The Teen Scene
Where did networks get this idea that teens are only interested in teens anyway? Even if that is all they like, they still like quality. Teens aren't stupid or have worse taste. Once upon a time, teen stories on soaps at worst could be problematic or not a favorite storyline, now they are a thorn in a soap and writer's side. How did this happen? Why are the teens we see today not like the memorable and entertaining teens of our past?
Writing - This is the number one problem. What's the saying, God is in the details? Well, there are none. These stories going on between all the teens and twenty-somethings are pretty much the same. OLTL's Al/Jen/Cristian, just another version of the teen triangle. GH's new tart version of Maxie is no doubt loosely based on the famous teenage tarts of the past. And the list goes on and on. Now if there was just one little thing truly different, truly unique in these stories, then repetitiveness aside, it could be intriguing and entertaining. Instead, we have pretty standard star-crossed love stories like ATWT's Aaron and Lucy, GL's Tony and Marah, or Passions' Whitney and Chad. We have your cookie cutter teen troublemakers who go on the warpath for very few reasons like Y&R's Brittany, ATWT's Alison, and GL's Marina who when finally caught never finally grow nor do their parents (if the schemers even have parents!) learn they've royally screwed up in raising them. There's nothing to these stories; there is nothing new, nothing invigorating. While Aaron and Lucy are probably one of the better-written teen romances on the air right now, can't we all see the conflicts coming before they happen? Have any of us been given ample time to really care about the couple before Lucy's father and Lucy's former best friend horned in? Nope.
And then there are the couples that have ridiculous details. Days' Shawn and Belle ... Well to even delve into the conflicts those two have gotten themselves into would give you the most enormous headache and you still wouldn't understand. But most recently, after the high school female bully suffered a brutal rape, Shawn decided as an advocate against abortion, that he would pose as the baby's father, ruining his relationship with Belle, and showing that spending all that time with a blond really did hurt his IQ. Oh sure, it's almost over and done with, and of course, the baby didn't make it (who really didn't see that coming anyway?), but how is that something anyone can get involved in, let alone teenagers? Tony and Marah aren't really much better. A couple of contradictions, Tony shouldn't have morals being so closely connected to the mob and yet he does. Tony loves Marah while every other person Marah throws her prized virginity at is a scoundrel. I'm sorry, I just don't see it. Do you guys?
Latest Articles