विक्टोरियस Article: A Retraction and a Cade/Jori observation

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A Retraction and a Cade/Jori observation

posted by LLCoyote

Wow it's been months since I've written an article, and I have to say it's been out of sheer laziness and lack of time.

As I've कहा I had minor surgery to my foot, which makes me unable to walk. This is actually really great, because I've literally watched every single विक्टोरियस start to finish.

Re-watching everything has made me realize something about Cat. I've कहा earlier that I thought she was getting stupider, but now that I've watched it all over one after the other, I don't think that her intelligence has dropped TOO much.

Yes she's slightly worse now, but as I watch her, it isn't her mind that becomes annoying and obnoxious, it's her mannerisms. Now Ariana प्रशंसकों don't murder me, I think Ari is a great actress (I think the people who say she's a bad actress don't know how to judge an actor's ability). She has a great voice, and despite what rumor says I think she's a really sweet person... but it's her अभिनय that is making me dislike Cat.

Most likely, the writers have TOLD Ariana to act the way she is. What's changed is that she does that horrible man-ish overly excited voice with an almost growl in the tone या her voice is SUPER high. Yes, her voice has always been high, but I watched the third episode and then the last one, then an interview with Ari's regular voice, and they all sounded different to me (I could be hearing things though).The expressions on her face have changed a LOT, her mouth is open a lot, her eye brows are constantly either high up या dragged down, and her eyes either bug out या are half lidded. I प्यार Ari's face, I think she's BEAUTIFUL!!!!! I hate what she's doing with it. When she speaks, she's constantly making an overly extravagant arm gesture या swaying on her heels like a giddy child. When she giggles she looks like a four साल old and she is almost always fiddling with her freaking hair! (Which can be really cute when used in context). Her moods या actions are constantly being announced as she does them. She's constantly running या skipping as opposed to simply walking somewhere, and she is much less a part of the conversation than she used to be. She used to 'zone out' every now and then, now it's almost constant and when she does come back, it's usually to say something random.

What bothers me is Cat is becoming solely a comedy fixture and not a main character with different aspects. Hell, I think BECK has और character development than Cat. Really, what do we know about her other than, she likes to flirt, बिना सोचे समझे crap, her mother is strange, and her brother is a freak? Cat has been sad and cried a couple of times but we haven't seen her really react like a normal teenager in a serious situation since Cat's New Boyfriend. Seriously, her best episode. We saw her happy, we saw her random, we saw her sad and hurt, we saw her angry, but there was a limit, a range that she didn't go out of in that episode. When they make her constantly over react to things, या they never just let her make a normal facial expression, they make her unrelatable. Used to be, for me, Cat represented the ditzyer moments in life. We all have them, but that doesn't make us four years old. I want to see Cat as a real person with substance. I think it's common knowledge that very few complex emotions go on inside of Cat, and I want that to change. I want to see Cat. I want her personality, her thoughts, to be laid out on the line and I want her to seem human again. I liked eccentric Cat, not extreme Cat.

Now, I should probably put this in another article, but I don't want spam the board, and I'm pretty lazy so it's going here.

Does anyone else find Tori/Jade and Jade/Cat relationships strange? We see in the first season that Jade is very tolerant of Cat, she seems to favor her out of her friends. Season two comes along and the screaming कचरा, जंक, रद्दी starts (I've been over this I swear I'm not just recycling rants here) and now, season three they are very slowly mending that relationship. (I hope it reverts back to season one but it breaks my दिल knowing that it won't.) She still shouts at Cat frequently.

Now TORI on the other hand has been shouted at once. Yup ONE time Jade has used her scream on Tori. The affection that Jade scarcely fed Cat in the first season now seems to be LAVISHED on Tori. Jade's snide टिप्पणियाँ toward Tori have gotten less frequent, and Jade now tolerates almost everything she does. She'll go as far as to touch, या let herself be touched द्वारा Tori. We've had three Cade hugs, and just as many Jori hugs. But Cat has had to 'steal' hugs from Jade twice, Tori has only had to bribe Jade once and has NEVER been pushed away.

