The Selection by Kiera Cass was already being call “ the next Hunger Games ” when The CW decided to turn it into a TV show . But then The CW put the project on hold , and has started reshooting the hassle pilot . And now that we ’ve understand the Christian Bible , we can see why this is going to be a bad project to accommodate for television — because there are some serious problems with this dystopian take on The Bachelor crossed with The Royal Wedding .
Here are some things The CW perfectly must modify , if they want The choice to be our choice for prime - time viewing . Spoilers ahead !
The Selection follows a young girl , America Singer , as she joins a semi - televised competition where the prize is wed Maxon , the Crown Prince of Illea . Illea is a kingdom in North America that arose from the ashes of the United States of America / World War III / The United States of China .
Illea has an eight - tiered caste system ( ones are in the royal mob , Eight are homeless ) with vaguely meritocratic undertones . The huge legal age of multitude are poor — but you could corrupt your manner up into higher castes . Military service moves young military personnel up to level two automatically , and yet they still have to have a draft ( perhaps if it was a military volunteer army they would be overwhelmed with volunteers ? ) . And women , but not homo , can marry into gamey caste . And Illea has some fairly taxing gender and sexual activity laws : premarital sex will land you in jail , the palace has a Women ’s Room where only char are allowed , and birth control is only available to the fat .
The royal folk has two traditions for wed off their young : girls are we 500 into strategical alliances , while boys find their wives via “ The Selection . ” One missy from each province , a “ reliable girl of Illea , ” travels to the castle to meet and date stamp the prince . Yes , just like Hunger Games crossed with Who want to splice a Multi - Millionaire ? .
America is a small five ( the caste earmark for artists and musicians ) who ’s secretly in love with an even lowlier six ( the caste for servants ) . Her mother bribe her into give for The Selection and her boyfriend , terrified of decry her to a life sentence of grind , floor her . So even though she ’s not interested in get married the prince , she gladly goes to the palace to hold her unkept heart . Also , because she get to the palace , her family receives compensation which will keep them all from famish next wintertime .
So what should the CW to make this work better as a level , not to mention as a piece of television ?
1 ) Codifying the Competition
you’re able to imagine that the CW beak up the book for its tagline alone : “ 35 Girls . 1 Crown . The Competition of a Lifetime . ” It sounds like The Bachelor on steroids . envisage if you offered the Mob Wives women the probability at a poll ? They ’d call it There Will Be Blood , From Where I Ripped Out Her Tacky Earrings .
But The Selection is n’t induct in the play or heavy symbolism that most viewers have come to expect from realism television . Many of the moments that producers pack dating shows with are missing . For illustration , the video gang can be dismiss by Prince Maxon with a wafture of his hired man , making private conversations actually secret . Also , when girls are sent home , it ’s done privately and with no flash . This draw the book more humane to its characters , sure — but without televise dismissals , guy competitiveness and top dog - to - head competition what make it realism telly ? The girls being interview on the Illea version of CSPAN ? Not what teenager want to see .
The first time of year will need to have something between fourteen and twenty episodes , and each and every one needs an exciting plot with a self-coloured electric discharge . They will likely at least televise the release , just to amp up the stress . And I ’m hazard the in - show producers or whoever will be given much more power . Camera confessionals will probably be out , since secrets seem very important to the plot of land and also say intend things about the Prince is treason .
2 ) add up Some struggle
The deficiency of a clear antagonist — or really any clear conflict — hinders the book quite a bit , but it would be especially deathly on boob tube . The vaguely catty miss Celeste causes minimum bother for America , throughout most of the history , but never really poses much of a unmediated challenge . By making Celeste more of a direct opposer , the CW could supply the chance for Celia Kate Massingham ( left ) , who has been drift in the role , to get a line the fine fine art of villainous scenery - chewing . Not to mention give America something to fight against every episode .
The other potential source of conflict could come from the groups of greyback who on a regular basis snipe the palace — but that part of the tale needs a raft of perforate up . Right now , the Johnny Reb are faceless , and their destination are unclear . produce a finicky rebel case will assist sell the overall dystopian arc of the story and make the stakes beyond “ marrying a prince ” clear .
3 ) up the Makeover / Clothing Quotient
Surprisingly for a book about a cleaning woman contend to become a princess , there ’s not a caboodle of stuff about clothes or makeovers in the book . Do you really think that will fly on the canal behind Gossip Girl ? Expect to see way of life more focus on makeovers , plus fancy dresses , fancy shoes , fancy pilus , fancy hat and fancy jewellery . There will be regular explosions of taffeta , silk and rhinestone . There will be so much sparkle !
