Five Changes That Will Help Make 'The Carrie Diaries' Season 2 a Smash
The CW "The Carrie Diaries"
The Carrie Diaries returns in just a few weeks, but that's not stopping this reviewer from offering up some last minute suggestions (As though half of the season or more hasn't already been written) to help make Season 2 the smash hit it deserves to be. Keep in mind, this show is already well-received. The writers know what they're doing. Here are five suggestion from someone who isn't on the Carrie Diaries payroll and who has nothing to lose by taking imaginary risks!
The CW "The Carrie Diaries"
Make Walt’s “coming out” story arc more 80s centric: Fans have applauded The Carrie Diaries for the way it’s handled Walt’s coming to terms with his sexuality, but as much as I’ve appreciated the general heart of the circumstances, I can’t help but think that taking advantage of the time period would greatly benefit the depth of the show. Teens can handle it. Even if just briefly, touch upon the AIDS epidemic. Also, talk about both the excitement and the ignorance of the time on both sides of things. Walt, as a character, has a lot to offer. I’d rather the show take advantage of the 80s history than write a more generic arc about a closeted gay teen with conservative parents. We’re living in a time where many young people assume they know all there is to know about gay culture. There is an opportunity here to teach something new and to show how progress was made.
The CW "The Carrie Diaries"
Bring more heart to Carrie’s rivalry with Donna: First of all, more Donna period. She’s a scene-stealer, and her story arc with Walt last season proved to be one of my personal favorites. We’ve already been clued in to the fact that she’s a cousin to newcomer Samantha, but it’s not yet time to ditch the high school rivalry with Carrie; however, one of the pair’s best on-screen moments last season was Carrie’s thanking of Donna for quietly helping Walt through his coming out crisis before anyone else was aware. Fans of series of this nature appreciate rivalries with heart. (Think of Blair Waldorf and any of her many rivalries over the course of Gossip Girl’s six seasons. The best scenes are always the breakthroughs and breakdowns.) It can be about clashing, and fighting, and feuding, and hating until the last five minutes of the episode. Then, have them sit down over coffee and relate.
Lindsey Gort’s Samantha Jones will be a deal breaker: Lindsey Gort has big Manolos to fill. Samantha is, quite possibly, the most beloved of all Sex and the City characters, but she also has some cartoonish qualities to her. Kim Cattrall knew exactly how to play the role, so we believed that Samantha could exist in modern day Manhattan. Lindsey Gort needs to bring realness to the character in the same vein. A copycat of an already surreal character wouldn’t work; however, I have complete faith that this one will play out just fine. I’ve read the stories surrounding her casting. Bringing in Samantha, period, was the smartest decision the show has made thus far. From what I hear about Lindsey Gort, she’ll do more than fine.
Take advantage of the Friday night time slot: The Friday night switcheroo is a gift, everybody. It’s time to push the envelope. I don't care if folks are dvr'ing The Carrie Diaries and enjoying their Mouse Chen over Saturday morning cereal. It's time to take advantage and to bring this series more towards its predecessor. Obviously, you can’t have a teenage Carrie Bradshaw dropping f-bombs on the CW, but racier humor and some eyebrow-raising moments reminiscent of SATC will captivate a new demographic. For whatever reason, I have this feeling that The Carrie Diaries brings in a brand new demo of younger viewers who’re mostly unaware of the life of thirty-something sex columnist, Carrie Bradshaw. That doesn’t mean that, say, a slightly older sister who watches SATC reruns on E! daily can’t catch a funny line in passing that brings her back and drags her into this new show. Buzz can be generated tastefully. Look at shows like Awkward. on MTV. That show is a runaway hit among critics and fans alike because it isn’t afraid to take bold risks. The Carrie Diaries is well written and well cast, but that doesn’t mean the light and charming humor can’t come with a side of snarky sarcasm and maybe just a little more raciness.
The CW "The Carrie Diaries"
Meld the NYC and Connecticut plots more seamlessly: Clearly, Season 1 had to come up with sensible ways to see Carrie Bradshaw exploring Manhattan on her own before dragging her friends along for some New York City mischief, but this is Season 2. As opposed to NYC vs. Connecticut this season, it might be nice to see the two more obscurely merged. We know that Sebastian has tons money, Donna has a sexy new cousin, Walt has an untapped new gay scene, etc. Wouldn't it be fun if most of these characters could live the fast life in 80s NYC all weekend, only to have to suffer through an average day of high school together come Monday morning?
The Carrie Diaries Season 2 airs on Friday, October 25th at 8/7c! Will you be tuning in?
Need to catch up? Buy The Carrie Diaries Season 1 on iTunes!