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Recently, I watched the first episode of an old series, Prison Break, because I wanted to see Wentworth Miller in action (he’s the physical inspiration for one of the heroes of my latest series). I enjoyed that episode, found the premise intriguing, and positively adored Wentworth. Yet I have no desire to watch any more episodes. I tried to figure out why. Is it the dark milieu? That’s what Claudia says put her off. But I love the series Criminal Minds and Law and Order: SVU, and they don’t come much darker than that. So it had to be the prison thing. I never wanted to watch Oz either.
Then it occurred to me that there were other fictional shows I had no interest in, shows that were (and some that still are) very popular. The Office. Lost. ER. Scrubs. That’s when it dawned on me. I don’t like shows that take place in only one setting, especially if it’s an institutional or corporate setting (I gather that The Office takes place in other settings, too, but all the bits I ever saw were in an office, the place I find most soul-less). I don’t seem to mind sitcoms that take place in a home, although I only watch two of them regularly, so obviously I don’t seek them out. And I don’t consider a city to be “one setting” since it has such a variety of places for scenes.
I think it’s true for me with books, too. I’m not a huge fan of the cabin or road romance when they take place only in the cabin or coach. I can’t stand to have my characters actually BE on the road or in the cabin for more than a few chapters. I find it claustrophobic.
So what about you? Do you mind small settings, one-place settings? Do you like road books or cabin romances? Do you yearn for a variety of settings within one book (or TV show or movie)? What was your favorite single-setting TV show or movie or book?
37 Comments on “Setting Claustrophobia”
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I am totally with you on Criminal Minds but I love it for the psychological aspect that goes with psychopathy and sociopathy and serial killers. I am also kind of the same way about Bones. My favorite one place show is Home and Away which takes place in the mythical coastal town of Summer Bay. With one place books, it depends on the author and if it is part of a series.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 5:15 am.
I love both of those crime shows, Kelly! You and I must be on the same wavelength.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:52 am.
I would say so Sabrina. We could be almost twins or something.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:04 am.
I never thought of that but I agree. I’m not a fan of cabin books and that’s probably why. I like to move around. Even with Lost, they were on an island yes, but what an island!
I did love American Horror Story, which was in one haunted house for the most part, but there were so many stories going on, and they did go back and forth in time, so that helped.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 7:30 am.
I didn’t think of it until Prison Break. American Horror Story does sound interesting to me, and I will say that I count going back and forth in time as a different setting. *G*
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:54 am.
I’m on the other side. I love road and cabin romance. If people are snowed in, all the better. I did like LOST, but not The Office– I just don’t like offices!
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 8:41 am.
Yes, that office milieu is sort of deadening, isn’t it?
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:54 am.
Yes, I’m the same way. I don’t like prison movies, period. Just can’t stand the grimness of it, watching people being caged . . . let me out!!! I feel the same way about cabin books/movies. Not a fan of road books because I don’t like road trips! I get very invested in what I’m reading/watching. LOL
I do love The Office–it’s the acting and the oh-so-human interactions that grabbed me. Plus, it’s hysterical. And they do leave the office.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:23 am.
Do they? I keep saying I’m going to watch it, but the bits I’ve seen haven’t grabbed me.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:55 am.
You have to get to know the characters to appreciate the social dynamics. They’re a crazy bunch.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 5:57 pm.
I like a little bit of everthing when it comes to the setting of a story.. I don’t mind if it takes place in one area or if the story hops from one place to another.. I think it is the characters for me more than the setting that makes me want to read the book… But it helps if the setting is at least interesting.. Locked in a Cabin in the middle of a snow storm in the Rockies or lost on a a deserted Island is great if the the story has substance and keeps my attention. But it could be a story where the characters are jetting of to London, Paris or Istanbul… as long as it’s a good story.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:24 am.
Kathleen, I’ve READ single-setting books that I liked, but it was always a case of an author I knew I would like or some other reason I read it. In general, I don’t even start books that I know are set in one setting. Weird, huh?
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 9:58 am.
I can watch shoes that use only one setting if I enjoy the writing I love Grays Anatomy which is set in the one place mainly. We had a show in the 80′s Prisoner set in a female prison I never missed an episode
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:08 am.
Interesting–I never knew there was a show set in a women’s prison.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:00 am.
Maybe it’s not that it takes place in one setting–because the scenery on Lost was pretty varied at times even though they were on an Island. And there’s not that much variety in SVU’s settings either. There’s got to be something in the story, or the characters that puts you off. I love NCIS, but I hate (absolutely despise) NCIS LA. Which makes no sense, because they both have excellent casts, etc. The story lines for NCIS LA have a different tone and I think that’s why I don’t like it. The characters are a little less interesting to me too. I don’t know–maybe it’s the absence of Mark Harmon. lol.
For me, the story and interaction between characters is always more of a concern for me than the actual setting of the book. I don’t think I’ve sat and thought about that before. The Harry Potter books take place mostly at Hogwarts with slight changes of scenery up until the last book which is a “road trip” kind of book. I love them all the same.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:15 am.
