In the X-Files article, the author briefly touches upon the subject of the somewhat sexual relationship occurring between our two favorite agents, Mulder and Scully. This formula is nothing new to writers, especially those who want to keep an audience literally hanging on to their seats to see what will really happen between the two, if anything. The sexual tension is on! And oh boy, do we want to see it. Is it the creepy voyeur in us all? Or is it our preconceived notions of "pretty women and hot man... why aren't they doing the nasty?" getting in the way of their casework investigations and our desire to see their private lives get steamy.
The media cashed in on this concept with a very sexual issue of Rolling Stone that featured the twosome in bed (naked!) and made our slash-fiction wet dreams come alive, at least in a fictional way. I won't use examples to explore this issue presented in the show because we all know what I'm talking about. Instead, I will use examples from other shows to explore these preconceived notions that make us want and NEED them to take their relationship to the next step.
Take for instance, That 70's Show (98'). We all wanted Donna and Eric to get together. Why wouldn't we? The writers made us wait two seasons to see the action and it was well worth the wait. This remained a constant joke throughout the show and many story lines revolved around their quirky, "are they or aren't they", relationship. Another example, and I doubt that anyone has ever linked this show to the X-Files, is Saved by the Bell (89'). Who doesn't remember the ever so popular Zach Morris and Kelly Kapowski? Who the writers paired together just to satisfy our desires of the popular guy and the pretty cheerleader finally being brought together. Their antics entertained us for four years and in the end they eventually got married, (Woot!).
Even Buffy the Vampire Slayer (97') couldn't resist this formula. First introduced as the bad vampire guy, "William the Bloody", Spike always had a special fondness for Buffy and in season four they finally gave way to their feelings. This is, after the installed chip in his head that left him a useless vampire who couldn't harm the innocents. Although their relationship didn't last, due to the fact that he died to save the Scooby Gang and everyone else in Sunnydale. Their relationship (referred to as "Spuffy") pleased the fans because it was what they wanted and the writers of Buffy were all about listening to the fans and intergrading their ideas into the series.
More info is located here about unresolved sexual tension ("UST") presented in television and movies.
2 comments:
haha, this was great I was considering writing about this topic because when I saw how Mulder and Scully were around each other I immediately thought of Bones and the relationship between Brennan and Booth. It is only in the third season though it is thought that if they get together then the show will end. So I dont know.
I think this all started with Moonlighting back in the 1980s (yes I am old).
Then Sam and Diane on Cheers.
Then, of course, Ross and Rachel on (sigh) Friends.
Question: do the shows tend to go downhill after that tension is, uh, relieved?
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