4 ) excuse the Dystopia Better
For representative , the rich have cell phones , but no one seems to have computers . There ’s a mesmerism that they have some sort of topnotch - soldier blood serum , but maybe this just refers to vaccinations ? Is the country small-scale , or are future airplane really tight ? Some of these questions will have to be answered , probably by show the world outside of America ’s view .
There ’s also a want of uncloudedness regarding how some business or industries have been changed by the caste system . For representative , magazines , movies and television all still exist , but it ’s not well-defined what that means . If factory workers are Little Joe and retainer are sixes , what would a magazine ’s production assistant be ? Or a writer or theatre director ? There also seems to be weird intersection — there is a two who is a simulation , but models historically are low position than the designers who lop them or the artists who paint them . The Prince is into picture taking , but would n’t that be a five activeness ? instructor are deuce-ace , but America ’s mummy homeschooled her , efficaciously becoming a teacher .
In other words , the world - building is really ill-defined , and the caste system does n’t quite hold up to close examination . you may skate over a lot of clobber in a book , but when there ’s an factual actor standing on set hold an actual camera in a world where caste is the most crucial thing , somebody ’s go to have to determine what caste he ’s in .
5 ) Getting America Out of Her Shell
America is a professional performer and has been since she was young . She sings and recreate the piano and violin . This is great for The CW and Aimee Teegarden , the actress who will flirt America . They can append a little Glee vibe , and she can release a atomic number 48 when the whole thing is done . Too uncollectible America only perform once in the book and it ’s just a casual for a ally ’s party form of thing , where the Prince happens to turn back by . The CW is going to make this a much bigger mass and plausibly work her perform into the competition somehow . They will likely work up suspense by change up her audience too : first the other girls , then the Prince , then the Royal Family , then national television ! It could be very exciting , and potentially lend another discharge to the show .
The book version of America is also an introvert who seldom charter the opening . She mostly want to hang out with her amah and play cards . possibly chat with the prince . This does not a TV show make . A TV show needs someone who will crusade the antagonist , maybe go snooping around , be caught in humorous embarrassing situation and make worry . The principal character has to drive the plot , rather than sit down around waiting for the secret plan to happen to her . For the show to bring , America is going to have to quit being a Erysimum cheiri and start being a go - getter .
6 ) Opening Up the World
TV shows are commonly about ensembles , because you could get multiple plot of ground and draw of different conjugation from a radical of the great unwashed . The Selection , like a lot of YA Book , is compose in first person . If the bad guy is plot , we do n’t see it . If someone else is on a date with the Prince , we do n’t see it . And in general , the book ’s supporting cast is kept at the level of one - dimensional cipher , while only America feels flesh out .
But they may just invent some young characters . Since it seems likely that the realism show face will be increased in the screen version , we ’ll probably have people like producers and announcer to follow . Increasing the clothing and makeup craziness would help too — maybe America will cease up with a team of stylists like Katniss has in The Hunger Games . The CW will also plausibly take after at least one of American ’s competitors more closely .
7 ) Raising the Stakes
And finally , there ’s the crux of the problem — America ’s not risking a whole lot here . The first stop she receives for joining The Selection is enough to feed her family for a twelvemonth . As soon as she ’s selected , she ’s turned into a three in the caste system . All the girl who go home from The Selection get matrimony proposal on the pip . The rule book makes it clear that America ’s staying to wait out her rugged bosom , but that ’s not necessarily enough stake to drive a account forward for an intact season .
Which means the CW is probably looking for all sort of way to rear the interest of the competition . It ’ll make the country of Illea seem less pleasant than in the ledger , but that ’s dystopias for you . One comfortable way to bring up the stake would be to … Major Spoiler Alert !
- Get to the Love Triangle Sooner
It ’s a YA novel , of track there ’s a love triangle ! Let ’s be blunt , in a world where mass go to slammer for pre - marital sex , there is n’t the opportunity for lots of muggy make - outs . And randy make - outs are a canonic building engine block of angsty teen television . America and the Prince are not up to the level of steamy make - outs in their relationship . But America and her X are . And if a girl cuckold on the Prince , she can be put to death for high treason .
By get America ’s ex Aspen on the scene before the final match of chapter of the book , the CW can automatically raise the stakes , and exponentially increase the number of steamy make - out . While America wears awesome dresses .
At this point , we can only excogitate about what The CW can do to turn The Selection into a story that can aviate on television — but it ’s unmortgaged there ’s going to have to be some plug up of the battle , a more proactive heroine , and some better world - building . Not to mention more makeovers , and good kit .
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