MovieChat Forums > Scream Queens (2015) Discussion > Why people didn't like the first scene o...

Why people didn't like the first scene of season 2.

posted 8 years ago by Brodeh
19 replies | jump to latest

The sorority sisters in the opening of season 1 were realistic in a sense that they were extremely exaggerated versions of a stereotype. Everyone thinks that Sorority girls are dumb and shallow and love to party. As the audience we have a preconceived notion that sorority girls prioritise partying over being good people, and this is essentially what the writers were playing on. In fact, all of the funniest characters are over the top versions of common stereotypes including Chad, Denise and Munsch.

In most people's minds the stereotypical doctor, however, is smart, caring and professional. The opening scene of season 2 was not an extremely exaggerated stereotype. In fact he was the opposite of a stereotype and the opposite of everything people perceive doctor's to be. Perhaps this was supposed to be humorous but I don't think it landed for a lot of people. The writing just wasn't as layered and smart, and it had a different comedic voice in my opinion.

I personally would've liked the doctor a lot more if the writers played on the common trope of the crazy experimental doctor. He could've been experimenting on his patients or killing them to harvest and sell their organs, rather than killing them just so he can party. It would've been more in character. It also would've been darker but could've been kept funny with the dialogue. I think that would be much more similar in tone to season 1. (On a side note, these alternatives all involve the doctor dumping a dead patient rather than a live patient in the swamp which could potentially be a major plot point and why they didn't go with these options)

I would describe the characters in the opening of season 1 as "over the top" whereas I would describe season 2's as "silly".

I'm a firm believer in not taking this show seriously, however. I'm going to continue to watch and enjoy it for what it is and what it gets right. Hopefully they keep the silliness to a minimum though.

Although, I was high when I watched this.

[–] mddwbsst 8 years ago

I'm not sure if the first scene was meant to be funny. Sure the bit about them neglecting the patients for a party was over the top, and they had a few jokes in there. But the doctor felt less like a stereotype, more like a genuinely corrupt and uncaring man.

The sort you read about in hospital scandals. I mean, I can honestly believe an unscrupulous doctor covering up a patients death, or even assisting in it. That sort of thing has happened a scary number of times in the past.

[–] recklesscow 8 years ago

I can honestly believe an unscrupulous doctor covering up a patients death

You have no idea. My grandmother was a nurse back in the 60s and over the years she has told me some horror stories. I can definitely understand why malpractice suits have become more of a thing since then and why they're needed.

I remember once she told me this doctor gave someone anesthesia for a surgery and then another doctor came in that was to be assisting and didn't verify it was given. He gave him another dose of anesthesia and the patient died. The nurses knew what happened but the doctors told the family he died of complications.

There are other stories, but I think I've made my point.

[–] mddwbsst 8 years ago

There are other stories, but I think I've made my point.

Oh you certainly have.

Its really very scary when you think about it.

[–] Brodeh 8 years ago

I can honestly believe an unscrupulous doctor covering up a patients death

You have no idea. My grandmother was a nurse back in the 60s and over the years she has told me some horror stories. I can definitely understand why malpractice suits have become more of a thing since then and why they're needed.

I remember once she told me this doctor gave someone anesthesia for a surgery and then another doctor came in that was to be assisting and didn't verify it was given. He gave him another dose of anesthesia and the patient died. The nurses knew what happened but the doctors told the family he died of complications.

There are other stories, but I think I've made my point.

This isn't what happened in the show, however. I agree these stories are horrifying and what the writers should've played off. The doctor dumping a dead patient to cover up malpractice is believable. That's because doctors are highly concerned about their reputation. Our Scream Queens doctor, however, dumped a still living patient, condemning him to death, so he could go and party. This is the opposite of what a doctor who cares about his reputation would do. There is a distinction between accidentally killing a patient through malpractice and covering it up and dumping a living patient outside, condemning him to death so you can party.

Like I said in the original post though, there is no real believable reason I can personally think of for a doctor to abandon a living patient and I only think the writers had to write this super unbelievable scene just to accommodate that plot point.

