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From Twitter 07-22-2010
Jul. 23rd, 2010 03:13 amTweets copied by twittinesis.com
Jul. 23rd, 2010
Meme Lemming: 30 Days of TV - 09
Jul. 23rd, 2010 11:57 amDay 09 - Best scene ever
Best scene ever? I'm going to fail at this, just sayin'.
I usually don't think in terms of scenes. I think more in terms of themes and motifs and characters and plots, and yes, I know that scenes (especially well-written scenes) are needed to show all of that, but to understand the importance of the scene you have to know everything that came before.
A good scene is one that is the culmination of any of those above elements. A truly great scene is one that includes all four. And yes, to me, plot is the least important of those four, because I'm weird that way. If a scene gives me theme and motif and character, I will forgive it if it is weak on plot. If it's weak on the former three, even the best plot development won't elevate the scene to best status. Which is probably why I'm not fond of "O. Henry" plot twists. They don't deal with the things I love, but instead just focus on circumstances of plot.
As usual, there are my disclaimers. On to the main event:
My choice for "Best Scene Ever": Ryan Chappelle's execution scene in Day 3 of '24'. (Season 3, episode 18 -- "Day 3: 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.")
I know that's rather a gruesome best scene but it covers all my criteria. Oddly enough, there are very few caps and no videos of this great scene. Actually, I pretty sure that seeing the scene without knowing everything that leads up to it won't have the same impact, so it's probably best. The scene has everything I love about the show. It has the untenable no-win scenario. It has characters making impossible sacrifices. It takes Ryan Chappelle, a character who up to this scene was only a narrow-minded bureaucrat and thorn in the side of Jack and gives him depth. More than that, it shows that Ryan Chappelle's approach was good and solid and no less valid than Jack's own.
It shows the toll on Jack for doing what he does. It shows regret and pain and loss. The scene is quiet and it filmed beautifully. I think it's the first use of the "Silent Clock" on the show. Sean Callery's score is awesome and powerful.
I like happy endings, I really do. '24' is totally not in that category and this scene is opposite that desire, but there is something about it that is perfect. I know that the show is known for killing off characters, but Ryan's death was a bold stroke. No one liked the character and yet they made him completely sympathetic. Jack is obviously executing an innocent man, someone who he knows and works with - this isn't self-defense, in fact it's questionable as to whether it's even in defense of others. It clearly showed the pain that Jack felt in doing what he had did, and yet it shows that he felt obligated to do it. Jack's sense of duty and honor is clear in this scene, as is the price he pays for being who he is.
It's not a scene I flip in and watch repeatedly. There are other scenes that I do that with, good scenes that fill me with glee and joy and romance. But I think I'll stick with this as being the "best".
Best scene ever? I'm going to fail at this, just sayin'.
I usually don't think in terms of scenes. I think more in terms of themes and motifs and characters and plots, and yes, I know that scenes (especially well-written scenes) are needed to show all of that, but to understand the importance of the scene you have to know everything that came before.
A good scene is one that is the culmination of any of those above elements. A truly great scene is one that includes all four. And yes, to me, plot is the least important of those four, because I'm weird that way. If a scene gives me theme and motif and character, I will forgive it if it is weak on plot. If it's weak on the former three, even the best plot development won't elevate the scene to best status. Which is probably why I'm not fond of "O. Henry" plot twists. They don't deal with the things I love, but instead just focus on circumstances of plot.
As usual, there are my disclaimers. On to the main event:
My choice for "Best Scene Ever": Ryan Chappelle's execution scene in Day 3 of '24'. (Season 3, episode 18 -- "Day 3: 6:00 a.m. – 7:00 a.m.")
I know that's rather a gruesome best scene but it covers all my criteria. Oddly enough, there are very few caps and no videos of this great scene. Actually, I pretty sure that seeing the scene without knowing everything that leads up to it won't have the same impact, so it's probably best. The scene has everything I love about the show. It has the untenable no-win scenario. It has characters making impossible sacrifices. It takes Ryan Chappelle, a character who up to this scene was only a narrow-minded bureaucrat and thorn in the side of Jack and gives him depth. More than that, it shows that Ryan Chappelle's approach was good and solid and no less valid than Jack's own.
It shows the toll on Jack for doing what he does. It shows regret and pain and loss. The scene is quiet and it filmed beautifully. I think it's the first use of the "Silent Clock" on the show. Sean Callery's score is awesome and powerful.
I like happy endings, I really do. '24' is totally not in that category and this scene is opposite that desire, but there is something about it that is perfect. I know that the show is known for killing off characters, but Ryan's death was a bold stroke. No one liked the character and yet they made him completely sympathetic. Jack is obviously executing an innocent man, someone who he knows and works with - this isn't self-defense, in fact it's questionable as to whether it's even in defense of others. It clearly showed the pain that Jack felt in doing what he had did, and yet it shows that he felt obligated to do it. Jack's sense of duty and honor is clear in this scene, as is the price he pays for being who he is.
It's not a scene I flip in and watch repeatedly. There are other scenes that I do that with, good scenes that fill me with glee and joy and romance. But I think I'll stick with this as being the "best".
