RINGS OF POWER & Others: Tell, Don't Show - Breaking Down The Use of Dialogue and Titles to Convey Information

RINGS OF POWER & Others: Tell, Don't Show - Breaking Down The Use of Dialogue and Titles to Convey Information

Many movies and tv shows have titles explaining what it is about. And if that isn't enough, it can always be explained through dialogue what is going on. Read on and find out how.

Feature Opinion
By bkmeijer1 - Mar 11, 2023 11:03 PM EST
Filed Under: Other
Source: SFF Gazette

Often information is given to the viewer through exposition, but that is not the only way of telling the audience what is happening. Both titles of and dialogue in movies and shows can be used to various extends to achieve this. With some doing it better than others. However, dialogue and titles can also be used to provide too much information. A show that falls into both categories, is Rings of Power. 

As the title gives it away, Rings of Power is about the Rings of Power. However, the rings don't come into play much later on. And even when they do, characters try to talk around it by speaking of small or circular objects. Even though an urgency is established in Elrond storyline, it still takes forever to get to the end. Both Elrond's and Galadriel's storylines dance around and creates challenges for protagonists to overcome, even if those feel artificial.
 

Information through dialogue

Avatar: The Way Of Water has a similar problem. Both have things happen in certain ways so the next obstacle can be reached. Avatar, Jake only calls in the help of Norman, so that Quaritch can follow them. In Rings of Power, Thondir tells Galadriel that Sauron may be gone, so that it appears nobody believes Galadriel. Even though the viewer was told just a few minutes before Sauron's army grows ever stronger. Conflict is thus created, but it feels fabricated instead of natural like in House of the Dragon (1).

However, saying what needs to be said can also be used more effectively. In Vikings: Valhalla, dialogue is very predictable. So predictable even, that the viewer can guess what one character is going to say in response to another. But that doesn't make it bad. Despite the dialogue being predictable, it neatly gives the necessary information to the viewer without it unnaturaly creating obstacles for the main characters in the show.

Taking this one step further, is using dialogue as a device. No matter if it's good or bad. This is the case with Star Wars. Lucas uses dialogue is to get from point A to B and thus very utiliariatian. And as a side effect, it is really quotable. Characters state their emotions, intents and feelings all very clearly, similar to Korean shows, like the Americans do in Squid Game. The dialogue is as recognizable as the sound effects, and functions like it (2). It's saying what needs to be said, and hearing what needs to be heard.
 

Information through titles

What needs to be said, or rather what information is to be given, is not just limited to the script. Titles itself can be used as well. Captain America: The Winter Soldier is a movie that makes it very clear what the viewer can expect: Captain America and the Winter Soldier. It doesn't however give too much away, only what is necessary to hook the audience in. Similar to Rings of Power, the viewer knows what it's going to revolve around.

Both the recently announced Superman and Batman movies carry the titles Superman: Legacy and The Brave and The Bold. But neither makes it really clear what they are going to revolve around. Superman: Legacy might indicate the long-lasting effects of something, but the movie will actually feature a Superman early in his carreer. The Brave and The Bold takes this even further. It can mean anything, but not that it will be about Batman and Damian Wayne's Robin at all. Even if it's the main focus of the movie.

There are exceptions though, like Spider-Man: Far From Home. It does tell the viewer what situation Spider-Man finds himself in, but only to a certain extent as the trilogy commited to using 'Home' in it's titles. Either way, it gives the viewer enough information. And giving the viewer information is what titles, but also dialogue can be used for. Whether that is regarding what is going on, or what to expect. It says what needs to be said.

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dvpenna60
dvpenna60 - 3/17/2023, 9:28 AM
Rings of Power is a showrunners attempt at taking an established universe, and simply taking a wrecking ball to it, to fit a Politically and Social justice motivated storyline
not to entertain. but to shove "inclusivity, diversity, and intersectionality" down peoples throats, like it or not.
Galadriel is a joke, an unlikable, not funny joke. her story line is a total fabrication, her husband doesnt exist. Harfoots dont exist, they are hobbits. Galadriel meets characters in the show who are 1500 yrs removed.
they insisted on inserting black dwarf woman who looks nothing like what a dwarf woman would look like.
namely, beard, and white..
dwarves live underground..
no sunlight.
its biologically impossible for them to develop a dark skin tone.

elves are light skinned, forest people.. there are no black elves in tolkiens universe because he had nordic roots.
whats next.. you have blonde hair, blue eyed white "warrior kings" in southern africa ? if not, then dont do this asinine crap and claim " oh, well, this has to reflect todays world"
no, it doesnt, it reflects the Lord of the Rings world, NOT YOUR personal agenda and politically motivated horse hockey.
stop ripping to shreds established fantasy realms ALL because you have NO TALENT yourself to create anything new or successful.
bkmeijer1
bkmeijer1 - 3/22/2023, 6:07 AM
@dvpenna60 - I agree it's definitely odd that a black dwarf, who lives underground, is a bit weird
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