Selfie Ignite

It wouldn't be that hard to work in the decade time skip either, like let's say Henry was still somewhat emotionally constipated when sg big like a very ill family member happened and Eliza got a great opportunity abroad she didn't turn down after being unable to reach him for weeks. Henry gets a skewed report of Eliza's leaving.

They are both hurt and don't try to reconnect thinking the other got cold feet about deepening their relationship.

Present day, it's 10ish years later. Eliza has been through several divorces, been made infamous on a trophy wife reality show perhaps while Henry retreated to himself mostly, but has an adorable child from a previous relationship.

They end up working on a project together again and it's part distrust bc they have both been hurt last time, part moments of shared joy and rebuilding their relationship with some more maturity. The child's welfare also makes Henry more cautious about changing how he has been living, and specifically restarting things with Eliza, who can be quite chaotic (the reality tv stint doesn't help with this image). But she will have a great way with the child after they get into some scrapes together.

March 17, 2023

Selfie (2014) reunion with Karen Gillan and John Cho at Stars Collective’s office.

I get that the show is based on My Fair Lady and execs might be turned off by the power dynamic issues. But Selfie (2014) already addressed those. The show makes it incredibly clear that Eliza is independently important to the company. She's not there by the grace of Henry's will. She is there because she is valuable to the company. Unlike in my fair lady, this Eliza and Henry actually need each other. Henry is too up tight and it is genuinely beneficial to him to spend time with Eliza. I think that's what makes the romance pop for me. They need each other to grow. The original Henry does not need Eliza. He does what he does out of some paternalistic instinct and to win a bet.

Not only because we are in a romance revival, but because it was ahead of its time when it came to social media. It was able to capture the melancholy and loneliness of influencer life in a way I've seen no other show do, especially not in 2014.

I think part of the problem with Selfie (2014) was that regular tv audiences weren't really aware of influencer / social media culture in the way they are now. Social media marketing is a huge force now in the way it just wasn't in 2014. It has such a great untapped potential for examining influencer / social media culture and how in a way we are all influencers now. We are all constantly performing on the internet.

Unfortunately, I think the title turned off a lot of people even though the word is still being used today. Selfie could also be interpreted as self-reflection, self-absorbed, and other related themes, but first impressions have a short window and people are quick to judge. But I don't know what name could replace it though. I have seen suggestions like My Fair Eliza, but the show was also moving away from the original premise. Also, a name that is unique and easy to search for would be helpful. Maybe the show could also branch out and show different types of influencers.

The opposites attract trope is still pretty popular and I love that Eliza and Henry complement each other. While both characters have their flaws, they also bring out their best qualities when they're together.

It's not unheard of for canceled shows to be revived years later, but I guess there are a lot of factors to consider and would need the right pieces to fall into place. Also, Selfie went through a lot of obstacles. Currently, the licensing rights are still in limbo with the Warner Bros and Paramount merger (which I hope doesn't go through).

John Cho as William Shakespeare

Selfie | Habits Parallels