Screenwriting, Lyrics, Art, and Investigation
Breakdown of television episodes using the Storytelling Enneagram formula.
I had some serious structural complaints about this episode, which I detail at the end of the Enneagram breakdown.
ONE
1918. We hear ping pong and see that the rec room is still in business. Men sit at tables in the converted front room. Edith asks Mary to join her in some kind of concert. She must; it keeps up the men’s spirits.
Continue reading “Episode 4”As a child I loved Bewitched, so I was initially charmed by this first episode of WandaVision. On a second viewing, though, it becomes old very quickly. Nostalgia is only good for a brief moment, apparently. Structurally, you’ll see the episode is fairly sound. It’s just not funny, and the unsettling creepiness is too low key. Full notes are at the end of the Enneagram breakdown.
ONE
The screen clicks on, like a tube tv would, to show a black and white scene. A classic car, with a Just Married sign on the bumper, drives down a road. Inside, still in wedding gear, are a smiling Wanda and Vision. Sitcom music plays as they pass through a neighborhood. The mailman waves and Wanda, smiling, waves back while Vision pulls down his hat brim. Anyone who’s seen a sitcom has seen these dynamics: friendly wife, grumpy husband.
Wanda gestures at the For Sale sign in the yard, and it magically has a Sold banner across it. Vision, with his bald, metallic head, carries her, bride style, toward the threshold. With animated twinkle stars, he goes through the closed door and she drops to the welcome mat, shaking her head in mock confusion. He opens the door and carries her in proper while credits roll: “Starring Wanda Maximoff”. We get the picture. It’s winsome and retro, and also a little puzzling.
In the kitchen Wanda, wearing apron and pearls, magically levitates the dishes as she organizes the room. It’s done with CGI, I’m sure, but they’ve animated the dishes to look like they’re on wires, the way the old shows would’ve done it. Fun. Vision comes in, reading the newspaper, and they go through the sitcom schtick — insult, smile, give an “Oh, you!” with a dismissive gesture. With laugh track!
TWO
Vision asks if today is special. The calendar has a heart on this date, but neither of them remembers why. And they won’t admit they’ve forgotten. Just before Vision leaves for work he changes his face to a normal human presentation. So that explains that.
THREE
A knock at the door and here’s Agnes, “your neighbor to the right”.
Continue reading “Filmed Before a Live Studio Audience”Critical notes, as always, are after the Enneagram breakdown.
LEFTOVER NINE
On the bridge Kirk reacts intensely to an old Earth-style SOS that the Enterprise is receiving. None of the crew is a familiar face except for Spock at his science station and Yeoman Janice standing near the captain’s chair.
They approach an Earth-like planet, although no colonies or vessels are out this far. Bones comes onto the bridge, and the camera dollies in for a two shot of him and Kirk as Spock reads out the planet’s specifications, eerily familiar . Close-up of Janice, vaseline lens and all, as she reacts: “Earth!” Heh, the view screen of this planet shows the African continent and the Arabian peninsula. “Not THE Earth,” Kirk says. “Another Earth.” The globe on the screen rotates and we see Florida and the Eastern seaboard.
Roll credits.
ONE
After recapping events so far, Kirk prepares to transport down to this alternate Earth. We’ll land in the vicinity of the distress signal, he says.
Here they come, beaming into a rough cityscape. It’s Kirk, Bones, Spock, Janice, and two red shirts. Already their clothes look incongruous. (It’s just one of the studio back lots with a couple of derelict classic cars, burnt brick building facades, and some random debris in the street. Actually, it looks like an Old West set mixed up with a Prohibition set.) Spock estimates this is the equivalent of 1960’s era Earth. The red shirts have gone in separate directions to scout the area. Heh. Evidence suggests, says Spock, the distress signal is automated. No one is around.
TWO
Red Shirt 1, phaser out, strides past a building. The door mysteriously closes after he passes. The gang stop to ponder a child’s tricycle. As Bones gently sets it back on the rubbish pile, spinning its squeaky wheel, a wild man yells and comes from a building. He attacks Bones. Intense music. Everyone, including Red Shirt 1, run to his aid. Lol, Kirk punches it.
THREE
Downed, the wild man crawls to the trike and cries. He’s got blond hair and blotchy purple (?) skin, and kinda looks like a surf dude. He wants the trike fixed, and our team is gentle and sympathetic.
Continue reading “Miri”As with the two episodes that began this season, these last two episodes should be looked at as one overarching Enneagram. Since they have the same title, let’s roll them into one post rather than break them apart. They mesh very nicely. Good structure when they’re looked at holistically.
PART ONE
ONE
We’re in the very shiny and beautiful Northern Water Kingdom. Dueling in Master Pakku’s class, Katara defeats everyone else and wins Pakku’s praise. Cut to Aang, kicked back in class, who bends snow onto himself, becoming a snowman. Serious vs. Silly.
TWO
Sokka takes Yue for a glorious ride on Appa. Just as they’re about to kiss, ash starts raining around them. Back at class, Aang stops his antics to notice the falling soot mixing with snow. From his vantage point on Appa, Sokka looks out and sees the armada. Fire Nation, a lot of them.
At the flagship, Admiral Zhao brags to Iroh of his great upcoming victory. He also tosses in a dig about Iroh’s loss at Ba Sing Se. As magnanimous as always, Iroh takes the hit, then finds Zuko and tells him to be ready.
The Water City rings the alarm. As Sokka parts from Yue, she says she can’t see him anymore. She likes him too much, and she has her duty to her people.
THREE
The Water Tribe Elder gives his speech to the troops, calling on the spirits of Ocean and Moon to assist them.
