Emerald City (Wizard of Oz Reboot)

  • Thread starter Thread starter sanman
  • Start date Start date
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around a re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz directed by Tarsem Singh, focusing on Dorothy's involvement in a power struggle amidst political intrigue and potential apocalypse. Participants share their thoughts on the show's approach, tone, and production quality, particularly in relation to broadcast television constraints.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes the pun in the title, indicating a light-hearted engagement with the topic.
  • Another expresses a preference for non-network shows, suggesting that platforms like Starz or HBO could better handle the material.
  • Several participants comment on the pilot episodes, highlighting the show's edgy, dark, and gritty nature, with one noting surprise at the level of violence presented.
  • There is mention of NBC's significant investment in the show, possibly as a response to competition from streaming services.
  • One participant appreciates the artistic choices made to respect broadcast constraints, suggesting that cutting away from violent moments enhances the horror by allowing imagination to fill in the gaps.
  • Another participant expresses a willingness to give the show a chance based on the positive feedback about its approach.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express mixed feelings about the show's execution and its suitability for broadcast television, with some appreciating the darker tone while others remain skeptical about network limitations. No consensus is reached regarding the overall quality or potential of the show.

Contextual Notes

Some discussions touch on the limitations of broadcast television in handling mature themes, as well as the varying expectations of viewers based on their preferences for different types of networks.

sanman
Messages
737
Reaction score
24
In this re-imagining of The Wizard of Oz by director Tarsem Singh, our heroine Dorothy winds up in Oz only to get caught up in a titanic power struggle against a backdrop of political intrigue, looming war, and potential apocalypse





"winds" - get it - I made a pun, there :-p
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Not sure how I feel about this. I guess, I am partial to non network shows because they can do so much more. I'd like to see this tried on like Starz or HBO.
 
Yeah, after watching the pilot (episode 1 & 2), it seems like this show is pushing the boundaries on what's possible for broadcast network television. NBC certainly spent a lot of money on this - after losing so much market share to HBO, Netflix, etc, they've probably decided to "go big or go home".

This story is very edgy, dark, and gritty even - I was surprised at the level of violence, but they do their best to artfully respect broadcast constraints by cutting away at certain moments - which kind of makes some of it scarier, because it let's your imagination fill in the blanks on that stuff.

The "Wicked Witch of the West" is a laid-back junkie and brothel madam, who's "turned in her broom" and found her place in the new hegemony, running a whorehouse as her new trade.
Glinda the "Good Witch of the North" is sweet-faced in public, but a hard-nosed conniving jerk in private.
The witches are constantly scheming to get back power from the Wizard, but he's always pushing back and laying down the law to show them who's boss.
The Wizard, whose name is Frank Morgan (named after the actor who played him in the original movie) is in charge of things in Emerald City, because it was he, not the witches, who was able to save everyone from a powerful entity called The Beast Forever, when it showed up 20 years earlier.
That got him his respect/power/authority, which he used to declare a ban against all forms of magic in Oz. He further negotiated a deal with the witches, whereby they would be allowed a place in society, but were prohibited from practicing magic again.
The Wizard comes across outwardly as this loud, pushy, authoritarian guy, but when he's back in his private quarters, you see him flop down in his chair and take off his toupee, worrying about how he's going to make things work out. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

 
Last edited:
sanman said:
Yeah, after watching the pilot (episode 1 & 2), it seems like this show is pushing the boundaries on what's possible for broadcast network television. NBC certainly spent a lot of money on this - after losing so much market share to HBO, Netflix, etc, they've probably decided to "go big or go home".

This story is very edge, dark and gritty even - I was surprised at the level of violence, but they do their best to artfully respect broadcast constraints by cutting away at certain moments - which kind of makes some of it scarier, because it let's your imagination fill in the blanks on that stuff.

This is good to hear! I will give it a chance.
 

Similar threads

Can Evolved State: Dichotomy Capture Your Imagination?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Is Humanity Ready to Play God in Gattaca's Genetic Engineering Debate?
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
5K