Suspension of Disbelief. It’s a common enough term for writers of fiction. It’s a fine line to walk when writing certain kinds of fiction. But, the average person may not quite understand what that term is.
Here’s the simplest definition: suspension of disbelief: a willingness to suspend one’s critical faculties and believe the unbelievable; sacrifice of realism and logic for the sake of enjoyment.
That’s all good. I’m willing to suspend my inner critic for the sake of good entertainment. If you watch anything with a superhero, anything science fiction, anything fantasy, you throw out all critical faculties and sacrifice all realism from the get go. In fact, it’s expected. That’s what makes these characters . . . well . . . superhuman. We don’t want these characters doing normal stuff (well at least all the time).
But, how willing are you to go with this suspension of disbelief while watching (or reading for that matter) your favorite TV shows or movies with average people as characters? Me? Not too far actually. Last night I was watching Lethal Weapon. I like the show. It’s cute. Maybe a bit too fussy and silly at times, but I like the character developments and the relationships between the characters. Normally.
However, the storylines are getting a bit too . . . unbelievable for me now. In last night’s episode, both lead characters (Riggs and Murtaugh) jumped out of an airplane without parachutes. You see, the parachute (yes there was only 1) had been accidentally dropped out of the plane a few seconds earlier (during one of those fussy silly scenes).
Anyway, needing to get out of the plane, which was destined to crash, Riggs pushed Murtaugh out first then jumped himself, made a beeline for the rapidly descending parachute, grabbed it, strapped it on, then caught up with a flailing Murtaugh, wrapped his arms around him, pulled the cord and they gracefully landed on the ground.
Say what? NOOOOOOOOO. It was just too much suspension of disbelief for me to care about the rest of the episode. This is the stuff of superheros, not regular LA cops who NEVER jump out of airplanes. I was fine with all the other corny stuff in the show, except that parachute scene. My brain could not wrap itself around any of that stuff happening to average people. I could not suspend disbelief.
Is the show ruined for me now? (Shrugs shoulders.) Maybe. Maybe not. I’m not expecting anything other than silly entertainment from the show. But, if there are too many more scenes like the one in last night’s episode, I may not be a fan any longer.
Has this ever happened to you while reading a book? It has for me. I hate it when characters just keep meeting punch after punch after punch, then they run barefoot for miles through the jungle while bad guys with big guns chase them and shoot at them, then they repel down a cliff, jump into a river, swim over the waterfall and somehow end up at a cabin when the lead characters immediately have wild monkey sex while swinging from a chandelier. Ummmmm. No. Not going to happen. Not in my mind anyway. My suspension of disbelief has been compromised and I’m no longer engaged in this book. It’s gone too far.
Where do you draw the line? Are you willing to keep watching, or reading, after the eye roll scene(s) or do you tune out after the suspension of disbelief as been pushed too far?
Word of the day: Cabochon
Fun fact about me: This suspension of disbelief is why I struggle to watch fantasy or science fiction. I just. Don’t. Get. It. I try though.
Original post my Jansen Schmidt, March 2018. Photos courtesy Google Images.
jansenschmidt 
I’m with you, especially in contemporary books or shows, when things are just too improbable. It’s annoying. In fantasy, though, they can do just about anything and I’ll be okay with it, so long as things don’t come too easily. I want the characters to work at it and I need to worry that they might not succeed. If I stop caring about the characters, I’ll stop watching/reading…which is always a bummer. I like to see things out to the end!
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I’m much more critical of real life, contemporary stories about normal people than I am about anything bordering on paranormal, supernatural, fantasy or science fiction. Characters like James Bond are hard for me to get behind, because he’s borderline superhero. Maybe he could get out of one or two scraps with a few scrapes and bruises, but once he gets shot, or stabbed, or poisoned, he cannot keep going for very much longer. If he does, you’ve lost me. Spider Man, on the other hand, can keep going no matter what. In fact, I’d be super bummed if he didn’t.
But, we all have our opinions. I’m even more critical when I’m reading a book then when I’m watching TV. Being a writer does that to a person.
Thanks for chiming in. I love to hear other peoples’ opinions. Have a great week.
Patricia
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Scenes like your Lethal Weapon example jerk me right out of the story. I call these “yeah right” moments. I do keep watching, but if there are too many the show will lose me. It happens for me a lot more with movies and TV than books. That’s one reason why I wasn’t a big fan of Star Wars: Rogue One – too many close calls one right after another, it stretched my belief too far even for science fiction.
My daughter left a cabochon ring on the desk where I’m sitting right now. 🙂
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I’m a lot more lax with science fiction and fantasy stories than I am with “real life” stories, but I agree, if someone comes way to close one too many times, I’m like, “give me a break.” That’s why I like stories with super surprising plot twists where a character does something clever to get away rather than something involving pure brute force or use of a gun. When that happens, the character seems so much more relatable for me. I could see myself getting out of a sticky situation by using my brain rather than my nonexistent brawn or inability to outrun anyone. Now those are good stories. When a kid or an underdog gets out of a bad situation because they find some clever way to outsmart the bad guys – give me more of those stories.
So, your daughter left you a gem huh? Cool.
Patricia
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I am not much of a sci-if or fantasy watcher. But I don’t watch much television beyond a couple of shows and sports. Baseball and football and an occasional Indy 500. I do have a favorite show – Madam Secretary and it sometimes, pushes the limits of belief, too. I mean I want to believe, but it’s simply not that easy. So I guess I know where you are coming from… and I’ll continue to watch until I find a better show. And I have no idea about your word of the week! Have great week!
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It seems like more and more these days writers are pushing the envelope of what’s acceptable realism and what stretches our belief system just a little bit too far. I’d except sitcoms to be over the top stupid with antics that nobody would ever really do, but in crime dramas or legal dramas I’m expecting something a little bit more believable. I don’t really know what goes on at a crime scene investigation but I can pretty much tell you when I see something that I’m almost positive would NEVER happen and that’s when they lose me.
Thanks for stopping by. I hope spring is knocking on your door soon up there. It’s been a wild few weeks.
Patricia
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I love sci-fi, so my suspension of disbelief runs pretty deep, especially in books. I love dystopian (don’t ask me why – I have no idea!) and characters who survive against all odds, performing magnificent feats, well, I think how cool it would be to be in such great shape and be that lucky. I’ll dismiss my inner critic’s theories and continue reading, unless the characters and plot were barely holding my attention. Then I’m likely to put the book down (or turn off the TV) and that’s the end of that.
I haven’t seen Lethal Weapon. I put it on once, thinking it was the movie, and when I discovered it was a TV show, I felt like I’d been tricked, so I changed the channel in a huff!
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Some people can let their imaginations go and get on board with a lot of funky ideas. I sometimes wish I had that capability. Only when I watch films about superheros do I just forget that what they’re doing is not humanly possible. Because, well . . . superhero!
Thanks for stopping by. I’m sorry you were “tricked” with the Lethal Weapon show.
Patricia
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