Although, I was high when I watched this.

[–] mddwbsst 8 years ago

Our Scream Queens doctor, however, dumped a still living patient, condemning him to death, so he could go and party.

Not exactly. He dumped him cause the guy was going to die in the next thirty minutes, and their was nothing they could do about it (he admitted that he completely made up that they could save him by draining his lungs). His wife had threatened to take there obvious malpractice and lack of care to the law, ensuring they would lose there medical licences and probably go to prison, if he died.

So he decided to cover it all up, by actually killing him himself, disposing the body and then have everyone claim the guy was cured and just checked out, clearing them of the blame.

While its not made explicate, I got the impression he was dying cause they neglected him for so long.

All that's sadly not so unbelievable.

[–] magic-tone 8 years ago

As a nurse I loved the opening scene of this season, as did a lot of other people. If you work in a hospital, you will appreciate the little things they played on in that scene. And fair enough, can't please everyone but, are the characters from the season 1 opener silly, or over the top for suggesting giving alcohol to a newborn baby? You can definitely make sorority girls all over the top, but it becomes silly when they think giving alcohol to a NEWBORN baby is normal. Thats why this show is silly and I hope it continues to be silly because it works!

[–] suzcap331 8 years ago

Well I found the sorority thing ridiculous to beleive too so.

[–] d_dari 8 years ago

Great post, ditto to everything you've said.

In fact he was the opposite of a stereotype and the opposite of everything people perceive doctor's to be. Perhaps this was supposed to be humorous but I don't think it landed for a lot of people. The writing just wasn't as layered and smart, and it had a different comedic voice in my opinion.

Yeah, I was appalled by that scene and kept wondering why he even bothered to go through medical school with such attitude to the profession and human lives. But eventually the episode grew on me and I like that the show became darker and wackier.

"It's only 56 months till I retire, then I get outta this $hithole for good" - Steve Billings

[–] kingstewy 8 years ago

Tons of them hate patients.

[–] recklesscow 8 years ago

^^So true.

I know two doctors as personal friends and their attitude towards patients isn't always stellar.

From patients playing doctor and diagnosing themselves via Google and then insisting they have certain problems because they read something on WebMD that somehow allows them to skip 6+ years of schooling to patients that demand to be tested for such and such diseases but lack the symptoms to warrant it to patients that stop taking their meds because a friend or some website told them it can cause cancer, doctors are often fed up with patients.

One of my friends diagnosed a woman's baby with the flu and gave her the proper prescriptions. She looked and saw there was no antibiotic and insisted she was not leaving the ER without one because she didn't pay $175 to leave without an antibiotic. He pointed out to her that the flu is a VIRAL INFECTION and has nothing to do with antibiotics and she still insisted she was being ripped off. He had to get ugly with her and tell her the baby was not getting a prescription for an antibiotic and no sane doctor would give her one as it would be like giving insulin to a non diabetic.

Understandably patients often drive doctors mad.

[–] d_dari 8 years ago

Yet, it was not the case in the show where the patient required emergency medical care.

"It's only 56 months till I retire, then I get outta this $hithole for good" - Steve Billings

[–] jberning 8 years ago

I didn't mind the portrayals at all. To me the issue was that it jsut felt like a total rehash of season 1's opener.

[–] I_need_more_cowbell 8 years ago

I have come across PLENTY of doctors who are self serving ego maniacs, and Jerry O'Connell portrayed an over the top version of that stereotype, for me anyway. I thought it was spot on and for with the way the show does the stereotype to the extreme...

[–] atthen 8 years ago

Who are these "people" who didn't like it?

5 twitter post?

[–] Brodeh 8 years ago

Who are these "people" who didn't like it?

5 twitter post?

I wrote an insightful post about a show I like. Take your b*tch ass attitude elsewhere. This scene was very polarising for the audience weather you liked it or not.

If you're not going to add to the discussion then don't bother posting.

Although, I was high when I watched this.