Jade openly insults and yells at Cat और frequently than Tori and it's just freaking WEIRD. It's like the writers couldn't let Jade actually have multiple फ्रेंड्स so they had to give Cat the boot because they wanted to play with the 'antagonist comes around' plot. That really upsets me. I know it's just a kid's show, but I प्यार Cade, romantic या friendly, I value that friendship. They've had it for years.

Tori has come into Hollywood Arts and taken, roles, गाना parts, and performance slots from Jade. I'm OK with that, she's the main character... but I draw a line at Tori taking freaking friendships. Yes, Jade is still technically फ्रेंड्स with Cat. Yes, Cat and Tori are फ्रेंड्स and Jade and Tori are 'friends' but I feel like Tori is now a wedge between Cat and Jade. They've both moved their attention to Tori and no one cares about Cade anymore, heck even the FANFICTION writers have done this! It's Jori Jori Jori and I प्यार Jori, but Cat's relationship with Jade DOES matter, they were फ्रेंड्स before Tori, and I think it's only fair that they're best फ्रेंड्स now.

It's strange, because Cat is still Jade's obvious go to. When she's bored, she's with Cat. When her house was being fumigated, instead of going to stay with her parent in a hotel या at the house या a family friend या even with her other parent, Jade stayed at Cat's. I really don't feel like she was FORCED to be over there but it really annoyed me they tried to make it seem like she was. Jade's tough girl act used to not pertain to Cat, in Freak the Freak Out, Jade made no attempt nor felt any inclanation to explain why she was hanging out with Cat. Now in both Cat Crashes Jade's House and Bedtime Story, Jade denies her desire to be around Cat. Then, we see Jade over at Cat's for seemingly no reason. Then they seem to change their minds again, having Jade randomly choose to hang out at Cat's (that made me happy). Even then though, Jade was cruel to Cat a couple of times.

To be honest, I feel like Jade has been changed as well as Cat. The breakup was good for Jade, it's made her settle down a bit, but really they've destroyed a little of Jade's depth. Jade can no longer control her emotions, she is often violent (used to be she'd get आप back in a sneaky way, not a physical confrontation), she has no patience with anyone, and until Tori Goes Platinum Jade wasn't really displaying many different emotions at all. My प्रिय side to Jade, (which other people disagree with me on/ don't think exists या ever existed) was when Jade was matronly, and seemed to mother people in the group. Like Cat, या Sinjin in that one video. It's one thing that made me प्यार her, because I thought it was interesting. I don't SEE that in a lot of other characters.

I thought it was really interesting that Cat and Jade could be friends, yet Jade maintained that mildly matronly role. Now that side of Jade has dissipated, and so has her relationship with Cat.

My POINT before that rant, was that it's like the writers cannot intelligently handle to intelligent friendships on the show. If they focus on Jori, Cade will never reach it's full potential. I don't think that's fair and I swear it's not just the pain meds that are making me emotional, it really, legitimately upsets me that they're doing that. It isn't fair. Cade was FIRST.

Alright, do your eyes hurt? my fingers do. I'll shut up. Later cupcakes.

Clara_Valentina, tegan15 and 3 others like this

MJsValentine I think that Ariana's performance in season one as Cat was terrific. The way she delivered her lines was great. The timing, the pace, her voice...everything matched up very well. I also think that her body language was a lot more natural and her facial expressions weren't exaggerated. In my opinion, Cat was a very interesting, yet a realistic character in season one. And despite her mood swings, her hyper, absent-minded and ditzy nature, she still was...human. Now when I watch the new episodes I have the feeling that I'm watching a toddler and not a teenager. She behaves one, she talks like one, and even the other characters treat her like a child. It's a little saddening because her character had so much potential to become really great and unique. I also find her to be really irritating lately. Sometimes I just want to kick my TV out of the window whenever I hear her overly high-pitched voice. And maybe it's just me but everything Cat does looks so unnatural and forced to me. I remember watching the 'Bed Times Story' video and I felt that her portrayal was a little stiff, and whenever Cat laughed it seemed so fake to me. And I don't blame Ariana one bit. I agree with you that she probably only does as she is told. I miss Cat from season one so much. Everything....even her old look! Oh and I know how you feel about Cade. The same thing happened with my favourite relationship on [i]Glee[/i].There were those two really closed friends, but then the writers decided to make one of the girls best friends with the Tori-like character on the show. Ironically they couldn't stand each other when they first met, just like Jori. Oh and they brushed the other girl under the carpet. Totally forgot that she still exists. I hate it when the writers can't get their stuff together. It isn't that hard to have two relationships at the same time, right?! Okay, I'm sorry for the mini-article.

