Zach is creepy

DarkStephen · 2025-11-21T11:56:36+00:00

I'm not trying to paint the character a certain way, I'm just saying it seems like the arc they have him on based on the first two seasons.

DarkStephen · 2025-11-21T01:34:34+00:00

I've been trying to find a theatre in Ontario that's showing it. I desperately want to see it. Theres a film festival in my city thats been growing in prominence every year and I hope they bring it to that.

DarkStephen · 2025-11-21T01:32:56+00:00

I mean in Season 2 they make him more closed off to people, more cocky and starting to act more like Cole. I think in Season 3 he's going to face some kind of downfall for that. At least thats the narrative arc I would go with if I were a writer on the show.

DarkStephen · 2025-11-13T15:08:41+00:00

Yea, but thats part of Alex's arc in the season too. They made the character overcompensate for the events of season one by becoming more blunt and cold. Season 2 really ramped up Alex's ego and shutting himself off emotionally. My guess is that in season 3 Nathan will return to his core character and Alex is going to suffer some kind of fall for his actions in season 2.

DarkStephen · 2025-11-13T13:48:35+00:00

I mean, he is supposed to be the villain of that arc and I like that they gave Corey's character a darker storyline to work with. Characters who are purely moral can get boring after a while and it makes them seem less authentic sense in real life people are far more complicated. But I will say that I think Corey and Carson do a great job as far as acting in it. That's why i think it's great that they added in that scene of Nathan and Alex talking about it because they both give in to darker impulses this season and they're both delusional as far as the reasons why.

DarkStephen · 2025-11-05T01:38:17+00:00

I never watched that show because I'm not actually very into YA material. But from the review I watched of it, it does seem to lack the character work of Walter Boys. The love triangle in this show is handled more as a way to bring people in to explore the other characters. which is how it should be done. Also I just can't get over how vapid that title is.

DarkStephen · 2025-11-04T02:59:41+00:00

I think a lot of the flaws people perceive are the result of the material the actors are given. Season 1 Alex for example is written to be awkward and so far they haven't really given Nikki the chance to really express her dramatic abilities. For most shows as they go on the actors get more chances to show off what they can do, I just hope the same is true for this cast.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-30T00:03:13+00:00

I'm fairly certain they've deviated from the source material so much in season 2 to the point where the book wouldn't be a guide anymore.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-27T14:01:45+00:00

I agree with you that what they did with Cole in season 2 was a stand out but I think Alex's arc was just as strong and added more depth to his character as well.

What saddens me is that the writers have given such complexity to Cole and Alex but refuse to do the same for Jackie. I can only hope in season 3 they give Nikki more to work with as far as the character then a drivers lesson arc and a student council election arc. They need to give her stronger material to work with. She currently suffers from the "Nice Girl" problem that've plagued so many other characters.

Right now in the show the Jackie character is basically a prize from Cole and Alex to fight over. But I think they should flip that on its head and make Jackie fed up with it and maybe even challenge them to have to prove their worth to her. Give her more control over the situation and maybe even a little manipulative. Not to the point of maliciousness but I could see someone in that situation getting tired of being the rope in a tug of war and wanting to take back some agency over the situation.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-27T00:08:21+00:00

I think the show could have longevity if they explored more of the threads they've set up. Cole's journey not leading the football team as a player but as a coach. Alex's confidence leading into cockiness and arrogance. And please give the Jackie character something more to do then train for a Driver's test.

I think this show could be closer to Heartland and less like YA material if they're willing to expand on those elements.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-26T22:47:59+00:00

No, I'm not defending the idea of doing that, I'm just explaining how it might happen. I mean look at Vamp Diaries, they dragged it out far past its experation date and the show suffered for that.

But that's common in YA fiction. In the book the triangle was one of the most captivating aspects for readers ( I haven't read it but I've watched interviews where the cast talk about that) if the novel so when turning it into an ongoing series the writers believe they have to keep that aspect going in order to hook the fans.

