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The difficulties of forbidden love.
Aug. 19th, 2005 10:28 pmI was listening to the episode commentary today on one of my episodes of Roswell, and I couldn't help but think when Jason Katims spoke of the alien/human romances on the show. Specifically, he mentioned how it's rather hard anymore to have "difficult" romances in the form of different people. There aren't a whole lot of off-limit romances anymore, thus there exists fewer difficulties to struggle in. The problem there is that the true romantic epics must involve insurmountable odds to overcome. There are so few Montague and Capulet type barriers. Even different races intermingling is slowly becoming less of an issue as time progresses. While difficult, such differences as money are not enough to truly be a hindrance. Thinking back to some of the best epic love stories in the past years, I see something of a theme towards the fantasy/sci-fi realm. As other boundaries slowly fade, one of the few hurdles left for love to prevail against is the other, the alien, the freak.
Granted, this is a blanket statement and there are always exceptions to be found, but I think it still makes sense. You cannot really have the feuding families to strive against, can no longer have the north versus south, nor a gentlelady and some poor boot-black trying a go at it. It reminds me of something Orson Scott Card said about romance anymore. The problem with a society as "open" as this one is that there is no real impediment to romance. It kind of takes the fun out of it all. Without such things as chaperones, people can do whatever they want, which, while fun, kind of takes the spark out of it. Roswell is one of the most squeamish-feeling inducing shows I watch, and a good deal of that is because there is something to be overcome. The barrier makes the moments they have together all the more intense, and even such little gestures as holding hands can take on more heat and romance than any sweaty sex scene. In fact, I rather prefer it.
Granted, this is a blanket statement and there are always exceptions to be found, but I think it still makes sense. You cannot really have the feuding families to strive against, can no longer have the north versus south, nor a gentlelady and some poor boot-black trying a go at it. It reminds me of something Orson Scott Card said about romance anymore. The problem with a society as "open" as this one is that there is no real impediment to romance. It kind of takes the fun out of it all. Without such things as chaperones, people can do whatever they want, which, while fun, kind of takes the spark out of it. Roswell is one of the most squeamish-feeling inducing shows I watch, and a good deal of that is because there is something to be overcome. The barrier makes the moments they have together all the more intense, and even such little gestures as holding hands can take on more heat and romance than any sweaty sex scene. In fact, I rather prefer it.
