Analysis
The events of Scandal 5x09 sent shockwaves through the fandom as different factions began to argue over the circumstances of her abortion. The response was overwhelmingly negative and prompted reactions from, not only the fans, but also the network itself. The visceral audience reaction and critique in addition to the studio’s counter-posts on various social media sites (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc) show contradictory opinions about the unexpected (the abortion) and how the event should be interpreted. The brutal breakup scene that followed the abortion was perceived as “the absolute last straw for another big part of the fandom”, as one fanfiction writer states in an Author’s Note before continuing her story, Shattering Expectations. …show more content…
Using Ronald Tobias’ master plot framework for forbidden love, the network seems to be following a set in stone pattern. Fitting Scandal into the six steps listed is easy: 1) Olivia Pope is having a romantic affair with the President of the United States, 2) Because they love each other they can’t stop, 3) It is obviously adultery, 4) People start to figure out the affair and there are constant breakups and makeups, 5) When all of the constraints were thrown away, such as the marriage, they make a real go at it and the pressure causes Olivia to get an abortion and leave Fitz, 6) I’m sure we’ll see the resolution of the affair, whether one of the characters is written out of the show by death or disappearance. If the creator and network are following these conventions, then the destruction of the relationship was bound to happen anyway. So, why are fans upset about it? As we talked about parasocial relationships above and the nature of fanfiction, fandom communities are now free to make their own creative decision when it comes to their favorite media. If these writers can create a story that is lively, interesting, and completely true to the show and how the characters work out in a different way, why can the canon plot not do the same? It is the argument that fuels a vast majority of writers to continue and innovate even when their favorite series seems to have left these ideas
The events of Scandal 5x09 sent shockwaves through the fandom as different factions began to argue over the circumstances of her abortion. The response was overwhelmingly negative and prompted reactions from, not only the fans, but also the network itself. The visceral audience reaction and critique in addition to the studio’s counter-posts on various social media sites (Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, etc) show contradictory opinions about the unexpected (the abortion) and how the event should be interpreted. The brutal breakup scene that followed the abortion was perceived as “the absolute last straw for another big part of the fandom”, as one fanfiction writer states in an Author’s Note before continuing her story, Shattering Expectations. …show more content…
Using Ronald Tobias’ master plot framework for forbidden love, the network seems to be following a set in stone pattern. Fitting Scandal into the six steps listed is easy: 1) Olivia Pope is having a romantic affair with the President of the United States, 2) Because they love each other they can’t stop, 3) It is obviously adultery, 4) People start to figure out the affair and there are constant breakups and makeups, 5) When all of the constraints were thrown away, such as the marriage, they make a real go at it and the pressure causes Olivia to get an abortion and leave Fitz, 6) I’m sure we’ll see the resolution of the affair, whether one of the characters is written out of the show by death or disappearance. If the creator and network are following these conventions, then the destruction of the relationship was bound to happen anyway. So, why are fans upset about it? As we talked about parasocial relationships above and the nature of fanfiction, fandom communities are now free to make their own creative decision when it comes to their favorite media. If these writers can create a story that is lively, interesting, and completely true to the show and how the characters work out in a different way, why can the canon plot not do the same? It is the argument that fuels a vast majority of writers to continue and innovate even when their favorite series seems to have left these ideas