Io9 has an interesting article on the do’s and don’t s of cultivating a fan base. I understand it was sparked by some claims from Russell T. Davis that he doesn’t want to listen to the fans which caused something of an uproar. It’s definitely an amusing article. Although, I have to admit, regarding “fans love inconsistencies”, I hate inconsistencies. It just seems like lazy storytelling to me. As for “don’t give the fans what they want” such as two characters getting together, that can probably work either way. For instance with Stargate SG1, I still can’t believe how many people want Carter and O’Neil to get together. But that wouldn’t have been realistic (he was her commanding officer) and the occasional times where they didn’t tantalize us, like the time they kissed when O’Neil was having his “groundhog day” just wouldn’t exactly have the same impact. But then again, sometimes the fans do know what’s good for the show. Take Heroes creator Tim Kring, he actually apologized to the fans because of the direction the show went in. I would say it’s a fine balance of giving the fans what they want, and also giving them what they might not want, but what the show needs.