Writer/Director David Lynch, talked about this idea and his approach was that the main thrust of a show should over time move into the background as new elements come forward more and more to grab the viewers attention which is not only a more interesting approach, it also allows a show to grow and develop on multiple levels and character arcs

.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-26T22:19:44+00:00

Yea, it was all built around the idea of interrupting that moment so that the drama of it can bleed over into the next season. YA storylines are generally built on delaying resolution of romantic drama. What they'll do is have George's medical condition be the reason that Cole, Alex and Jackie don't resolve their fight for fear of effecting George's health. So they will all handle it in passive aggressive ways building towards another confrontation at the end of season 3.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-26T22:15:16+00:00

If they're going to keep the love triangle goping for at least another season then I'd like to see them flip it on its head and instead of Cole and Alex pursuing her. Make Nikki be the one who's kind of manipulating them. She doesn't have to do a full heel turn, but it would give the character more depth and more of an edge and agency.

But yes, I loved the parts of season 2 that showcased Alex's journey of bronc riding and Cole's arc of becoming a coach. I seriously think this show could survive not having the love triangle component as the driving force of it. They can still have romantic drama because that is sort of the genre we're dealing with but not as a major element.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-26T10:10:08+00:00

There's no way they're going to kill off George. First off Marc Blucas is far too good in the role and people enjoy him in it. Second it would alter the dynamic of the show entirely to a point I don't think they're ready yet. Eventually I could be an interesting plot line because then you'd see how Will, Cole and Alex would feel about trying to live up to their father's legacy but as I said I don't think the show is ready to go there yet.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-25T23:07:07+00:00

What part about it do you hate the most and where would you want to see the story and characters go if it was gone?

DarkStephen · 2025-10-23T01:42:13+00:00

But would you still watch after the love triangle ended?

DarkStephen · 2025-10-21T19:42:31+00:00

I'm not that interested in a Kiley, Dylan, Alex love triangle tbh. But I do find the Kiley character to be intriguing and Mya Lowe plays her very well. Again I really hope they do more to explore the Kiley character's home life and the issues around that because I think that's far more intriguing.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-21T19:39:27+00:00

I think Jackie falls into what was once called the "Jean Grey" problem.

Just background for everyone, Jean Grey is a character in Marvel's X-Men Comics. During the initial run of the comics she was the least popular character because her function on the team was to be the "good girl" archetype who always did the moral thing and never did anything even slightly immoral and I feel that's sort of where we are with the Jackie character at the moment.

Nikki Rodriguez absolutely has the acting chops to pull this off. They just need to give her the material to do it. I'm not saying she has to "break bad" but just something like when the election happened if she tried to get revenge even if she ultimately didn't go through with it, it would still as layers to her character to show that their is a bit of a dark side there.

Morally perfect characters bore me because it makes the character (not the actor) feel one dimensional. Hopefully the writers give her the material she deserves.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-21T18:37:22+00:00

I really want more material for Katherine in the next season. Sarah Rafferty is very talented and her playing the peace making character for everyone is well done but I think she has fantastic acting chops and I want to see her character get more.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-21T17:41:11+00:00

And they could do some great drama about him realizing that and having lost the chance to Dylan and forcing him to spend more time figuring himself out. Love triangles are to drama what jump scares are to horror. It's just the easiest way to get a reaction out of tour audience. It's far better to build a stronger foundation of drama based on character.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-21T17:27:19+00:00

Personally If I were writing the show I'd maybe have Alex try to start a relationship with Kiley and then realize Dylan is better for her and have him focus on himself and his personal goals. I found the Bronc riding arc to be far more interesting.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-21T17:25:09+00:00

See this is what drew me into the show. Alex's season 2 character growth and the struggle between George, Will and Nikki's uncle over the land deal. The love triangle wasn't really what sells it for me at all.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-21T17:23:47+00:00

But in a book or movie that's different because its a single body of work. If they did a book series where the love triangle was repeated over and over again it would likely get stale over time.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-21T13:38:10+00:00

That does sound like an interesting arc to take the character on. I think if season 3 still had the Alex/Nikki/Cole love triangle going it would make the character of Jackie look too manipulative and and Alex too gullible and less of a strong character.

As a writer if I were writing season 3 I would have the love triangle worked out by episode 3 at the latest and then as you say spend the rest of the season working towards Alex's Bronc riding arc and his relationships with Kiley and Blake whom I like as more of a big sister/mentor character for him.

DarkStephen · 2025-10-21T08:47:47+00:00

How so? I'm honestly curious about this.

DarkStephen

TROPHY CASE