LLCoyote Ugh, I agree with everything you just said! I don't understand why it's so hard to allow other relationships that don't revolve around Tori to develop. I get her getting the other stuff because she's the main, but there is NO WAY that pertains to friendships. To be honest, I've seen a lot of hate on Ariana (I've been reading that stupid confessions blog) and I think it's really weird. I've always thought she was a really good actress. I mean no she isn't perfect but she started out on Broadway where you focus more on vocals than acting. But it seems to me that now she is unnatural. She isn't playing Cat well because they've made Cat weird, and I could be way off but sometimes she appears uncomfortable. Idk... that's just me. And I love mini articles xD gives me something to do.

MJsValentine I agree! I think it's really strange because while Dan's other shows had a similar formula as to Victorious (the lead getting whatever they want), they still developed and shifted the attention to relationships which didn't revolve around the main character. I accept that this show is about Tori but nobody is going to get hurt when you pay attention to other relationships as well, right? They did that on iCarly and Zoey 101, why not Victorious as well? I mean, they did focus on relationships like CatxJade or RobbiexAndre in the first season, but that was about it. I honestly believe that the writers are just being lazy. Oh, that confession blog can be too cruel at times. The amount of irrational hate which Ariana receives is beyond ridiculous. I remember how there was once this big wave of hate against her because she got this little heart tattoo on her toe. I think she's a better singer, but I still think that she's really great at acting as well. I'd loved to see her play another role other than Cat, to be honest. It's strange how everybody out of the cast, a part from her and Leon, have been on other TV shows and movies. Ah well. Oh and no, it's not only you; sometimes I get this vibe that Ariana doesn't feel comfortable with what she's doing either. Some things she has to do on the show are just degrading and some times the script is equivalent to a pile of canary droppings. "Does my thumb look Spanish?", is the dumbest thing I've heard on a TV show in quite a while. I don't think that even the best actor/actress could have done something properly with this line. Oh and yay! Give me something to do as well! I'm so bored and I'm getting tired of watching the Olympics all day long xD

