Have you ever heard the term Jumping the Shark? Many of you probably have, but for those that haven’t it refers to that moment when a TV show stretches its premise past the point of breaking. The term references an episode of the sitcom Happy Days. Set in 1950s Milwaukee, the best parts of the show revolve around the relationship between straight-laced Richie Cunningham and tough biker with a big heart Fonzie. For reasons beyond comprehension, the episode features Fonzie jumping over a shark on water-skis. While the show continued for six more seasons, it was never the same.
For those of you who haven’t seen it, here’s a link. Be forewarned, it is truly cringe-worthy. Fonzie Jumping the Shark Video
Jumping the Shark comes in many flavors and not all of them are patently absurd. A common manifestation is when characters finally make their romantic connection. At last, the itch that’s been driving you nuts is satisfied. After years of watching them misfire at every turn, your favorite characters finally bridge the gap. While initially satisfying, the episodes afterward are less gripping. You find yourself skipping them. Instead of watching ‘live,’ you DVR them. Eventually, to free up space you delete them without ever seeing them.
While the Jump the Shark idiom is most commonly associated with TV, I believe it’s something all creatives need to watch. As a fantasy author, I love Tolkien’s books. I even enjoyed The Silmarillion. The Hobbit movie trilogy is another matter. While I found the first installment entertaining, the latter two lost me. I understand adding action, female characters, and tie-ins to the LoTR movies (Legolas & Galadriel). The point where they lost me was the Legolas-Tauriel-Kili love triangle. Nipping around the edges of cannon is one thing, but that was from a different planet. For me, that’s a Jump the Shark moment.
If Tolkien (albeit through the interpretive lens of Peter Jackson) can Jump the Shark, then so can you. Plot twists and character growth are essential tools for authors. I’m not advising you against killing characters or consummating relationships, but be careful not to kill your premise too.
If you’re interested in an in-depth discussion about Jumping the Shark, tune in next Wednesday at 6:00 EDT (it will also be available for playback) to Vince Nolan’s Retro Review.
As always thanks for reading.
Armen
Note to Pay the Bills: Borrowing from Celtic mythology the three book Misaligned Series explores the connection between science and myth. Learn more by reading a summary of the series here and find links to purchase books here. Have I Jumped the Shark? Why not decide for yourself.