Sequel

Take two.

I don’t like sequels. If the first version wasn’t complete…

Remakes

Some stories pop back up after years with new actors playing the original characters, but it is the same old story. The techniques might be better. The sound has improved, but it is the same old story. It is a re-do.

Sit-coms

The sit-com was a weekly (or even nightly) story with the core characters following a story of a family or an office. Many were comedic and none were very deep in meaning. Westerns were sit-coms. The cowboys had a lead and a sidekick and some school-marm or dance hall girl being the romantic interest. The heroes were always clean-shaven and neat and the streets were clear of horse poop. There were lots of variations to the cowboys (who were all white) but there was always the good guy who could draw fast.

Soap Operas

The daily version of drama was the soap opera. An ultra-rich family having dramas that filled a few minutes between commercials to sell detergents or refrigerators. The core characters would stay the same until suddenly a new actor would pop up with the same name as the day before?

Sequels

I remember monster movies sequels being the first. There was ‘Frankenstein’, ‘The Bride of Frankenstein’, ‘Frankenstein meets the Wolfman’, ‘Frankenstein gets a job at Miss Kitty’s Saloon’. Each was a different variation of a theme and even had different actors playing Frankenstein, but there was never ‘Frankenstein II’ followed by ‘Frankenstein III’

Maybe ‘Star Wars’ started the trend of continuing the popular story with the same characters in ‘Star Wars II’? Then ‘Star Wars III’, then ‘Star Wars IV’, then…

If there is a popular story that brings the audience back again and again, why not?

Where is ‘War & Peace II’? ‘Gone With The Wind II’? ‘Beethoven’s 9^th II’?

Maybe it is better to have ONLY ONE then come up with a new idea?

There are cover bands and tribute bands but there is only one Paul McCartney or Mick Jagger.

Series

Some stories meant to be continued… ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’, ‘Sex in the City’ run their course but you want to see them all. ‘The Hardy Boys’ or ‘Nancy Drew’ continuous mystery solvers can go on forever.

So where are the new ideas?

Will the children only be regurgitated old ideas over and over again? Are we through with creativity? Have we run out of gas?

There are so many more options to present ideas, opinions, and philosophies with free comments of truth or dare?

The next time I am pointed to the next exciting sequel and requested to read, watch or participate; I’ll pass.