Itâs cheap. Itâs easy. Itâs insidious. It's relentless. Itâs the most over-used plot device on television â UST.
UST (unresolved sexual tension), to the best of my recollection, is a term coined by X-Files' fans to describe the chemistry between Mulder and Scully.
This year, UST and its variations can be found in Desperate Housewives, Chuck, Reaper, Life, Journeyman, Greyâs Anatomy, Californication, Pushing Daisies, Tell Me You Love Me, Ugly Betty, Womenâs Murder Club, Moonlight, Dexter, Big Shots, Brothers & Sisters and the list goes on (and on and on).
In the hands of talented writers, UST is fun. On rare occasions, it's a delight. Mostly, however, writers use the device to taunt viewers. Networks and/or the writers play the highly manipulative, two- steps forward one-step back game, often over the course of several seasons. UST is a cheap and easy technique for getting viewers to cling desperately week-after-week-after-week
But the networks and showrunners are playing with fire, too. When a series RUSTs-out - due to RELENTLESS unresolved sexual tension - once loyal audiences can quickly turn into furious web mobs. And their word of mouse can be scathing and potentially damaging - which is pretty much what's happening at the moment to Grey's Anatomy.
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