You Might Find You Get What You Need

You Might Find You Get What You Need

Are you watching season 3 of Ted Lasso? The writing is excellent with setting things up and paying them off in satisfying ways. Which doesn’t necessarily mean giving the character (or viewer) what they think they want.

*Episode 7 spoilers ahead.* The team has been struggling this season to find success on the playing field. They are on quite the losing streak and it’s taking a toll on everyone. In episode 7 the coaches switch up their entire way of playing. The team is not thrilled with the new approach but they don’t have much to lose at this point.

When they implement the strategy in the next game, you’re probably thinking “This is where things turn around and they start winning.” But they get hammered in the first half and are down 3 to nothing. It’s more of the same, the losing and humiliation continue. Maybe it’s best to go back to their old style of play. At least that’s familiar.

One of the players suggests making a slight variation on the new style. It clicks for the team and they go out and immediately score. It’s a fantastic moment. But they lose the game.

The obvious answer would be to have them win the game. Instead, they scored a bigger win. They figured out how to work as a team. And when they do win the next game, that one will be even more meaningful. The season isn’t over so we don’t know if they’ll win the big game at the end.

My guess is that they will. They might not though. Here’s the secret, if they don’t, it will be set up in a way that will be meaningful and satisfying. It’s like the Rolling Stones said “You can’t always get what you want -You get what you need.”

Don’t give your characters (and readers) what they want, give them what they need. If you set it up properly it will be even more satisfying than what they thought they wanted.

-Write on.

Favorite Thing I Drew This Month

Another splash page from Woodland Hills. This one was kind of tough because it is covered with word balloons. All the kids have crowded around JB and are bombarding him with questions. I wanted it to feel claustrophobic and overwhelming for JB but for the drawing to read clearly.

Family Stuff

We went to the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books which is a giant book fair on the USC campus. I didn’t think to take any photos. It was nice to walk around, though it was one of the first really hot days of the year. So sunscreen for all.

River had a fun time searching for eggs at Easter. But he’s got some competition in the coming years. We also celebrated with a baby shower for baby number two. Sophia and I were ever so slightly nervous about this one.

When we were scheduled to do River’s baby shower he decided to nix those plans and come that day instead. Seven weeks early. I wrote a comic about it. Thanks for letting us eat cake baby number 2.