Well, I only watched part of one episode on Lost and I didn’t continue because it seemed like one setting. The show/story has to pull me in first, and I think I’m put off at once by the knowledge that it’s one setting. SVU has different settings in the sense that each scene takes place somewhere different–you go from station house to a restaurant to someone’s home to the docks, etc. Those are wildly varying settings in my head.
It’s funny what you’re saying about NCIS, though. I like both of them for different reasons (I LOVE Hetty). But I would say that NCIS edges the other one out a bit, because of Mark Harmon. He’s such a great character. They all are.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:16 am.
I love cabin and road trip stories. To me, I like the idea that the characters are on “vacation” of sorts. Of course, I love road trips and cabins in real life, so that could be a part of my reading. My favorite setting is when the characters are secluded or “hidden” away in a hunting cottage with a beautiful setting. I think it is a nice set-up for them to change in some way.
I’m not a regular watcher of the TV shows you mentioned above. SVU is the one that I watched the most of, and I can’t stand Criminal Minds. It is too graphic for my weak stomach. I stopped watching when I started gagging over a scene. After watching all sorts of Olympic commercials, I’m going to give “Revolution” a try this fall, and Matthew Perry’s new sit com a try, too.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:35 am.
What’s Matthew Perry’s new sitcom? I love him.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:17 am.
It’s called GO ON, something about therapy. I’m going to give it a try! (But I say that about most shows.)
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 5:58 pm.
I watch NCIS and until it ended, The Closer. As long as G. W. Bailey is on Major Crimes, I will watch it. I watch reruns of L&O Criminal Intent. With books, it doesn’t matter to me what the setting is. I’m more concern with the characters than the locations.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:47 am.
I miss L&O Criminal Intent. I still don’t understand why they cancelled it. It was my favorite of the L&O shows.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:18 am.
I was just thinking about settings last night! I love books that explain the settings so I can picture it. I was thinking go you book, How to Woo, when I realized I picture my self right there, at the lake, in the cabin, and in her library (I am an organized person, too).
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:51 am.
Vicky, so am I! Well, it depends on the area. I organize things and keep them fairly organized, but then I have little pockets of disorganization. *G*
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:19 am.
Yes! My closet is organized by color. Towels are also organized by size and color. I hate when fitted sheets are not folded correctly. I even have all my dogs medical records in one binder.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:58 am.
I can’t recall a cabin or road trip story that bothered me. I suppose I trust that the author will try to keep it interesting. However, if I pick up a book that has anything to do with gambling, I have to force myself to read it. I am so not interested in riverboat gamblers or “gaming hells.” Yet, I have read some fabulous books with those settings.
As for TV shows, we rented/Netflixed one of those CSI seasons and we watched about three before we were over it. It seemed like the same story over and over. Maybe it was the formula. Maybe it was the setting. But we were completely uninterested in watching more.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:51 am.
I can’t stand CSI. And like you, I’m really not sure why. I love all the L&O’s, but just don’t like CSI. I wish I could articulate what it is I dislike, though.
But I do love gaming stories. My agent doesn’t (she thinks that milieu is kind of sleazy), but I love anything to do with card-playing. Isn’t that weird?
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:21 am.
Like you, I find I am discontented with one setting stories but do not know why or even that I really am while I am reading or watching. (I never liked Scrubs, but this was not the reason— I just didn’t like it
I remember years ago reading a medieval romance during my pre-writing years and, around 3/4ths of the way through, thinking “get out of the damned castle and get some fresh air, people.”
I wonder if it is not so much the single setting as the lack of action, and fresh air (i.e. fresh developments), that does it.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:04 am.
Lack of action definitely is a factor. And yes, I want them to get outside once in a while.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:22 am.
What Madeline said! My thoughts exactly.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:49 am.
I love a cabin romance! I’m also a fan of road books as well. I’m not very picky when it comes to setting, as long as it is not dark. I don’t have to have a variety of settings within a book or show. As long as they are well written I really don’t care!
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 1:04 pm.
It’s good that you’re easy that way!
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:20 pm.
I’m ok with a single-setting book so long as the novel is well written. Though I find that when the scenery is constantly changing the author has more to play off of and keep the characters engaged with their surroundings.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 2:48 pm.
That’s what I think, too.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:20 pm.
I think the writing is the thing – whether in a television series, a film or a book. Some writers can make the same setting and entire world while others make it a cage. I am not fond of prison movies or series at all. Too closed in. But a great romance set in a stately home during a snowstorm I am there!
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 10:06 pm.
Well, I suppose if the home had LOTS of rooms, it wouldn’t be so bad.
Posted on August 17, 2012 at 11:21 pm.
I do not mind stories that take place in one location.
TV shows: Not interested in the story for: The Office, Prison Break, Lost, House, Grey’s Anatomy or ER.
I watch NCIS, but do not like LA series. Used to watch Bones until the end of season 6. Watched The Closer, but not interested in Major Crimes. I watched CSI until Grissom/William Petersen left. I did like the series Alcatraz. I love Rizzoli & Isles. Love Castle.
Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:08 am.
I think sometimes the characters themselves in shows and books can become a little claustrophobic to the viewer/reader–never changing, repeated reactions in different situations. Add a static environment and we have a “yawner”.
Posted on September 21, 2012 at 9:30 am.