As fans we try and trust the writers of our favorite TV shows and movies. We know that there is a plan for things, but we also know that sometimes that plan isn’t the best thing for one big reason – they don’t understand the fandom.
Now, we have worked closely on a lot of adaptations and shows. We know that is something that a lot of shows are missing – the understanding of the fandom and/or what is being said online about the show or movie. Some television shows and movies aren’t paying attention to the people that understand the fandom and instead are worried about influencers selling it as is.
Yet the reality is, for this writer at least, we don’t always care what influencers are saying. We care what the people who know the fandom are.
We live in a world where we’ve begun to worry more about a follower count to sell a product vs. really listening to the people who know everything that there is to know about – well in this case – a television show.
Outer Banks is one of our favorite television shows and there has been talk on social media about how Outer Banks doesn’t handle race well.
Madison Bailey, who stars as Kiara in the show, is covering Cosmopolitan’s Pride Issue and talked about the critique and how the writers should listen to this critique.
“I think it would be good on the writers’ part to start considering that critique—slightly late but better late than never. In season 2, we added Carlacia to our main cast. She brings a vibe to set that we very much needed. I think it’d be in the writers’ best interests to start emphasizing it more,” she said.
She continued, “You have three characters who are Black, and I’ll speak on my character specifically. Her whole theme is a foot in both worlds, and we’re lacking a huge part of that, which is her race. That said, there are moments. They’re too brief, but there are moments.”
We love that she addressed it and we hope the writers will listen. The fandom and your actor is telling you what they need. They are telling you what they want. They are telling you how to make your show better.
We hope that the writers listen.
