they do monitor the boards and that they do take viewer reactions to heart. Whether it is "we made original Olli into a permanent character because of the viewer support" or "we fired the actress who played Max because of viewer ridicule". It doesn't matter whether we think that it's fair or smart, but the writers obviously are doing it at least to some extent. If let's say the next writer sponanteously decided that she totally wants Christian to madly fall in love with Lydia and for that to be the next otp while Ollian gets eviscarated, wouldn't you want them to listen to viewer outrage in that case? And wouldn't it piss you off in that case if people grudingly went back to Ollian but wrote them abhorrently bad because they are still mad about their Chrilydia masterplan not working out? And is that really that unrealistic a scenario? I think not. I think if somebody really wanted to do something unfanfriendly with Ollian, loud people on a forum would definitely influence the story in at least some way.
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Post by ivaniv on Aug 1, 2009 9:18:23 GMT -5
Not sure about Lydia and Christian, but Rebecca and Christian seems possible, now that he works at the castle he can observe her in her natural habitat and fall in love with her. I hope nobody of importance is reading it here Well, they could do it if they felt Rebecca isn't popular enough ;D Or Justus, he did not have a proper story ever, maybe it's his time ;D As for Charlie, I still think the story was always supposed to end like that and that it wasn't aborted. How fast can you change that if you are in the middle of the story going somewhere? They shoot maybe 2 months ahead, you need time to make and implement such a decision, another month or two? I don't remember where we were with the story 3 months ago. Maybe something was in spoilers, but making a decision, because somebody did not like the spoilers without actually seeing it, that would be daft. If they listened to forums that carefully we would have Christian & Oliver in every single episode now instead of big holes without them with a few episodes in between.
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Post by ivaniv on Aug 1, 2009 9:59:18 GMT -5
Just a thought, when they needed to write out Olli when Jo was doing the play, they did not put much effort into it. Suddenly a conflict appeared, a resolution and off you go to Ibiza. Maybe they did abort the storyline with Charlie and what we get to see now are last minute rewrites not the writers showing an attitude towards the story...
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Post by lolaruns on Aug 2, 2009 1:25:51 GMT -5
That would account for the fast pace (aka fewer episodes), but why would that affect both the screentime and the quality within the episodes presented?
I'm not somebody who generally believes it whenever fans go on about how the writers dislike a certain actor or character, but this smells very fishy to me. The fact that writers shouldn't act like that doesn't change that sometimes they do. (I think Veronica Mars season 3 was affected by the fact of the writers trying too hard to go against his wishes to follow the fan demands and it led to a very poor result with in the end neither side being pleased; Prison Break had endless back and forths because they kept wanting to kill the main female character, but they couldn't and eventually had to bring her back (though special case because they had to pitch their future stories to the network each year as a condition of being renewed); on General Hospital there was a story where a higher up at the network took a liking to an actress and a couple (even admitted so in an interview) and requested from the writers that they get that couple together; so they were together, were given a front burner storylines; but then eventually the exec's interest waned and suddenly the couple was broken up immediately and the character was killed off unceremoniously)
The fact that these things shouldn't happen doesn't change that sometimes they do. IMO the more normal situation is that a writer prefers certain characters and couples/storylines. Good writers love all, but most probably have 1 or 2 and then they have a bunch of other storylines that they need to fill the screentime or for other reasons (like Tom Chroust can't really write a soap that only consists of Ollian and Tanja/Olivia scheming, he needs at least one couple to fullfill the straight cute couple slot). So the favored characters get lots of stuff and any characters or storylines the main writer has no interest in just don't get written. That still sucks for the fans of those characters and stories but to me that still seems like the healthier option for the show. But why wouldn't it happen on occasion that a writer still has to deal with a story or character he or she dislikes? Because the story/character is so beloved or so well integrated into the story or because they are part of a previous writers laid out plan that the new writer has to follow.
And just because writers should be professional in those cases doesn't mean that all will.
