The World of Fairy Tales - The supernatural that we did not even know that we were missing.

This week two new shows premiered on network television that share a common plot twist, they exist in a reality where fairy tales are real.  ABC's Once Upon A Time and NBC's Grimm both premiered with strong ratings this week, but trouble could be ahead for one of both of these prime time dramas.   As we have seen this year with 1960's set Pan Am and The Playboy Club, it seems that there may be only enough room for one new show reaching the same demographic/captive audience.  So which one of these supernatural-filled shows be here to stay as they battle it out?

I have now had a chance to watch both Pilots and I am torn by who gets my vote.  Before its premiere, I will admit that I was not overly excited by the new project chosen by the minds that brought us LOST but I think that I may have been bewitched by this new Sunday night drama, Once Upon A Time.  The story line brings new intrigue to my Sunday night schedule with an original new idea.  The creators mix the supernatural with good ole' fashion small town drama that I have been missing since the days of Gilmore Girls' Stars Hallow. The plot is about a world of fairy tale creatures from The Enchanted Forest, that have been put under a curse by the evil queen/witch.  The curse takes the Happily Ever After away from everyone in the forest and forces them to live in a prison of the worst place imaginable, our world.  I do not want to give too much away because I want everyone to learn for themselves and watch as new mysteries unfold each week.

The other contender for the Fairy tale audience is Grimm.  This show has less of a well known cast and a very different story line.  Also set in modern times, this show is a bit darker, where the main character is a homicide detective that finds out he is from a long line of "Grimms" or humans that can see the supernatural in our world and have to protect the rest of the world from those creatures.  While the idea is still interesting, it also feels less original.  While watching the Pilot my mind wandered back to similar concepts, like Charmed, Supernatural and of course Buffy & Angel.  All were similar plots where the main character is either destined to fight evil and the supernatural or fell into the trade because of the family business.

So the question still remains as to who will make it past november sweeps and after the mid-season break. Will both survive, none or will they battle it out for one winner? In my opinion Grimm has a tough road ahead with its friday night time slot and its possibly over-done plot.  But with that being said, it could also be that same plot with the loyal fan bases of its predecessors that bring in its own cult following.  As for me, I will keep watching both for the next few weeks to see which show puts a spell on me.  (I know it was corny but definitely called for.  Sorry guys. )

The Pilot

Every legitimate TV fanatic knows that the only way to start a new series is to not jump in mid season but to start at the beginning, the pilot.  A good pilot episode gives enough background information to lay the ground work for the series while also telling a good independent story and hinting at story lines to come.  A strong pilot is imperative to the series because it is the very framework that networks use to determine whether the show is even worth picking up in the first place.  So while this blog is written by a television freak, the best place to start would be the pilot.   The pilot episode of my blog.

Hi my name is Christine and I am a Shipper.  This is when you all respond with, "Hi Christine." For those of you that don't know what a "shipper" is, it is someone who becomes way too emotional involved in the relationship of two characters.  This truth has been a difficult one for me to admit but the first step is always admitting that you have a problem.  I know usually this only applies if you want help, but I need a first step so I figured this was a good place to start.  When most people hear that I love TV they immediately peg me as a lazy couch potato.  Don't get me wrong, I am lazy and I am a definite couch potato but that has nothing to do with why I love television. There is something that television shows give you that no movie or book can ever give you and that is a deeper character development then is possible with any other avenue of storytelling.  There is a reason that most successful television characters are dynamic and that is because over time, people change so why shouldn't fictional characters?  Time and experiences shape our own characters so since television shows usually span over several seasons, and usually longer timelines, their characters are shaped by their own experiences as well.  When you watch someone change before your own eyes, week after week, you cannot help but become emotionally involved in their well being or the people they choose to have in their lives.  So since I am an avid shipper, as this blog goes on, I will keep it updated with story lines of current shows as well as my thoughts and strong opinions on current as well as old series that I have recently started watching.