• aaaaaaadjsf [he/him, comrade/them]@hexbear.net
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    11 months ago

    Something such as a “filler” episode in a series that gives you backround information on the characters and how they ended up in the predicament they are in. It does not advance the plot at all, but it’s critical to understanding the way things are in the fictional series.

    I’m going to use an episode from the big bang theory as an example, not because I think it’s a good show (it’s terrible), but because it’s a good example of this. The episode where Leonard explains how Sheldon ended up as his roommate, and saved his and his friends lives by throwing poorly mixed explosive rocket fuel down the elevator shaft did nothing to advance the plot of the show. But it’s vitally important in understanding the context of their friendship and why they put up with each other. Without that background information, all you see is two awkward nerds living together.

    Then there’s also the fact that sometimes things should just be fun. There are many fight scenes throughout movies that do little to advance the plot. No one loses or wins the fight, there’s no significant impact. But it’s just about looking cool on screen and being entertaining. If every fight scene was a life or death scenario, the audience would burn out really quickly.

    • TupamarosShakur [he/him]@hexbear.net
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      11 months ago

      Okay yeah I guess by advance the plot I just meant important to the story. The first example, I don’t know fiction terms, I’d consider that advancing the plot but I guess it’s not, but nonetheless I’d consider that important to the story.

      But yeah fair enough with the second point. Although gratuitous fight scenes can also get a little wearing yeah I don’t find them as offensively disruptive as sex scenes.

      Probably part of it is I just don’t like romance too much, and reacting to the feeling that romances and sex scenes were forced into everything when I felt it was sort of unnecessary. But tbh I don’t watch a lot of movies these days, and the ones I do watch are usually older ones I know I’ll enjoy so I’m not sure if they still do this. I definitely remember feeling that way back in the day though.