Of course it's possible that they all had a bad day, but it seems to me that almost all things building up to the current Starla hookup have been bad days. And it does seem rather poor when a story that is both unpopular, not front burner and not a love story still seems to have more recognizable build up (like David and Olivia, he has shown interest in her for quite a while, we built up Olivia's increasing hate for Lydia to explain why she would go for David, they get their The Witch biking scenes and situations that will make him feel sorry for her, etc). Usuallly even rather uninspired stories still hit the usual marks of normal progress from A to B. While Starla in its current incarnation mostly feels like a sack full of holes and random stuff thrown together.
From what I remember Capwell's post about how there had been a change in attitude by the writers, that they had meant to do Starlie but were dropping it because of fan complaints was I think about three months ago. And remember, technically Starlie was sort of going on way back in February (and people disliked it back then though most people only really got annoyed it once the writing began to suggest that Charlie might return Stella's feelings). The point where CH started talking about leaving in various talk shows was also in February (though it is possible and likely that she started doing that after she had told the production about her desires). The story getting more Starlie focused was around May.
Actually I think they try quite hard to write to what the Ollian fans at the official forum are asking for. They are just not doing a very good job with it. And just because they try to fullfill demands (1) doesn't mean that their heart is always in it (2) doesn't mean that all demands are feasible (3) doesn't mean that they are any good at it. But within a certain framework (which among objective realities is also influenced by personal ones like "I like couple A best, so no way I will give Ollian more screentime than them"), yes, I do think that they currently try to do stuff with Ollian. They are just sort of not very good at it. (my take) The difference is that to me it feels like with Ollian they are trying (like randomly thrown in sex scenes and sappy declarations), while Starla feels like they aren't even trying. Again, I have no interest in Starla working out but it is still my interpretation that what is currently being done really is a ridiculous below averange getting together story. Even when I think of other ridiculous stories like Judith/David or David/Olivia, imo those still had a more sensible build up.
Again, I think a writer has every right to kill or bury or write off a character or storyline they don't like, but imo the way they avertise Starla and describe it in the plot summaries (like a big fat "Stella and Carla declare their love." with a big picture all over the official website; or a "Cupid's arrow finally gets it right" in the official newsletter or multiple articles about the guest appearance of that opera singer including a photo shoot of Starla with her for a scene that amounted to next to nothing for Starla) makes the whole thing very schizoid. If you don't like something, by my guest, but then explicitly advertising it makes it all a bit sleazy.
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Post by ivaniv on Aug 2, 2009 4:18:14 GMT -5
I can imagine that CH saying that they either change things or she'll go a good enough reason for the showrunners to change the storylines. Even if she did not have big stories lately, she's one of the faces of the show.
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Post by mona on Aug 3, 2009 15:14:07 GMT -5
Overall I don't like the focus on Carlas "depression" to get them together. A talk about Stella falling in love with her and how they misunderstood each other all the time would've been better than crying about her horse, her mother and on top of it her father. (and their kissing wasn't that good either but maybe I was too distracted from Anne Wis really bad acting when she said something about "I'm always right").
The talk with Charlie made it pretty clear that Stella wasn't having feelings before because she "had a reason" to like Charlie and it wasn't a fault and how she said she didn't even see how great Carla is.
At least I wanted Carla to wait longer or to ask Stella what happened (although - she felt it but after a half year and kisses and everything I would ask)
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Post by lolaruns on Aug 3, 2009 15:19:55 GMT -5
I was distracted by Anne Wis really bad orange tan.
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Nitty
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Post by Nitty on Aug 3, 2009 17:16:03 GMT -5
Stella's newfound love for Carla is so unbelievable to me. I wonder if the real Starla fans will feel this way too. At least their kiss was better than the Charlie/Stella ones.
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Post by chrollifan on Aug 3, 2009 20:08:47 GMT -5
Watching last episode I got a feeling that authors had much more fun writing Maria-Ansgar and JuCon stories compared to Starla, (although maybe Anne Wis' acting played a part too). Especially Stella-Charlie scene had some completely rubbish dialog. And it didn't got much better - all this bla-bla about the horse, then little talk about Carla's hard destiny and voila: they are having fun in the hay. From now on I believe too in conspiracy theory that new head writer is loathing Starla and she just had to do them for whatever reason. I hope that she doesn't hate Ollian so badly.
