There was a TV show a few years ago called The 4400. The creators pitched it to the networks like this: All of these people have been abducted over the years by lights in the sky, and one day they all return at the same time with superpowers. At first, it seems like a standard alien abduction story, but then we get to the big twist: They weren’t abducted by aliens. They were abducted through time travel by postapocalyptic humans who have given them these powers to prevent the apocalypse from happening!
Wow, what a pitch! Every network got excited. Then the network execs asked when the truth would be revealed. The writers got big grins on their faces and said, “That’s the great part: We don’t find this out until the end of season five!” Suddenly, all of the joy went out of the room.
The writers hadn’t thought this through. By their own admission, it seemed like a generic X-Files knockoff until they revealed the twist. They knew that they’d never sell it to the network without revealing the big twist, but they somehow expected the network to be able to sell the generic version to the audience for five years. It gradually sunk in to the writers that their plan made no sense. They hastily came up with a better plan, in which the twist is revealed at the end of the original miniseries.
The makers of The 4400 belatedly realized that “time travel” wasn’t the twist but the concept, so it had to be set up before the actual series began.
The 40 Year Old Virgin | YES. |
Alien | YES. |
An Education | YES. Somewhat. It’s heavily implied. |
The Babadook | YES. |
Blazing Saddles | YES. |
Blue Velvet | YES. |
The Bourne Identity | YES. |
Bridesmaids | NA |
Casablanca | YES. |
Chinatown | YES. |
Donnie Brasco | NA. |
Do the Right Thing | YES. |
The Farewell | YES. |
The Fighter | YES. |
Frozen | YES. It’s actually really concerting to see the promotional materials in which Hans is smiling as part of the gang. |
The Fugitive | YES. |
Get Out | YES. Blumhouse did an amazing job marketing without revealing the twist. (The biggest spoiler was the title) |
Groundhog Day | Sure. |
How to Train Your Dragon | YES. |
In a Lonely Place | YES. |
Iron Man | YES. |
Lady Bird | N/A |
Raising Arizona | YES. |
Rushmore | YES. |
Selma | YES. |
The Shining | NA |
Sideways | NA |
The Silence of the Lambs | YES. Mostly. They marketing did hint at the escape. |
Star Wars | YES. |
Sunset Boulevard | YES. |
1 comment:
This TV show is an absolute gem! From its captivating storyline to the stellar performances of the cast, every episode is a delightful journey. The seamless blend of humor, drama, and heartwarming moments keeps me hooked. It's a perfect escape that leaves me eagerly anticipating each new episode. Kudos to the creators for crafting such an engaging and uplifting experience. Highly recommend to anyone in need of quality entertainment!
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