Let’s talk
So! It’s been.. about 30 hours since Season 4 of Carmen Sandiego came out.
How’re you feeling, everyone?
I, for one, am feeling happy and bittersweet at the same time :) I’m sad it had to end, but I’m also happy the story went full circle- with some major changes.
Now, everyone has different opinions. And it clearly showed in the communities; let’s face it! It’s been pretty divisive.
So, let’s talk. About everything. Without trying to ‘persuade’ each other about our own opinions.
Here’s a couple of things that everyone can agree on:
+ The storyline from episode 1 to 7 was well lead-up + We’ve had interesting character interactions, rare interactions etc! + For the shippers, they really tried to make everyone happy. Fuel for all + For the plot lovers, there have been twists until the end ;) + For the angst lovers- Need I say anything? The whole season was angst + Family moments + interactions awhhh they make me smile = The finale - What I’ll be addressing below - The pacing, also what I’ll be addressing below! - Shifts in focus - ...Yes. We simply want more.
I’m not here to say ‘Let’s be positive’ or ‘It’s just a show.’ Because we all know it was- is- more than that, a feeling you don’t understand until you make emotional connections to characters and stories.
I am here to talk about everything.
1. The Finale Season 4 Episode 8 is probably the episode that contained the most heartbreak, good or bad. The first half, the majority are okay, even ecstatic about; come on. Emotions. The second half, or the last moments, are probably what people are divided on. Some people have problems with the changes introduced; some people can’t exactly ignore the pacing; some people don’t like the way the characters are positioned at the end; and some others feel like it is simply not the way to end an overarching plot. And I’m okay with that. We all are. I understand you; especially since this was the last season. Though we hope for sequels and books, and will be looking forward to the announced ‘live action’ movie, this is the ending that will live forever in our hearts.
Here’s what I have to say about the matter: they tried. They tried to give us a good season, a good show, and a good story even with the budget cuts, all through the disappointments and even threats. And I respect the crew for that if nothing else. The story was carefully thought through until the end.. I’m guessing it’s because the finale changed the positions and main cast so much that it’s hard to accept. I’m satisfied with how it ended. You might not be. That’s okay; but please respect the people that worked on, enjoyed, or adored the same aspect of this show.
After all, we’re here to have a good time. We’ve made connections; now things are changing, it’s hard to wrap our minds around this.
But I will say: Each person is entitled to their own opinion. However, no matter what your opinion is, let’s all remember this show with all the good memories we’ve built.
2. Pacing / Content Pacing. It’s.. a complicated thing to address. No matter how you liked the final season, let’s face it: Some have noticed the acceleration in pace near the end of the show. And what I think is missing is simply in-between episodes. Although we love the overarching plot, sometimes it’s simply the breather episodes that we adore the most. I feel like s2 e5 was the episode closest to a breather that we got xD
Managing pacing comes down to the number of episodes allotted to each storyline - and the breather episodes described above. There are shows that slow the pacing down too much and are taken over by filler episodes, even with a hefty episode count. In contrast, there are shows that don’t have the needed episode count for breathers or proper pacing.
Carmen Sandiego is the latter. It would have benefited from a couple of fillers, or a couple more episodes. However, as I have said before, this is the more uncontrollable aspect of shows or any kind of stories. Let’s face it: I do feel the presence of ‘rushing’ in the show. But I can look over it, not because I’m blind, but because I can feel the showrunners’ effort, and because I’m here to enjoy an amazing story.
...Wanting more content? Yep, let’s admit it, we all do. We could use more closure, and also more of a look into what happens in the future :D
I’d love to see what happened to the newly-changed Team Red, ACME (with the addition of Zack and Ivy), or even VILE!
That’s why I look forward to the movie, possible books, and fiction! The finale sure did leave much to say; but that’s exactly it.
It left us with possibilities, all the people that make amazing literature or art content, and all the theorists that are left with more motivation to go on.
Even though the season and the show do have their flaws as everything does, and not all of them may be negligible, let’s all appreciate Carmen Sandiego as a show, as a project, as a story, and as a whole.
Carmen Sandiego will always have a special place in my heart.
If you read this until the end, kudos to you! My attention span would’ve ended long ago xD Thanks for reading!