You think they could have delt with real deformity?
Like how about John Marrick aka the Elephant Man.
shareI've actually thought about that exact scenario. I think it would be a challenge both writing and technical-wise.
As far as technical issues, I watched a documentary about "The Elephant Man" film starring John Hurt and Anthony Hopkins that might shed some light. What Mr. Hurt had to wear took 7 hours to put on and then was massively uncomfortable. I'm not sure whether that would be do-able for a TV drama that would need to be shot within a few days. But maybe. And if it wasn't necessarily a flashback episode about Merrick but someone else with the same condition, it's possible they could do less extensive make-up. Plus, that was nearly 3 decades ago so maybe more modern make-up would be more time-friendly.
But I think the writing aspect would be more complicated. It's not like war or murder or rape or any of the other tough issues TBAA dealt with. They couldn't say this happened to the assignment because of the poor choices of humans with free will. So it sounds like it might be really tough for them to take on as it could easily veer into "Why ever would God do this?" territory and that's not easy to answer. But then I think of "The Pact." There was an episode in which some young girls, through no will or choice of their own, contracted HIV. I think if TBAA could tackle that, there's a chance with this. I'm trying to remember some dialogue Monica said that seems in line with this idea but it's just not coming to me. Actually, maybe I'll go watch that shortly and return to this then.
I believe they dealt with murder and rape but did a chessy solution for it, I can't remember what they did though, it has been such a long time and sadly and upsettingly the re-runs of the show on TV cut and edit things out.
That is why I wonder what would it be like if another Angel show was made that dealt with the real and tough issues.
I believe they dealt with murder and rape but did a chessy solution for it, I can't remember what they did though, it has been such a long time and sadly and upsettingly the re-runs of the show on TV cut and edit things out.
That is why I wonder what would it be like if another Angel show was made that dealt with the real and tough issues.
Okay, so I watched "The Pact." What I was trying to remember was Monica's words to the girls which basically boil down to:
1. God chose to heal their spirits because that is much more precious than physical life.
2. God is sorry that the disease may take their lives.
3. But they'll never be taken from God.
And I could see the TBAA writers using similar lines with the idea you bring up. Would it work? Depends on the person watching. Some people might be extremely moved by the angels telling someone like Merrick that God is with him in his suffering and that God can heal him at the deepest and truest part of himself even if his body would still be as it was. Other people would probably watch that and think they took the easy way out and were dodging the real issue of why bad things happen to good people.
Like you, there are episodes where I am not satisfied with how they dealt with the assignments. Others are satisfied. So hard call. Definitely interesting to think about, though!
I do wish TBAA would have been more piercing and grittier (for lack of better words) at times but then maybe it would have driven away people who just don't want to see that but may have really, really needed to hear that message of "God loves you." I think TBAA did deal with real and tough issues but I also think they were a bit pegged in by the network and maybe even by the audience. Some people liked being able to watch the show as a family. I'm glad they could.
If there were another angel show promising a tougher approach, I think I'd definitely be giving it a shot. But I'd probably still be watching those TBAA DVDs.
I think it would have been a powerful episode to see a man so badly deformed as Merrick to be in the company of beautiful angels who tell him that God loves him and I know what I would want the angels to tell him.
"Your body maybe deformed but God made your heart and spirit to be strong and beautiful, you are God's son and nothing made from God is ever an animal or a mistake."
I am guessing that given to the research of Mr. Merrick, it was said that he committed suicide so I guess they don't deal with that issue.
I have a whole list of issues that they could have dealt with and all which I hope I can incorrperate into my angel story.
I think that sounds like the perfect thing to have them say!
But TBAA definitely dealt with suicide in numerous episodes. Perhaps most extensively in "The Pact" (which I mentioned before) and "Til Death Do Us Part." In the first, those girls are talked out of it. But in "Til Death Do Us Part" the man actually does kill himself and it mostly involves the impact the suicide has on those left behind. "Fallen Angela" and "The Hero" also involve suicide attempts. I think "A Joyful Noise" also. Possibly "Jagged Edges" although since that's not on DVD my memories of it are very limited. And likely there are others that just aren't coming to mind for me.
How about a suicide case like Christopher Reeve, I written an episode about Mr. Reeve being visited by an episode.
shareI'm not sure what you mean. Christopher Reeve died of heart failure, I thought.
If you mean what if, hypothetically, someone paralyzed were to consider suicide then, yes, TBAA did an episode like that. Not on DVD yet. You can read about it here:
http://www.touched.com/episodeguide/seasonfive/514.html
No no no!!! I mean when he was contemplating suicide, that was way before his heart failure.
" If you mean what if, hypothetically, someone paralyzed were to consider suicide then, yes, "
Let me look at that link, thanks.
Okay, good. I was hoping that wasn't a rumor going around.
Hope the link helps. I barely remember that episode. Sure wish the DVDs woulda kept up.