Mundane Activities

A conceit or gimmick on the series '24' was that it took place in real time. One hour on the show was one hour of activities, and the 24-episode season covered the events of a single day.

As entertainment, I loved that show, and appreciated the gimmick of it with the ticking clock at the end of every show, and before and after every commercial. The commercials allowed the show to "skip" a few minutes and I always imagined that during the commercials, all the characters in all the subplots would drop what they were doing and run to the bathroom.

Actually, since there were multiple subplots going on, there would have been time for characters to take care of their mundane activities like showers and bathroom breaks. Sleep rarely happened; the events of each day were intense enough to keep everyone going around the clock for that day.

But I remember really appreciating a couple of moments, early on in the series, where Jack Bauer would be seen shoveling down a quick meal and/or guzzling a glass of water - or coming out of the shower. Just those few seconds of acknowledging those mundane needs was enough to keep me believing in what was going on. Later I found the series did NOT take the time somewhere in the season to do this, which took away from the show I think.

Maybe they didn't have time, they figured, or didn't want to waste effort on that kind of thing - or maybe they just didn't think of it. There would have been a lot to keep track of. But I missed that - just once per season, of some kind of hint of eating/brushing the teeth/coming out of the shower would have kept things just a little better. Might be nitpicky, I know. I still liked the show all the way through!

I remember appreciating the show "Dexter" for how often the characters were seen eating. So many scenes happened around the breakfast or dinner table. Dexter talks about how much he loves eating and driving in the first episode I think. Apparently part of the character in the book was his super-fast metabolism that required him to eat a lot. But it helped make an extraordinary character and universe to seem real!

In a book it might be easier - you can mention these things in a few words (the first books I ever read where these things were mentioned were Piers Anthony's Xanth novels, where he would quickly say that the characters took care of those things after waking up, and had to eat during their journey.

And hey, is there really only one bathroom on the Enterprise?

Eh, that's a study for another day.

In my comics, I love writing and drawing my characters eating and drinking or dozing. It helps capture the vibe I want. I admit though, that even when my slacker Typical Strange characters are out on adventures, outside their workplace or home, I don't include that stuff at all. It just doesn't occur to me. Maybe now it will!

Do you appreciate seeing a hint of those mundane activities in what you read/wash? Do you add them in
to your own stories?

I need to take a break - I'm out!

Have a good one,

Banes