FILL: Those Old Stories Again?

[mbarker]

Original posting 2022/01/08

The tv ad says that tomorrow, they're going to have another episode of Hisatsu Shigotonin (Secret Workmen). The funny thing about this is that I've watched the series, and several of the specials, and I'm still looking forward to tomorrow's show, even knowing that it will repeat the formula.

See, these are formula dramas. In this one, there will be some kind of problem, maybe the guys in power pushing around someone, or some kind of bullying. Things will get worse, someone may even die, and... eventually, one of the people who is losing will take their money, usually a fairly small amount, and wander off to the temple where they will offer it. And then... the secret workmen are gathered, and they talk it over. And pick up a bit of the money. Now the music starts playing, and we see the various workmen preparing... a bit of rope, a long nail, this and that. Then they quickly make their way, across the roofs, through the alleys, and otherwise, to wherever the bad guys are, and... they kill them. While the music plays...

Anyway, if you have seen a few of these, you recognize the overall form, and know more or less what is going to happen. Heck, when we all watched Columbo, we knew darn well that he was going to catch that bad guy, one way or another. The fun was finding out just how he was going to do it this time. Same thing with the shigotonin, half the fun is seeing how they manage to kill the bad guys this time around.

There's a certain kind of story that we love to see or read again, and again, and again. Oh, sure, there are variations, but the basic formula really does need to be there.

So, give us that same old story, with a few new decorations, and we'll enjoy it! I mean, when you dance a waltz, you really don't need to do it a whole new way, right? So, get us out there on the dance floor, and lead us through the same old steps, okay?

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