Or We Could Tell A Different Kind of Story

Yesterday I read some news that there were early negotiations being done to adapt The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell into a possible CW show. Naturally this got my attention--I love the CW and already with the new president I can feel the programming targeted towards women 18-34 slipping through my fingers. The Carrie Diaries is a prequel to Sex and the City..so essentially it's all about milking a well known success for more, but I love the idea of it anyway. Girls! In New York! Growing up! Sounds like my sort of show, let's not kid ourselves.

So as I was reading the various reporting on this..not even a deal yet, I came across this piece on Zap2It where Carina Adley Mackenzie questions why such a show is being considered. The crux of her argument is that the endgame of Carrie is already known so why would anyone bother to invest in her story. I have to admit it made me really sad, because at the end of the day, Carrie has a story and she had a love story at a younger age yet the character of Carrie should rise above and be more than that love story.

Yes, it's true that on teen soaps there's a lot of "shipping" and investment in the idea of rooting for one couple throughout the series. But maybe...maybe The Carrie Diaries which admittedly I haven't read (but we all know the books will be deviated from), can be more about Carrie than about Carrie and...said guy. I still find love stories valuable and worth the telling even if the couple doesn't end up together. And really, all the writers need to do is a turn deaf ear to the fandom and write a story about a young woman trying to make it on her own, navigating love and life, etc.

Compelling writing and good acting can sell any story. Why not put a show on the air where a female character is allowed to have multiple love interests but none of them define her? Endgame is never ever as satisfying as you think it's going to be anyway, maybe it's better to just relax and enjoy the journey.