LLCoyote ^ Victorious seems very different from iCarly and Zoey101 to me. Everyone compares Dan Schneider shows, and I don't know why. Yes, some elements have been the same but Dan usually tries to switch things up a little... I feel like in Victorious he's switched it up a lot. The humor is very blunt, there is a lot of sexual tension (this may just because they've cast a bunch of incredibly attractive people), they don't seem afraid of poking fun or getting into controversial issues... and the writing is a bit lazy at times. I think it's great, it's my favorite show, but the way they ignore some things that need to be addressed or just don't pay attention to other things and think we won't notice is ridiculous. For instance, it took until season THREE to be told why Trina was in Hollywood arts, something people wanted to know from season one. We don't know why Robbie has Rex, we don't know why Jade is so angry. I scarcely remember Andre and Robbie having a conversation over three words long in the last season and half of the plots they do start (Jade Gets Crushed ect) they abandon. I don't care how many people say 'that's just the type of show it is' because regardless that's not the type of show anyone wants. Drake and Josh never randomly abandoned their plot lines, (ha now I compared them xD) theirs weren't usually as serious as Victorious either. I feel like if they're going to focus on relationships (which is what this show mostly does) romantic or otherwise, they should be prepared to commit to that. If they don't want to move it to teen nick fine, what ever, but you're either going to have a show with random situations and comedy (Amanda Show, All That) or you're going to have one that is mostly about relationships with some jokes/funny scenarios. I feel like they're trying to have both... and it isn't working. THEY were the ones that took a chance by making a big cast, with quirky characters. They had to know we'd want to understand these characters and why they are the way they are. Yet they still want it to be constantly funny. I feel like Tori Goes Platinum was the most serious episode of Victorious ever. Jokes were minimal, drama was high. I didn't love TGP but that was because of Cat's role (which I found highly offensive) and because most of the humor in that episode was forced. Mason, was not funny, he was a jerk. What I did like was the emotion in that episode, I felt horrible for both Jade and Tori. Jade was missing Beck, and Tori was going through a LOT. They showed that in intimate detail, and I wish they'd do that with everything and every relationship on the show. They've worked so hard on Bade, Jori, and Cabbie, the relationships between other characters remains almost entirely unexplored. I'm not sure if they're lazy, or their heads are just spinning trying to keep up with every one. Seriously, they have six main characters (Beck, Tori, Cat, Jade, Andre, Robbie), four frequently reoccurring characters (Trina, Sikowitz, Sinjin, Rex), and another four characters that appear from time to time (Holly, David, Burf, Mrs. Lee) then they have the random plot characters that are there for that specific episode. That is a GIANT cast, and I can see how they could loose track and not be able to please everyone. But on the other hand, they bit off the bite, now I think they should chew it. Especially relationships between main characters. Let's face it, Cat and Jade are two of the most liked people on that show. People love Ariana and Liz. Personally I don't follow Cat/Ariana as closely as Liz so Idk for sure, but I know Jade has never been absent from one single episode, and her name has been in at least three titles. They're the ones that made Cat and Jade best friends, they got us involved and interested in that relationship, I'm sorry if they don't want to continue to develop it because they've doing other things, but that's too bad. You can't make two people bff's then have them treat each other like garbage. (Wow, that's really jumbled, my bad I'm multitasking.) Oh and I heard about the tattoo xD though I can't say much because I'm insanely fond of body art. People are incredibly cruel on there, and perverse. I mean, I won't lie, I'm a lesbian, I've wrote some less than classy fanfics, and I can think less than holy thoughts about some of the cast members, but I think some of the things they say are a little disrespectful/scarey. Interesting, but disturbing/sick/and cruel. Though it has made me rethink some of the things I've said, or more so the way I've said them, so it has it's ups and downs. I do think Ariana and Leon focus solely on music when they're off Victorious, because I can't see any other explanation for them not getting acting gigs, they're both really good and really attractive people (shallow but that's show business). I know for a fact Ariana is really wrapped up in her music, and Leon just came out with like three songs recently, and I don't imagine that's easy. I can't write music that's for sure. (I'm angry with the Olympics, I want to see my equestrian sports and they won't give them to me!)

