I missed seeing IPK, but I believe there is less frenzy around changes around SC because:
(i) somewhere the leads' chemistry though packed with potential for a burning flame was never allowed to ignite beyond a few mandatory sparks here and there... Oh hubris!
(ii) there was a change of PH...and deviation from adherence to the source ...which caused story flip flops...increasing overall character inconsistency...leading to us fans later really not identifying with the leads...all of us reached a stage when we would be happy with a few seconds or at most minutes of Samud moments (and that too sub-standard if you compare the SLB days).
Thanks Hgg, I was wanting to read an analysis from you, from the moment this news came out!
I absolutely agree with your points above, infact when SC started, with SLB as the captain of the ship, I expected it to surpass IPK, and Saras and Kumud to be on par with Arnav and Khushi, in being the epitome of romance.
But that didn't really happen and the fact that Saras's death has just caused most of us to feel let down Yet resigned to it, because our expectations from this PH are really low, in terms of their ability to tell a good story.
The change of PH, the fact that the story was dumped unceremoniously in favour of TRP masala were factors that disillusioned most of us.
Add to that the fact that Saras and Kumud chemistry has never been exploited by creatives, and there was always a cloud on the level of intimacy that the co-stars were comfortable in displaying, the frequent absence of lead, were also factors that took away from the chemistry
The biggest reason was of course the fact that Kumud was never understood by our writers and was very very poorly written, often leading us to doubt if she even loved Saras at all!
Kumud's strength, her courage, her respect for societal norms and conventions that led her to sacrifice everything in order to do what she felt was right was never projected.
What came across was a stubborn, rude and arrogant Kumud, who was often foolhardy, took Saras for granted, cried for him when her own foolishness got her into problems she could not solve on her own, and once rescued promptly went back to treating him badly!
Saras on the other hand, is the character who has been kept steadfast, loyal, loving and completely committed to this relationship that many times seems one sided
I have often felt that Saras till date has not forgiven himself for that fateful night and so tries doubly hard to prove his love and devotion and Kumud shows very little love for him.
These are the factors due to which fans will not fight for Saras Kumud, because bit by bit Saras and Kumud have been already killed off by our esteemed creatives, unlike Arnav and Khushi, because even though that show too lapsed into stupid inane treatment, the one single USP that remained till the end was Arnav for Khushi and Khushi for Arnav, and their chemistry to exploited by the makers to the hilt.
Many of us are already frustrated with the story, and the treatment, and now Saras's death if it happens will be the break we all are looking for. Kumud can then start her new life with someone else and so can we!
Udne Ki Aasha
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
