Joey said:
I used the word "consciously" because what I mean is it seemed like he literally was a professional actor who wasn't just playing along under hypnotism. I felt it a bit coincidental how well his family played along as well. You know what I mean I'm sure.
Yeah, I watched it and I know what you mean. However, I think it really was the way that he'd been "groomed" by Derren Brown.
The issue is really this... If you were going to go through all that effort and have it "made up and put together", you'd produce a much better piece of entertainment surely? :lol:
Ollie said:
With his past few shows that may come across but Derren is actually a really nice guy. When I met him after Enigma he said that he was in a hurry so apologised if he seemed like he was rushing signing peoples stuff. But even then he spent ages talking to people and stopping for photos with them and signing multiple items.
It's certainly been in his last few shows (the last couple of years really) he's become annoying "smug twattish". He always was to a degree before, but there was always an air of uncertainty about him. Like he was finding his feet and proving himself. Now he has, he's changed... Not saying he's unfriendly or anything, anything but to be honest. I'm sure he's really nice, but his "show front" isn't good any more. Maybe it never was, but you were so busy being bamboozled before you never noticed?
I've read his books, many years ago (on release). I've been an avid follower of his for years and years since he first came into the limelight.
I'm not anti Derren Brown at all. I just have gone off him a bit over the last couple of years because of his slight change of "on stage persona".
Having seen the program now, it was another anti-climactic disappointment. Lots of bluff and build up leading to a very short, silly ending.
I think the problem is simple where does Brown go next? After being able to tell you were you come from by sniffing your shoes, to show encompassing live tricks, to a superb fake seance... How does he top his previous shows? He can't keep doing the same parlour tricks, so he's trying to find something a bit different. However, his new ideas can't compete with the past things he's done. So he's pushing and pushing, but what he's pushing at is actually worse entertainment.
The problem with "hero" is the end premise. That only "the hero" would stand up and save the day.
Hands up who here watched it and though "I wish that was me, I'd be up like a shot and taking control. I'd love to be the hero!".
We all (certainly the real men amongst us
), have a hero complex. We all think and fantasise about being given the chance to step up and be the hero. So the premise is flawed. In reality, we rarely ever do, but in our heads, we ARE the hero. We can't see what is so special about getting up and taking the controls. If asked "will YOU take the controls of an aeroplane out of control and save the lives of everyone?" we'd all say, "yes!".
Where is the "magic" in making somebody do it? It's a flawed concept. Psychology experts may say that in reality everyone would back down, but in our heads, we're Superman and would do it without flinching.
So yeah, it's a big fail. For somebody who is really into psychology, Brown seems to have missed something important there.