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Post by brownsugar on Aug 3, 2009 20:47:10 GMT -5
Watching last episode I got a feeling that authors had much more fun writing Maria-Ansgar and JuCon stories compared to Starla, (although maybe Anne Wis' acting played a part too). Especially Stella-Charlie scene had some completely rubbish dialog. And it didn't got much better - all this bla-bla about the horse, then little talk about Carla's hard destiny and voila: they are having fun in the hay. From now on I believe too in conspiracy theory that new head writer is loathing Starla and she just had to do them for whatever reason. I hope that she doesn't hate Ollian so badly. I actually think ollian are very much liked over at VL, if not, then why allow them so much attention with the Vlog, twitter and front and center on the head banner looking as though they are the super couple of the show. I think Ollian are very much liked. As for the Starla...it's just a sad situation. There was so much wasted time on the Charlie/Stella relationship, which never should have been written in the first place. Meanwhile, there sat Carla and the fans waiting and waiting for something to break between Carla/Stella, but nothing...until now. And look what they get...a last minute thrown together laughable relationship, which just came out of nowhere. I agree with Lola...it was to satisfy the fans, but done with a chip on the shoulder and much reluctance. What else could explain this sloppy mess?!
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Post by lolaruns on Aug 7, 2009 2:57:58 GMT -5
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kes
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Post by kes on Aug 11, 2009 14:18:47 GMT -5
I keep forgetting to post here -- and I've gotten so behind. I'm very appreciative of the comments here. All I can say is: I agree with what people say about Starla. I just isn't there . . . .
Darn.
I hope they keep lesbian characters on VL -- I would be so depressed to lose that, particularly now when I can watch the show in its entirety every day.
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Post by chango on Nov 21, 2009 11:42:42 GMT -5
Just found some news regarding Starla at CH forum: Spoiler: Both Claudia Hiersche and Anne Wis are back on set and have started filming their first guest appearance, which is scheduled to air in January. Don't ask me how this worked, since the folks at VL usually stress that there is no way for fans to visit the set, but apparently a Carla fan who collected letters and pictures as a gift for Claudia Hiersche got to meet both of them at the studios.
claudia-hiersche-fansite.de/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1977&start=180
AfterEllen on Carla leaving VL: www.afterellen.com/blwe/11-20-09?page=0%2C1
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Post by mona on Nov 21, 2009 17:15:49 GMT -5
I think Carla fans are a bit more practical. They do a lot collecting things and one person who has the contact to Claudia Hiersche. I remember they also send flowers to the set on Anne Wis birthday (at least they wanted to). I think it's really sweet they did this little "thank you" book. SPOILER I wonder if Starla are married already when they come back
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Post by chango on Nov 21, 2009 18:38:17 GMT -5
Okay, I see. :-) Collecting "thank you" letters once an actor leaves the show is really a sweet idea, I'm sure it's great to feel that kind of support from your fans when you are about to move on to new projects and roles. SPOILER I wonder if Starla are married already when they come backSpoiler: It might depend on whether or not the writers know for sure if there are going to be more guest stints? Like, if they know CH and AW will be back again they might try to keep something in reserve for their upcoming appearance(s)? But I kinda hope they are already married, because I would love a happy, light-hearted Olli and Stella scene during which they fill each other in on everything that has happened on Starla's trip so far and in Duesseldorf respectively. Christian could be around too, of course, but I think I would like a scene that at least starts out with the focus put on the Olli/Stella friendship even more. But we'll probably have to wait and see how things develop for Ollian first. It's hard to believe after we got to see cheery!Olli with Helena, Andi and Lydia during the same episode in which he found out about Christian being accused of stealing that ugly piece of clothing, but depending on what we'll learn from the upcoming spoilers Olli might have other things on his mind than gushing about a romantic beach wedding or whatever they come up with for Starla. But who knows what the writers have planned anyway. Here I am hoping for Olli/Stella scenes when they're probably only bringing Starla back for the Lahnstein family stuff and afterwards Bernadette Feiler's favourite character can start his eternal fight for the castle and the holding again.
