HMTV! The Commentary Chapter
Introduction:
HMTV began as a simple thought as I was playing through the SNES game many years ago. "What if…"
The possibilities for such a game at the time seemed endless, but as I played it many years after its release, I was left with many thoughts of how it could have been more realistic, fun, interactive, and overall, funny. What if Jack could go outside in a blizzard, or go on two dates at a time? This was initially where the idea came from.
Of course, it was not until I took a dive into the world of fan fiction that writing a story about it ever came to mind. It was really just a simple question that I asked myself again and again that needed answering: "How could a Harvest Moon story work on paper?" Gone would be the rewards of progression in the game or the unexpected surprises its creators had added, what would be left?
So I began to write, knowing the only way that it would work was if I made it a comedy, something in which I had very little to no experience writing. I always watched that little sprite named Jack and imagined him as a rather stupid boy, but little did I know that that would become the basis for the entire series.
Episode one had the difficult task of introducing the world and characters, all the while trying to be funny. It did an okay job, but aside from the first few paragraphs and a few tactfully placed one-liners, it failed to draw the attention that I'd hoped for.
Reception:
Having finished the first episode and gaining a few welcome fans, it was time to write the second which in my own opinion would either make or break the series. I didn't know where Jack would lead me from now on, I could only trust in the character himself. I'm proud to say that episode two is, to this day, my favorite episode of the entire series. If it had not been a success in my eyes, and I did not gain many great fans from it, the series would have ended then and there without even a second thought. The conversations, the sheer stupidity of Jack, the word play, and the hilarity of the situations made it a memorable experience. I was now finally convinced that Jack was here to stay, and the fans agreed. Jack made me laugh out loud many times as I wrote him, and many fans were happy to compliment my chosen writing styles and offer suggestions on improving upon it. I submitted to and (may it rest in peace), making sure that the hardcore fans were in agreement with how the series was unfolding, and luckily, to great reviews from both. The series kept most of the same fanbase throughout, but even today, more people are clicking on it to discover this fun series.
Perhaps the first episode turned many 'would be' fans away, for that I'm ashamed. When the 15 planned episodes ended, I took my leave and the fans offered their words of encouragement.
A final note on the reception: There turned out to be quite a bit more adult humor than I had intended, and for that reason many of the younger readers did not understand some of the best jokes. I would fault myself had I not enjoyed these jokes so much.
Style and Technique:
HMTV used a few stylistic techniques that were heralded by the fans for their originality, thus the series trademark was born. The diary entrances were thought to be hilarious by most, although, when I first started doing them, it was merely to me a cheap attempt to demonstrate the lack of knowledge Jack had and more rationally get inside his mind as to understand him better. This, more than anything, came to be what people remembered most about the series. I can't tell you how many anonymous letters I got about it.
The blunt and consistent narration style was my own technique that I was counting on from the beginning, which was only noticed by a few people, for the character of Jack would quickly become the main force of the humor. The portrayal of both Jack AND the other townspeople also helped to make this series work well, and of course the episodic format helped to make it seem as if it really were a Saturday morning cartoon (the intermissions serving in place of commercial breaks). Each episode, I tried something completely different, and that is why the series as a whole could be described as a 'hit and miss'.
The Heart:
Jack was a loveable character. Despite his meanness and stupidity, it became very evident that he was nothing but an innocent child at heart. Episode 15 ended exactly how I had intended it to, Jack was with Eve, they had a child, the farm was back to its former glory.
Season one, although it was followed soon after, is standalone in many ways, and that is how I wanted it to be. Season two would go on to paint a very different picture of this past, and that is not how we are meant to see it as we read through Jack's misadventures. When we read him, we see past the mental problems to the innocently loveable person underneath, thus making the series stand out in its own light. I ended his adventures out of fear that they would grow stale, boring, or repetitive, and ended in triumph.
I truly believe that there were no more stories at the time that I had left to tell.
The Future:
The series could go on forever for all I know, as long as there are new ways to reinvent it and keep myself (and the fans) entertained. Despite what became of Jack later on, he will always be remembered for the classic 15 he starred in for season 1.
Conclusion:
This is in no way a chapter for me to boast about my writing. It is in many ways an apology for what could have been or should have been, and also a thank-you to the fans that have stayed with it throughout. It was never meant to be a serious endeavor (as is demonstrated through my half-assed narration), but somehow I always feel compelled 2 of the 7 days a week to start writing another episode.
Thanks for your support, and I hope you enjoy season 2.
