Hypothetically speaking, if the "SatAM" were to return today, does anyone else feel that the "Blast to the Past" 2-parter could be used as a series lead-in (premiere) as opposed to a random episode dumped in the middle of season two? I, for one, think it could, being that not only does it show how Mobius was taken over, but it also explains some major character motivations.
Although no such thing would ever happen, I do agree that Blast to the Past makes for an excellent introduction into the series, mostly for the stated reasons.
Not only does it provide motivations for some of the characters...I personally think it really is the best example of the true Heart of SATAM...There are so many emotions expressed in this two parter. Little Sonic's helpless cries as Uncle Chuck was robotocized make me tear up (and I'm a freakin' 19 year old!). Sonic's vow that "I don't know how and I don't know when, but you're (Robotnik) going to crash and burn, pal!" also sent shivers through my spine.
I think they might need to add a little bit of an explaination to the begining of the episode (maybe cut out the title, and instead do what the comics have done (you know...Once upon a time, Mobius was a...blah blah blah...The fastest, most way past cool guy, SONIC THE HEDGEHOG!!!).
Will this happen?...unless we can do what the Family Guy fans did, no...It has been too long since the series ended...
No. Blast To The Past starts off with the assumption that you've been watching these characters before and know who they are & what they do.
Quote:
No. Blast To The Past starts off with the assumption that you've been watching these characters before and know who they are & what they do.
Ah, but what about the fact that none of the previous episodes offered an introduction to the characters? In fact, as a kid, I wondered if I'd missed the debut episode because the series hadn't shown where the primary characters came from or anything, but instead dropped the audience in the middle of a conflict (between the Freedom Fighters and Robotnik).
Backstory and character expansion loses depth if you do not have any emotional investment into the characters already. If I remember correctly that's the one where the almost prevent Bunnie and Chuck from being turned into (half/)robots in the future, if so, why would we care unless we didn't know the characters already? Much more important to know and care who these people are before we dive into their past and explain their motivations.
If Final Fantasy 7 started with the Nibelheim flashback, it would just plain suck. Sure we get a better intro to the games hero and villain, but at the cost of not letting anyone gain the knowledge of the scenario.
Plus the existing season intro is decent enough, 5 minutes is enough to show we've got a bunch of furry terrorists fighting against big fat moustached dictator and his metallic menace, a random red shirt gets robotocized to show us how mean and bad it is, we learn about Knothole, Uncle Chuck, the entire series is set up pretty well so they can spend 26 episodes sticking firmly to the status quo. Backstory comes later. Scene setting is far more important.
The majority of shows start this way, I started watching Fullmetal Alchemist a few weeks ago, it drops you in the deepend, you're following two guys you don't know who are apparently after the philosophers stone, and get a bunch of exposition about how alchemy works.
After 2 eps of action, alchemy and rule setting, letting us know what these kids can do and what their quest is, you get 7 episodes of backstory to let you know who these kids are and why they're searching for this stone.
If we start from scratch, then there's little to no intrigue. Remember the debut episode was a pilot, pilot episodes need to showcase EVERYTHING the show will, well, show. Not only familiarising the viewers with the scenario, characters and plight, but giving a gripping eye catching thing for the TV execs to say "Yes. We'll fund this"
As good as BttP is, it does require you caring about who the characters are and it's not eyecatching stuff, whereas starting with Sonic dashing into Robotropolis and the freedom fighters commencing a terrorist operation IS, the moment you start the show, ACTION. You're in. That's how most shows like this do start, and it's to instantly capture viewer attention.
Backstory comes later. Sometimes, in the scene directly following the action, sometimes a few episodes later. Gargoyles being an example of the former, despite the fact that the first two episodes are backstory, the show begins with rocks falling from the sky, explosions and the present day Eliza to do the following.
1. Show the viewer "THIS IS AN ACTION SHOW!"
2. Familiarise the viewer with Eliza, even if she doesn't appear for a while
3. Grip viewers attention.
4. Build up enough intrigue for us to care who the creatures who can "leave claw marks in solid stone" are.
It's a tried and tested formula, dude. I doubt SatAM would have been bought if it didn't showcase everything in the first 5 minutes.
Yes, I see your point too Craig. Interestingly, the "Blast to the Past" two parter were the first Sonic Sat a.m. episodes I saw. I didn't have the problem of not having "emotional investment" though, because before I saw the show I had read though the Sonic books that had Sonic Sat a.m. characters. So I already knew the basic backgrounds of the characters before I saw the show, though some things are different in the books, like Robotnik taking over when Sonic and the other Freedom Fighters( except for Tails of course) were teenagers.
Quote:
like Robotnik taking over when Sonic and the other Freedom Fighters( except for Tails of course) were teenagers.
What?!? um...Sonic and and the others were just kids in both series...
