More Thoughts on Web Soaps

A few months ago, I wrote about my feelings about web soaps and whether or not I thought they were a fad or the future. Now with a lot more series having been produced, or in production and/or pre-production, I want to explore this a bit further with some pros and their potentially related cons.

One of the pros of web soaps is discovering new talent whether it is someone with a creative idea or amazing acting skill that we’ve never seen before. With less daytime soaps to discover new talent, and professional theaters not being accessible to many, web shows may be one of the few ways to find original content. The con is finding the best of it while wading through some things that may not be so good. Something being original doesn’t mean it will be awesome.

Another pro is we can see actors that we may not see otherwise. A good number of actors with a lot of talent are out of work as soaps have smaller casts or the particular show they are most known for has gone off the air. It is possible to come to appreciate someone’s work that one didn’t enjoy before, but it ties into a potential con. As imagine loving someone’s work and then losing faith in their abilities due to their part in a web show. Being disappointed after being so excited to see them is not fun. Unfortunately, from lurking around the net, I’ve seen this happen, and I feel for those viewers.

Something that could be a pro or a con is the learning curve. You may see something in raw form, with potential, but due to how some of these shows are produced things cannot be fixed until the next series of episodes are made. Experimentation is great, but due to limited budgets, we may not get the best possible show.

Just like every other creative work, things are subjective. People telling me something is good, doesn’t make it so. It is hard to know what is truth and what is hype. Also, if I really enjoy something, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be something others feel compelled to watch. The shows with the loudest supporters may not be the greatest, and the unknown gems may stay that way.

For those who make these programs, I hope you find an audience. And for those who watch them, I hope one or more series fulfill your need as a viewer.