'Fairytale TV'

In the past couple of years there has been an increase of supernatural and mystical themes in television, and the viewers (including myself) are eating it up at an astronomical rate. Vampires, witches, werewolves, and fairytale characters alike are all popping up on our television screens, much to our excitement.

So why do we love these other worlds so much? Isn't it obvious, our lives are so busy and stressful that we need a true escape. All TV is an escape from reality, but when we open our minds and our homes to these mystical beings we are truly in a different place. For example, when you tune into The CW's hit, The Vampire Diaries, you are whisked away to a world where vampires and humans are falling in love. Who hasn't had a daydream of a supernatural love? Especially if said vampire looks like Damon (Ian Somerhalder). We watch Elena struggle with the battle between her love for Stefan and her budding love for Damon. Who does she choose? Either way she hurts someone she loves, and breaks viewers hearts.

Besides the amazingly attractive casts, we have the mysterious and suspenseful story lines woven with care that lead us into these worlds until there is no way we can break free of our curiosity. ABC's Once Upon a Time, has taken our favourite fairytale characters, cherished people such as Snow White and Prince Charming, and it has turned their lives upside down. We don't know if Snow White, or the Prince will ever really figure out who they are but as we learn tidbits of every character's life we fall in love with our childhood stories from a new perspective. The evil queen/Regina is disturbing, but you have to admire how they are attempting to humanize her, so that it blurs the lines between good and evil just a bit more.

Of course there is the pure entertainment level of these shows as well. Tuning into HBO's, True Blood defies all normal ideals, especially with the extreme sexual nature that only ignites the interest of the viewers more. Although, True Blood is based on a series of novels written by Charlaine Harris, show creator Alan Ball has done a magical job of taking that base story and making it his own. This does have its down points at times because we all remember the disaster of the maenad in season 2, a story line that wasn't as solid as the others. After all, we originally tuned in to see a waitress with fairy powers fall in love with two vampires, didn't we? See, pure entertainment.

Personally, I first fell in love with the supernatural shows as a teenager when I watched Buffy the Vampire Slayer. It wasn't just the witty banter between Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) and the Scooby gang, or the sexual tension between Angel (David Boreanaz) and Buffy, it was the character evolution and the way we could be pulled into the story. I always loved the way the writers were able to draw in mythology, while still staying fresh and entertaining.

That could be the trick to why we all love these shows so much, the continuity from stories we've grown up loving. Who didn't love reading about Cinderella, or Dracula ? Take our favourite stories, and add love, mystery, and adult twists and you hook us. It's simple, even as adults we crave the escape that myths and fairy tales bring us. Whether it's Grimm on NBC taking a look at the darker side, or the CW's, Supernatural saving the world weekly with the sexy Winchester brothers -- regardless of how the show does it -- they all pull us in.

So the next time you need a break from the everyday issues that plagues your life, tune into one of the many mystical shows that help us defy the normal, and shake off the mundane. Trust me, you won't regret it.

 

Follow Megan Ward on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@BaffledAddict

Comments

[c-tom]

03:22 PM on 12/14/2011

There used to be a difference between books and TV. When has that changed?

[terry1158]

02:18 PM on 12/14/2011

Most of my friends don`t watch shows like these bc they`re not "real". To me that`s exactly the point, I have enough reality in my life, don`t need to watch it on TV. I love these shows :-)

[Annemarie Dooling]

01:27 PM on 12/15/2011

Such a good point, Terry. I live in a city that is frequently featured in those type of shows and it never seems real to me. It's purely entertainment.

[Megan Ward]

01:20 AM on 12/16/2011

That IS exactly the point. To escape reality. Don't get me wrong I enjoy a good procedural, or drama as much as the next person, but sometimes I just want to shut life out. Fairytales, supernatural beings, magic - these things entertain, and help shut out the stress. It's a beautiful thing.

[Shivanan Silva]

09:33 AM on 12/14/2011

Come one now, you can't forget the CW's newest supernatural series "The Secret Circle" You've got it all in this show from drama, suspense, magic, horror, romance, the paranormal, and add the compelling and thickening plot / story, the engaging characters, the gray line between those who are good and evil, and the dark theme and this show is ...to say the least, magical!

Definitely a show to watch.