Continue reading “The Siege of the North”As always, Critical Notes are after the breakdown.
ONE
Downton becomes a hospital. Isabelle directs the maids how close the bed frames should be. Cora wonders where the family will actually sit now, but Isabelle’s in charge it seems. In comes the Doctor and Sybil, helping, as they discuss why only officers will be at Downton.
The Dowager, with Carson, defends the practice to Sybil. Rest is needed, not tension. And Edith, eager to help and be supportive, is told by Isabelle to get out of the way.
TWO
At the servant’s table Carson thanks staff for their help. With O’Brien’s adamant opinion, Carson reiterates that chain of command will be sorted soon. Isabelle won’t always be the dominant voice. Lang leaves the table suddenly.
Violet finds Mary. How does Lavinia know Richard Carlisle? Mary seems unconcerned. Well, the Dowager is going to London for the day and she’ll have Lavinia to tea.
In the kitchen Patmore wonders if she’s now to run a canteen. The officers will eat with the family? I think that’s what Carson told her. Daisy reads a letter from William that says he’ll come home for a night before shipping out. Branson receives a mysterious letter, but the focus goes back to Daisy and her concern that William might have “plans”.
THREE
Anna running an errand in the village sees, well, that’s Bates. He went behind the tree very quickly. Hard dolly in on Anna, and then she runs toward where he was. He’s gone, though.
Continue reading “Episode 3”Sound storytelling structure. I have only one critique at the end of the breakdown.
ONE
The team flies on a very tired Appa, who can barely keep out of the icy ocean below them. Just as they say they can’t find the Northern Water Tribe, spikes of ice knock them into the water and boats surround them.
TWO
Admiral Zhao knows where the Avatar is headed. This is no little Earth Village, he says. He’ll need a massive invasion force for the Northern Water Kingdom.
Water benders escort our team on Appa into their city. Thick ice walls and multiple gates, removed by bending, surround the compound. It’s a stunning place: canals, decorative bridges, tiers of buildings, all made of ice and compacted snow.
THREE
Sokka notices a beautiful, white-haired young woman in a gondola.
Continue reading “The Waterbending Master”As always, Critical Notes are at the end.
ONE
Approaching a planet. On the bridge, Nurse Chapel stands next to the captain’s chair and waits. She’s worried about a man on the planet who hasn’t sent a message in five years. Spock gives Kirk (and us) a report on the surface temperature (it’s cold) and on Roger Korby, the “Pasteur of Archaeological Medicine”. Whatever that means! Uhura can get no communication contact.
And then a signal and a voice comes over comms. Haha, the camera swoops around and racks focus on the little speaker for Uhura’s console. It’s Korby. Another swoop and we go extreme closeup for Christine Chapel’s relief to hear his voice.
Dunh-dunh! Roll credits.
Captain’s log repeats what we know. Prepare for a landing party. As Kirk starts to inform Korby that Chapel is with him, Korby interrupts. Can you beam down alone? Spock rises and approaches the chair. Clearly, this is an odd request. He asks if Chapel is certain she recognizes his voice. Oh, she’s engaged to Korby! So, yes, she’s certain.
TWO
Kirk agrees, and says two will beam down. Chapel says hello, and Korby immediately recognizes her voice. They’re on their way. Oh, look! Uhura rises and gives Chapel a cheek kiss of congratulations. That was sweet. Did she ad lib that?
THREE
(There is no Three.)
Continue reading “What Are Little Girls Made Of”Critical Notes, as always, are at the end.
ONE
Spongebob walks out his front door, arms loaded with hearts, and announces …
TWO
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Bikini Bottom!” (Candy boxes shaped like hearts, I think.)
THREE
He skips, tossing the hearts like flower petals. And he never runs out!
Continue reading “VALENTINE’S DAY”Critical Notes are at the end, after the Enneagram Story and Breakdown.
ONE
A bicycle messenger arrives at Downton. April, 1917. In Robert’s room his new valet arranges his uniform. The message is for William. Carson is still overworking and Hughes is still taking him to task over it.
Robert’s man seems timid, speaking softly, and Robert snaps at him. Ah, he’s named Lang. Robert apologizes. Lang was invalided out of the military. Trench warfare. Oh, Lang feels people look at him and wonder why he’s not serving. Must be an unobvious injury.
TWO
Patmore reads something that upsets her, but we pass on. William’s excited: he’s been called up. He asks Daisy for a picture to take with him. Lol, Daisy doesn’t seem to know what to make of that.
Cora asks O’Brien about Thomas. Oh, haha! These two are fabulous. Cora will talk to the doctor about bringing Thomas home. O’Brien is so humbly grateful, the conniver. I know it’s terrible to see Cora so manipulated by someone she trusts, but, really, their relationship is wonderful.
THREE
The trenches and Matthew. It’s always the same overhead shot, the same set, but it’s evocative. Matthew, walking the line with another, drops the exposition that he’s being transferred back to England to help the war effort.
Continue reading “Episode 2”ONE
Nighttime in the neighborhood. (Why is Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker playing over the credits?)
Spongebob sleeps. A bubble forms above his head and we see his dream. It rains Krabby Patties. He runs around with his mouth open, happily eating.
TWO
When he wakes he’s chewing on his pillow. He needs a quick midnight snack. Gary, on a newspaper next to the bed, sleeps. Quietly, Spongebob goes into the kitchen and makes a sea-nut butter sandwich. He takes one bite and crashes onto the counter, asleep. The open refrigerator door starts to waft a cold, ghostly vibe.
THREE
Still nighttime outside the pineapple house. Dissolve to day, and now the house is iced and frozen. Ah, here comes the Nutcracker music again.
Continue reading “SUDS”