Stephanie SenGupta

[LOCIfan]

WRITING CREDITS FOR SEASON ONE:

THE FAITHFUL: Teleplay & Story
POISON: Teleplay & Story
SEMI-PROFESSIONAL: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
MALEDICTUS: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer


WRITING CREDITS FOR SEASON TWO:

DEAD: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
TOMORROW: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
COLD COMFORT: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer


WRITING CREDITS FOR SEASON THREE:

UNDAUNTED METTLE: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
UNREQUITED: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
FICO DI CAPO: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer


WRITING CREDITS FOR SEASON FOUR:

EOSPHOROS: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
GONE: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
SHIBBOLETH: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer


WRITING CREDITS FOR SEASON FIVE:

UNCHAINED: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
IN THE WEE SMALL HOURS, PARTS I & II: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
DRAMMA GIOCOSO: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer

[LOCIfan]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. There is something sweeping and epic, something larger than life and very dark, but also comic, about Ms. Sengupta's episodes. She is one of my favorite writers on LOCI because there are so many layers to the stories and characters.

"Maledictus", "Poison", "Dead", "Tomorrow" & "Unrequited" are quintessential Sengupta episodes because of their dark humor and the fact that there could be whole, separate episodes written about the villains before they ever set foot on the LOCI canvas. They seem to really be alive and to have had impacts on their environments before Goren ever caught a whiff of them.

[LOCIfan]

After watching "Unrequited" again, I think I can be more specific about why this one seems a quintessential Sengupta episode. First, I think she plays with archetypal characters. There's Harvey, the simpering beta male starved for mother's withheld affection. Then there's Marion, the narcissistic aging diva-who-never-was, but believes and desires herself to be. The fact that Marion's old enough to be Harvey's mommy, plays directly into his pathological longing, and whether she's consciously aware of it or not, she manipulates the need she fills in him to her own ends. These two powerful archetypes cross paths, and the result is extremely entertaining to watch. And there's enough detail to these characters so that they are not just cardboard. Harvey's tic and the fact that he seeks acceptance in superficial brushes with celebrities, and Marion's wealth and deliberate blindness to her lack of talent as well as her seeking of acceptance into a community of artists by throwing money into a vanity production for celebrities is wonderful.

Marion seeks adoration from faceless crowds and she's willing to be a laughing stock to get it. Her denial in the face of the snide comments of her acting "coach" is extreme. As is her belief that she is still ingenue enough to play Juliet. Money is what she has instead of talent, and she's willing to put her money where her mouth is.

Then there's the humor. I don't get the impression that Ms. Sengupta looks down on, or disdains the characters, but that she mines the pathos of the characters' and the ridiculousness of their situations for a good deal of dark humor. The humor comes from the fact that these characters are larger than life, so they behave in exaggerated ways. But, there's also a recognition that we all lie to ourselves about something, and that some of us even seek, irrationally, to fill emotional holes in inappropriate ways that are destined to fail. We are, all of us, a little bit ridiculous and that's why I don't ever feel as though the laughs are cheap. They're borne of pathos. And I sense, a real affection for the characters, in spite of their flaws.

[gorenrocks]

this is the other chick-writer i love on loci. her stories are sure to please. when her name's in the credits i know i won't be disappointed. awesome that loci has so many terrific chick writers!!

[domenicaflor]

Update to LOCIFan's recap of Sengupta episodes.

From TVTOME.COM:

WRITING CREDITS FOR SEASON FOUR (TO DATE):

EOSPHOROS: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
GONE: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer
SHIBBOLETH: Teleplay & Story w/Rene Balcer

D.

[LOCIfan]

I've been so derelict about updating these threads. My bad. But since La SenGupta is kind of one of our own (and also since In the Wee Small Hours is one of my all-time fave episodes) I felt the need to update.