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Does going Darker And Edgier ever work in fictional works?

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TiggersAreGreat Since: Mar, 2011
#1: May 1st 2012 at 5:01:07 PM

I think that's a fair question.

On one hand, you have American Mc Gees Alice, which is Alice In Wonderland gone Darker and Edgier. Fortunately, this approach actually seemed to work!

On the other hand, you have the Star Wars Expanded Universe, which had gone DAE the minute New Jedi Order entered the scene. It seemed like a great idea at the time, but by the time Fate Of The Jedi came out, you have both the readers and the characters stating that this needs to be fixed!

edited 1st May '12 5:01:45 PM by TiggersAreGreat

Oh, Equestria, we stand on guard for thee!
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#2: May 1st 2012 at 5:04:13 PM

Does going Darker And Edgier ever work in fictional works?

On one hand, you have American Mc Gee's Alice, which is Alice in Wonderland gone Darker and Edgier. Fortunately, this approach actually seemed to work!

You answered your own question.

Darker and Edgier doesn't make things bad. Bad writing makes things bad.

ThatOneGuyNamedX Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#3: May 1st 2012 at 5:07:35 PM

Depends on how darker and edgier it is.

Compare, for example, Pre-Crisis DCU to Post-Crisis DCU. The latter is way darker, filled with death and sex and all, but in the long run, when they managed to balance out the good and the bad, they eventually managed to make the stories darker, more mature, yet altogether better stories than those before, like, say, the death and return of superman. Amazing. The last night (or whatever it was called, I read it in spanish) awesome. Kingdom Come, amazing. Grant Morrison's run on Batman, spectacular. Infinite Crisis, fucking amazing.

I'm not saying one is better than the other, I'm saying... no, wait, that's what I'm saying.

TamH70 Since: Nov, 2011 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
#4: May 1st 2012 at 5:07:55 PM

Methods of Rationality seems to be a bit Darker And Edgier than canon!Harry Potter books. I like it. Some don't.

ThatOneGuyNamedX Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#5: May 1st 2012 at 5:10:47 PM

That may have more to do with the creators rather than the work itself, really.

CodyTheHeadlessBoy The Great One from Parts Unknown Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Dating Catwoman
The Great One
#6: May 1st 2012 at 9:46:25 PM

It really depends on how it's written. If it's written in a mature fashion with more adult themes than yes some stories can benefit from it. What doesn't work is when you're trying to beat someone over the head with "We're not kidstuff anymore" and shoehorn in blood n' guts, swearing, Wangst, and clumsily written sex scenes that happpen for no reason other than to have them happen. That only impresses emotionally insecure manchildren and teenagers who force a chuckle at the end of Titanic to show what a badass they are.

"If everybody is thinking alike, somebody isn't thinking"- George S. Patton
eternalNoob Ded from yer mum Since: Oct, 2011 Relationship Status: Longing for my OTP
Ded
#7: May 2nd 2012 at 5:26:13 AM

It depends. If it's noticeable enough to be noted, and if it's subtle enough, that you still feel the overall tone of the series, then yes.

Take Megaman X, for example. It was darker, yet it still kept the charm of the classic series, while making it's own identity.

If you wanna PM me, send it to my mrsunshinesprinkles account; this one is blorked.
UltimatelySubjective Since: Jun, 2011
#8: May 2nd 2012 at 5:36:57 AM

I don't usually like darker and edgier, but it can work.

I would like to see more lighter and softer. In fact, going Lighter and Softer is probably harder.

TiggersAreGreat Since: Mar, 2011
#9: May 6th 2012 at 4:28:06 AM

There's Winnie The Pooh. Can you imagine that one being made Darker and Edgier? I can't. In fact, DAE would probably come off as forced in WTP!

Oh, Equestria, we stand on guard for thee!
JHM Apparition in the Woods from Niemandswasser Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hounds of love are hunting
Apparition in the Woods
#10: May 6th 2012 at 4:45:54 AM

[up] Well, if you were just raised on the Disney cartoons, the books themselves probably qualify.

I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.
UltimatelySubjective Since: Jun, 2011
#11: May 6th 2012 at 4:51:07 AM

How are the Books darker?

I can buy that they have a different tone and aren't quite so cutesy, but are they really darker? Although I admit I haven't read them.

JHM Apparition in the Woods from Niemandswasser Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hounds of love are hunting
Apparition in the Woods
#12: May 6th 2012 at 4:55:20 AM

Well, the first time that Kanga and Roo show up in the forest, the rest of the characters assume that the newcomers are Tasmanian tigers and that they'll all be eaten.

It's actually hilarious.

Also, Eeyore sounds like he's flat-out clinically depressed.

I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.
UltimatelySubjective Since: Jun, 2011
#13: May 6th 2012 at 5:00:53 AM

Ho ho, what jolly characters they are!

/oldtimey

The forest isn't supposed to be an Australian one, but they've heard of Tasmanian Tigers? And there's two kangaroos who live there? Strange.

Although I guess it might have been to add diversity to the cast and make the setting seem slightly exotic.

JHM Apparition in the Woods from Niemandswasser Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: Hounds of love are hunting
Apparition in the Woods
#14: May 6th 2012 at 5:07:51 AM

It was the turn of the century. Tasmanian tigers were still around and people read a lot of adventure books and things. They simply confused two very different Australian animals. Really, really badly.

There was already a tiger in the woods, however, which makes things even more curious. I mean, yes, most of them are supposed to be stuffer (Rabbit and the Owl being the possible exceptions), but still...

edited 6th May '12 5:08:03 AM by JHM

I'll hide your name inside a word and paint your eyes with false perception.
ThatOneGuyNamedX Since: Aug, 2011 Relationship Status: Drift compatible
#15: May 6th 2012 at 8:36:40 AM

Ace Combat Zero

Darker and Edgier done right. Very much so. Why? Because it's subtle.

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