In a message dated 2/16/01 6:17:53 AM Eastern Standard Time, N.Faulkner@tesco.net writes:
<< Ah, but what is it about the characters or show that make them so captivating? Are there any general principles that might be extracted? Do shows that generate fandoms have any particular common factor(s)?>>
I dunno how it works for the guys, but after observing 30 years worth of media fandom, two words immediately spring to mind: 1) Handsome 2) Tormented.
No doubt there are other refinements and addendum, but the first two seem to be basic (with the usual notable exceptions, of course). Even in BEAUTY & THE BEAST fandom, the producer was wise enough to design Vincent's makeup so that it was intriguingly attractive to the female eye, not beastly.
Leah