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andre
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Post by andre on Nov 21, 2009 21:09:23 GMT -5
Just found some news regarding Starla at CH forum: Spoiler: Don't ask me how this worked, since the folks at VL usually stress that there is no way for fans to visit the set, but apparently a Carla fan who collected letters and pictures as a gift for Claudia Hiersche got to meet both of them at the studios.SP: *Lol* I guess I should mark it as spoiler too. I noticed a few days ago on Jo's fanpage, that people were thanking him for studio visit, so there seems to be more exeptions in that rule. Official fans? (Post 49)
joweil-fanpage.de/Gaestebuch.html
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Post by mona on Nov 21, 2009 21:40:18 GMT -5
Just found some news regarding Starla at CH forum: Spoiler: Don't ask me how this worked, since the folks at VL usually stress that there is no way for fans to visit the set, but apparently a Carla fan who collected letters and pictures as a gift for Claudia Hiersche got to meet both of them at the studios.SP: *Lol* I guess I should mark it as spoiler too. I noticed a few days ago on Jo's fanpage, that people were thanking him for studio visit, so there seems to be more exeptions in that rule. Official fans? (Post 49)
joweil-fanpage.de/Gaestebuch.html SPOILER Maybe that's like Tristan showing the girls the castle like "Wanna see a real set?" ;D But they don't write what exactly the "Führung" was in that post. Or they worked there as extras because I did read about GZSZ that actors bring some friends as extras and then show them everything a while ago
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Post by mona on Nov 22, 2009 13:08:52 GMT -5
Does anyone know the new url of the CH forum? I only had it in my favourites and always got there through that.
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Post by chango on Nov 23, 2009 8:39:01 GMT -5
Regarding the set visits: Every once in a while VL auctions off set tours combined with the chance to play an extra in one episode for charity, I think there's a report from a fan who got to see the studios that way at Claudia Hiersche's fanpage. So I guess there are official ways for fans to visit the set, if they're willing to spend a bit of money or they get lucky and win a tour at some of the internet sweepstakes that give away set visits and small roles as their first prize every couple of months. Spoiler: But the person who just met CH and Anne Wis revealed that she got to visit the studios because Claudia Hiersche invited her to come to the set. She posted a small report about her day at the studios with pictures of the castle sets and some of the actors that were filming that day (mostly CH and AW of course, but there are also pictures of Dominic Saleh-Zaki, "Maria" and "Ludwig" for example - sadly no Thore or Jo) at CH forum. According to her CH spend 12 hours on set and was very busy filming, but from what I understand CH and AW were mostly filming separated from each other that day. Of course it could still be mainly Lahnstein family related stuff, but I'm clinging to a bit of hope that we'll get to see Stella with her cousins and Olli, too. Mona, the new URL should be claudia-hiersche-fansite.de/forum/
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Post by MercuryMay on Nov 19, 2010 17:42:48 GMT -5
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lizkarita
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Post by lizkarita on Nov 19, 2010 17:51:16 GMT -5
Great idea, May, I've totally forgotten about this thread! And thanks for the video, you just spared me the recap writing.
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joanna
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Post by joanna on Nov 19, 2010 19:48:51 GMT -5
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SF
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Post by SF on Nov 19, 2010 22:42:16 GMT -5
thanks for posting. why is miriam not a lead?! she has more talent in her little finger to make this believable than rebecca has in her goddamn entire face. i adore miriam and i'm chuffed she is getting this SL. but i wish it was taken a bit more seriously. it's like a condensed, feminised and lite version of chrolli. from the sprung upon kiss in the wellness-centre/changing room (albeit mirbecca's was much more delicate and pretty), to kissee dreaming about the kisser and having their whole world shaken up. except this is so rushed! why?!?
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thunderkat
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Post by thunderkat on Nov 20, 2010 1:16:42 GMT -5
^ YES. EXACTLY. Not to mention the flimsy "Oh, remember dear Brother sebastian, I had plot enabling Lesbian tendencies when I was a kid that I completely forgot about until JUUUST this moment...oops! " I'm just going to concentrate on how stunning Miriam is and how I'll get to see more of her I feel like i heard in an interview somewhere that Romina wanted to be a presenter? So maybe she doesn't WANT to be a lead, but just wants this as a stepping stone for her future gigs...
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Post by MercuryMay on Nov 22, 2010 15:58:14 GMT -5
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