The story I want vs. the story that is there
Howard and I have been watching the new Doctor Who. I loved season one. Now we’re part way into season two and I am having a hard time enjoying it. All the elements are enjoyable, but they aren’t telling the story I want to see. Season one heavily featured a character arc based on the growing closeness and relationship between the two primary characters. I want to see that continue to grow and develop in the same direction because it made me happy. But the production team is choosing other aspects and stories to tell instead. These other aspects and stories are interesting and worthy, but they aren’t what I hoped for. (Please no spoilers in the comments. We’re only about 4 episodes in to season two.)
I think this is often a problem that interferes with the enjoyment of fiction, although usually not as blatantly as my frustration with Doctor Who. We all have stories that we want to hear. I have a strong desire for people I like to be happy. I like the characters in Doctor Who. I identify strongly with them and so I want them to get to be happy for awhile even if I know it can’t last. But as long as I am holding on to the story I want to see, I can’t see what is actually there.
I suspect this is not just a problem with fiction, but also in life. We sometimes misjudge a person or situation because we’re holding so tightly to what we want to be true that we can’t see what is actually there. I have moments like this with my kids all the time. Moments when I suddenly notice that my child stopped being the baby or toddler that I was still picturing them as being. This is a small example. A larger one would be a mother who continues to argue that her son is a good kid even though he’s doing drugs and committing felonies to support that habit. The mother’s story is a possibility instead of a reality. Her possibility is much more satisfying to her than the reality, and so she wants to cling to it. That’s an extreme example and perhaps not a good choice for comparison. A better comparison would be one where reality is beautiful and good, just in different ways than expected.
Tonight we’ll watch another episode and I’m going to try to put aside the story I wish for so that I can enjoy the story that is there.