Having just binge-watched season 2 (saw it on the original run, but not all the episodes), it was pretty clear that they planned the finale knowing it was *the* finale, but I'm curious if there was early on a plan for what direction things would have gone in a third season.
I'm sure there was plenty of snarky speculation here, but I'm wondering if the show-runners themselves have said anything about this.
Thanks, to the few who may still be on the board.
Hang onto your hat...
...the determination was...
Karen as movie star in a movie musical. (Remember all the end-of-season chitchat about the Great Gatsby? Well that was it.)
Of course, being Karen she was gonna be the most majorest of major movie stars in a movie musical evar, so if that doesn't blow your skirt up, you might not be all that sad it never came to fruition.
That's also the point of the woman approaching Karen at the Tony's (allegedly a Hollywood agent) after she lost, commenting "You're too good for Broadway." There was preliminary babble about what every character on the show would do in connection with this musical, except of course Ivy, for whom the show runner apparently had little more direction than "watch her juggling motherhood and it is assumed some kind of professional career, maybe, if Spielberg is feeling generous."
Not mentioned specifically, but of course highly likely, they probably would have handed Karen Derek as her film director, so we could have had another fascinating go-round of "watch Ivy's putative man drooling over Karen". Needless to say not all of this got very far, but the groundwork started popping up.
By the by, in case people are still dropping by, most of the bits and bobs out there draw from this one EW interview Safran did. The season 3 stuff weaves in and out but it's an interesting read if you haven't.
http://www.ew.com/article/2013/05/26/smash-finale-exec-producer-josh-safran
The one note I'll add of my own is that Eileen and Ivy are the reason I'm glad season 3 didn't happen. Already in season 2 Safran cut so much of Huston's screentime, and recast Hilty as a secondary character. Can you imagine what would happen in season 3, where neither are even integrated into the main plot from the getgo?
I rather like my third season better than theirs . . .
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
There's really no comparison there though; the "official" version could simply never live up even if they were in a good place and striving for better... ;)
(Sobs/slash complex feelings about your portrayal of Karen that I'm still putting off dealing with.)
PS: are you pondering diving back into writing too? Would it be productive to make a pact to each add a chapter to story X by some date Y? If so I will do it! I've many notes but that's it and as I become almost financially stable I'm pulled back to these characters more and more.
Thank you!
Yes, I'm slowly getting back to writing. I had started a next chapter, then realized another needed to be in place first. So I need to get that one written. At least one chapter by the end of September - hopefully two. If you are also interested in writing further (which story?), a pact might be a good thing, indeed.
Yeah, Karen started to gain humanity for me. She still will never be an actress.
Love to know your thoughts, but not here, where things are eaten and gone - LJ will retain. Or, of course, AO3.
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
Yay!
I've been poking at writing as well - I just do better with challenges and pacts, whatever they are: produce drabble/scene from next chapter/w/e, your choice! My current focus is Ache since it's basically there just needs the crux and denouement and is otherwise just really frustrating as a story.
Haven't even been on LJ in months, due to odd life choices meaning I work ridiculous hours. Miss it! I have thoughts I'm still working through, mostly that your Karen seems to have a diagnosable mental situation that I can't hate her for, yet I hate her, and the resulting dissonance is just... grr, you know?
Karen ended up having to be a choice between a voodoo doll and a human. She's following in Ivy's and Jimmy's path, though - self-knowledge through pain. Of course, Karen isn't clever, but she has a touch of shrewdness.
Yes, writegirl called her (at one point) "depressed-zombie Karen," and, frankly, I've been there. I do know what it feels like, and I also know what it makes you do and not want to do.
But change is coming. You'll probably still hate her/not hate her. But I sort of feel she's mine, now - at least, what I've written her to be. And Lord knows, I have dragged her way down, which she needed. I find I can't hate her when I've made her suffer so.
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.
Four new chapters since mid-September! How is "Ache" coming?
Oh, right. So, she secretly trained a flock of sandflies.