Movie and TV Characters Who Should Know Better
The 2006 film "Eight Below" is a story based very loosely on real events, about a team of scientists living in Antarctica who, in an emergency, end up having to leave their dogs behind, and come back to rescue them. Overall it's a pretty good movie, filled with good characters, great cinematography, and moments that are oftentimes either thrilling or heartfelt (and of course there are the dogs, which let's be honest, is the main draw of the film).
However, there is one thing that I'm baffled by every time I've seen this movie. Before the main characters end up having to leave their dogs behind in the cold, unforgiving wilderness of the South Pole, a scientist named Dr. Davis McClaren shows up in order to study a meteorite that has landed nearby. While settling into bed for the night at the Arctic base, one of the characters states that he's a cartographer. The intelligent scientist who has just travelled to the bottom of the world to study a meteorite and add knowledge to the scientific community then asks, "What is a cartographer?"
Really? He's a scientist who has spent his entire life studying the Universe around him doesn't know what a cartographer is?!
Shortly afterwards, while heading towards the meteorite, the same scientist who was clueless about what a cartographer is looks through a pair of binoculars and says, "Hey, what's that?" Turns out that he was looking at some sea lions.
Again, while the highly educated scientist may be specializing in meteorites, he should know what a sea lion is, especially is he's going to Antarctica!
I know why this scientist is written like this. "Eight Below" is a Disney movie meant mainly for kids and families; a six-year-old child who watches this film because of the cute dogs probably won't know what a cartographer or a sea lion is. The dialogue is written like this because it's meant to inform the audience rather than the actual character.
However, there had to be a better way to inform the audience. Just off the top of my head...
Cartographer: Hi, how's it going. I am a cartographer.
Scientist: Cool! I've always been fascinated by mapmaking!
And later on while looking at the sea lions through the binoculars...
Scientist: Wow! I never thought I would see sea lions in real life. It's breathtaking!
I noticed this same thing happen again while I was watching the classic sitcom "Frasier" on Netflix the other day. I was actually watching one of my favorite episodes, titled "The Focus Group," where after getting an approval rating of 11 out of 12 in a focus group for his radio show, Dr. Frasier Crane becomes obsessed with the one person who doesn't like him. Anyway, in the beginning of the episode Frasier tells his brother and fellow psychiatrist Dr. Niles Crane about the fact that his show has to be scrutinized by said focus group. Niles then responds by asking, "What is a focus group?"
Dr. Niles Crane has studied psychology and human behavior his entire life, has been educated at both Yale and Cambridge, and has a practice. He should know what a focus group is!
Again, I know in my head that the reason for this piece of dialogue is to inform the audience rather than the character. Not everyone watching "Frasier" may know what a focus group is. But why have Niles, a well-educated psychiatrist, ask this question? Why not have either Martin or Daphne ask this question, both of whom are oftentimes in the same apartment and who are statistically less likely to know what a focus group is? Or come up with some other slightly clever way to inform the audience.
I know that maybe this is a nitpick, but I feel this is an example of bad writing. One can inform the audience about something without making the main characters look ignorant. If there's anyone reading this blog who is a professional writer or who hopes to become one, please keep this in mind.
However, there is one thing that I'm baffled by every time I've seen this movie. Before the main characters end up having to leave their dogs behind in the cold, unforgiving wilderness of the South Pole, a scientist named Dr. Davis McClaren shows up in order to study a meteorite that has landed nearby. While settling into bed for the night at the Arctic base, one of the characters states that he's a cartographer. The intelligent scientist who has just travelled to the bottom of the world to study a meteorite and add knowledge to the scientific community then asks, "What is a cartographer?"
Really? He's a scientist who has spent his entire life studying the Universe around him doesn't know what a cartographer is?!
Shortly afterwards, while heading towards the meteorite, the same scientist who was clueless about what a cartographer is looks through a pair of binoculars and says, "Hey, what's that?" Turns out that he was looking at some sea lions.
Again, while the highly educated scientist may be specializing in meteorites, he should know what a sea lion is, especially is he's going to Antarctica!
I know why this scientist is written like this. "Eight Below" is a Disney movie meant mainly for kids and families; a six-year-old child who watches this film because of the cute dogs probably won't know what a cartographer or a sea lion is. The dialogue is written like this because it's meant to inform the audience rather than the actual character.
However, there had to be a better way to inform the audience. Just off the top of my head...
Cartographer: Hi, how's it going. I am a cartographer.
Scientist: Cool! I've always been fascinated by mapmaking!
And later on while looking at the sea lions through the binoculars...
Scientist: Wow! I never thought I would see sea lions in real life. It's breathtaking!
I noticed this same thing happen again while I was watching the classic sitcom "Frasier" on Netflix the other day. I was actually watching one of my favorite episodes, titled "The Focus Group," where after getting an approval rating of 11 out of 12 in a focus group for his radio show, Dr. Frasier Crane becomes obsessed with the one person who doesn't like him. Anyway, in the beginning of the episode Frasier tells his brother and fellow psychiatrist Dr. Niles Crane about the fact that his show has to be scrutinized by said focus group. Niles then responds by asking, "What is a focus group?"
Dr. Niles Crane has studied psychology and human behavior his entire life, has been educated at both Yale and Cambridge, and has a practice. He should know what a focus group is!
Again, I know in my head that the reason for this piece of dialogue is to inform the audience rather than the character. Not everyone watching "Frasier" may know what a focus group is. But why have Niles, a well-educated psychiatrist, ask this question? Why not have either Martin or Daphne ask this question, both of whom are oftentimes in the same apartment and who are statistically less likely to know what a focus group is? Or come up with some other slightly clever way to inform the audience.
I know that maybe this is a nitpick, but I feel this is an example of bad writing. One can inform the audience about something without making the main characters look ignorant. If there's anyone reading this blog who is a professional writer or who hopes to become one, please keep this in mind.
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