These Blur Lines or Are They Clear?

Enter This Dystopia

Every time we press play on our remote or turn the page in our new book, we willingly enter a world that doesn’t exist. Made up characters, made up storylines —yet they often feel more real than the world outside. My choice in media is TV, specifically shows that blur the lines between reality and fiction. Could we say that all TV shows are dystopian since they don’t truly imitate real life but instead project a much happier version of it? But…why not?

I love dystopias, and I also love fiction. I understand the difference between these genres, but what I don’t get is why, when it comes to TV shows, the lines seem to blur.  My favorite part of a TV show is when they allow us to peek into the makings of scenes. HBO Max does this a lot with their new shows.  These behind-the-scenes features not only reveal spoilers, but it also gives the fans a one-on-one with the actors and intricacies of how the show was made. However, these ten-minute snippets can have the opposite effect and lifts our veils of ignorance. When we watch or read fiction, our brains go into a mode where everything is possible —we don’t think about how or why things happen; we just accept them. It just happens. But when we dive into the behind-the-scenes, we’re reminded that it is all fake. Suddenly, it can feel disheartening or, for lack of better terms, boring, because we realize that it isn’t real.

I Might Have a TV Show Addiction

On the contrary, when a show doesn’t reveal its behind-the-scenes, the veil stays intact and feel a little too real. It is so easy to get absorbed into these worlds because TV shows are designed to imitate the real life, right down to our deepest fears, desires and social issues. Shows like The Handmaid’s Tales or Black Mirror tap into our deepest fears about the takedown of women’s rights and the anxiety of advanced technology. By addressing these issues through alternative worlds, TV shows become more than just entertainment- they become a lens of understanding the world around us. These characters may be fake, but their struggles, joys and relationships mirror our own experiences, making it easy to forget that it’s all scripted. It is a testament to the power of these narratives — they’re so well-crafted. If I am this emotionally invested, imagine how the actors must feel!

You don’t even realize you are emotionally attached to characters until the last episode. Finding yourself at the series finale is heartbreaking, as all the deep love hits you like a tidal wave, paired with the craving for more content. This emotional attachment is so strong it is why we have fanfiction —fans want more, to the point of creating their own continuations. And there is a fine line of love and obsession. When a show ends, it feels like losing a friend or comfort and suddenly, the fake world we were so engrossed in feel more tangible than ever.

But isn’t that the beauty of it? These fictional worlds become a part of our reality, shaping our emotions, thoughts, and sometimes even our actions. It is a fascinating and a little eerie of how something entirely fabricated can evoke such genuine feelings. This speaks to the power of storytelling and how it can transcend the boundaries of fiction, pulling us into a space where lines between what is real and what is imagined are indistinguishable.

Fantasy Make Belief

So, where do we draw the line? Or maybe, the better question is — do we even need to? Or do we continue enjoying the escapism TV provides us with without getting to the root of it. I leave you more questions than answers but at least you have music. This week is a song where I actually don’t know what is going on, but it sounds amazing. Open Letter by Mia Gladstone ft Teezo Touchdown is such a fun, futuristic sound that they can get away without having meaningful lyricism. Personally, this isn’t my go-to genre of music, but it is a chance to step outside my music taste. And it has everything I love in a song; catchy beat, unique sounds and instruments and most importantly makes me feel cool LOL.

Enjoy This Journey With Me

° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °

Enjoy This Journey With Me ° 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 ₒ 𐐪𐑂 ♡ 𐐪𐑂 °

This isn’t the end—just a bookmark in the conversation. Stories don’t really close; they unfold, shift, and find new voices. If this one stirred something in you, let it breathe. Leave a thought, challenge an idea, or carry it forward in your own way. And if you ever feel like wandering through more unfinished thoughts, you know where to find me. Let’s keep the conversation alive. ~XOXO