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brightknightie) wrote2015-11-22 09:25 pm
brightknightie) wrote2015-11-22 09:25 pm
musing on making the Nick/Urs story pass the Bechdel Test
Lately, I haven't had the time I'd love to spend on hobbies, but I do amuse myself occasionally thinking about that Nick/Urs story I hope to write.
One thing that has crossed my mind as I try to find this hypothetical story's true shape and scope is that this tale, as it first occurred to me, doesn't come anywhere in the vicinity of passing the Bechdel Test. While that's acceptable for a drabble, vignette or short story, the acceptability diminishes with every step out of the realm of miniature tales. If this is growing toward novella-ness, it must include two female characters interacting with each other about something other than a male character.
Except for being murdered by Divia, Urs never interacts with another recurring female character on screen. I've written her scenes with Natalie and with Tracy before, and I've forever meant to get her a story with Janette, but this isn't that story. This is Nick/Urs defeating Lacroix, blowing up third season and living happily ever afterish. And any interaction between Urs and Natalie, or Urs and Tracy, is almost necessarily about Nick, as he's their sole point of interface ... well, Vachon, too, in Tracy's case.
I could suppose that Alma or Brianna didn't leave before third season, but then their point of interface with Urs is employment by Lacroix. That's no better. Sofia and Serena aren't coming back to Toronto that winter. Janette is, but... And I've already written my version of Urs interacting with Jacqueline after "Hearts of Darkness."
An original character would seem to be the answer. But recurring characters go down more smoothly, as a general rule. Round and round. Just thinking!
One thing that has crossed my mind as I try to find this hypothetical story's true shape and scope is that this tale, as it first occurred to me, doesn't come anywhere in the vicinity of passing the Bechdel Test. While that's acceptable for a drabble, vignette or short story, the acceptability diminishes with every step out of the realm of miniature tales. If this is growing toward novella-ness, it must include two female characters interacting with each other about something other than a male character.
Except for being murdered by Divia, Urs never interacts with another recurring female character on screen. I've written her scenes with Natalie and with Tracy before, and I've forever meant to get her a story with Janette, but this isn't that story. This is Nick/Urs defeating Lacroix, blowing up third season and living happily ever afterish. And any interaction between Urs and Natalie, or Urs and Tracy, is almost necessarily about Nick, as he's their sole point of interface ... well, Vachon, too, in Tracy's case.
I could suppose that Alma or Brianna didn't leave before third season, but then their point of interface with Urs is employment by Lacroix. That's no better. Sofia and Serena aren't coming back to Toronto that winter. Janette is, but... And I've already written my version of Urs interacting with Jacqueline after "Hearts of Darkness."
An original character would seem to be the answer. But recurring characters go down more smoothly, as a general rule. Round and round. Just thinking!
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