MJsValentine Hmm...I can only speak for myself, but the only reason why I have ever compared those shows to each other is because they were all created by one and the same person, and because they share the same writing staff. Sounds like a foolish reason, I know. Oh and I probably shouldn't have used the world 'formula', so I'm sorry if it came of as if I suggested that all the shows are the same and (should) follow the same pattern, because I don't think so. I do think that the shows do share some similar traits, but at the same time they are different. I don't know what it is, but you can easily recognise that the shows were written and produced by Dan Schneider without having a glance at the opening and/or ending credits. But I do agree with you that Victorious stands out a mile in contrast to the other shows I’ve mentioned before. There are some things which I’ve liked a lot on the previous shows, which I’d also love to see on Victorious. I.e. the way the relationships were developed. I’m also desperately waiting for a same-sex kiss to occur on Victorious only because it has already happened on Drake & Josh and iCarly. I guess it’s a silly reason to hold your hopes on, but that’s just me. (My apologies for the confusion. My brain was a pile of rotten, strawberry-flavoured jelly when I wrote my previous post at 1.a.m.) Well, sometimes I don’t understand what the writers are doing and what they actually want. As you’ve said, it was their choice to have a huge cast and they created all these dynamic characters, not us. It is their job to make the audience interested, and they did a fantastic job with that, but it is also their duty to give us some explanation. It’s natural that the viewers are going to be curious as to why certain characters behave the way they do. I can understand that they have a lot to work and deal with, but then again, it was their decision to have a big cast with so many interesting characters. So I don’t understand the lack of willingness of giving us some back-story. They wanted to make us curious, they wanted us to be interested, and they wanted to make us understand those characters, so it’s their job to provide the audience with answers. Or what’s the whole point of having so many eccentric figures?! Just because it’s fun?! Eh, no. They’ve made the bed and now they have to lie on it. It also bothers me how they tease us sometimes. It has been mentioned before that Cat has psychological problems, that Robbie’s mum has moved out and back in, and that Jade’s parents are divorced, and that her father doesn’t accept her for the person she is. But they don’t bother to dig in a little deeper. To be fair, most of these things have been stated in rather comedic situations, but at the same time the writers are toying with the audience, which isn’t really pleasant. I also refuse to believe that the writers aren’t able to give us some back-story because this is a kids’ show and things might get too serious. I understand that the series has a lot of innuendo (honestly, which children’s show doesn’t?) in order to attract the older audience, but compared to any other kids’ show (with adult/teen references); Victorious has gotten away with A LOT. I.e. Sikowitz going all LSD on a coconut, Cat’s Bibble addiction or the jokes about Holly having an affair with another man. A kid might not notice those things, but they are still quite blatant and very serious. They are there and hard to ignore. The writers should seriously make up their minds about what they want. They bring up a serious storyline but then randomly drop it, presumably because it’s too [i]mature[/i]. But what’s the point in having plot like that, when you are going to ditch it anyway?! I also think that they have a hard time in balancing the seriousness out with comedy. Sometimes you have a serious situation and then a character says something random and tries too hard to be funny in order to stop the atmosphere of becoming too serious. I.e. in Tori Goes Platinum or at the end of The Worst Couple. It can work if it’s properly done but most of the time this isn’t the case with Victorious, which is a real shame. I also don’t understand the business of developing a relationship and then wrecking it the next moment. With Cade I get this impression that they think it is funny when Jade screams at Cat, so the writers think it’s worth it to ruin a great relationship for the laughs. Ugh. And this is a lot more bothersome for the reasons you have already mentioned. (Ok, I’m rambling, sorry.) Oh, I see. It’s part of my daily routine to hear such perverse and scary things, because of all the people around me and because that’s the mentality of the society I live in. I live in Europe and the people here are quite open-minded about certain things and they don’t mind expressing them in the public...ahem. I stick out like a sore thumb with my mentality, though. I was born here but raised in a very religious and a strict traditional family (my parents are from Sri Lanka and are Muslim), so “good values” and “morals” have been injected into my head ever since I was a kid. However, I’m not by any means a “prude”. I’m actually an atheist (oh how my mum has no idea) and have a different look on life than I was taught. I’m quite tolerant, I just haven’t lived my life properly yet xD But I do agree with what you’ve said about the blog. That’s true. I forgot that Ariana is going to come out with an album in the near future. I don’t think she’s really interested in an acting career outside of Nickelodeon. I might be wrong. I do hope that we get to see her play another role one day. (I feel with you. The TV channels here only broadcast the sports we participate in and we truly suck. So no boxing and football/soccer for me.)

stellamusa101 stop giving long comments, if u want to give it long and longer make it as an article!!

LLCoyote ^If you don't want to read them don't but the point of the opinion articles I write is both to get my opinion out and hear what others have to say. If we made a new freaking article every time that we commented, the entire board would be filled with random crap that makes no sense. If you want to read a short article without capitalization and tiny comments, I'm sure they're easy to find. Also if your comment really isn't about the article, no one wants to hear what you have to say. Stop being lazy and read/comment appropriately, or click away... it isn't very hard.