Exactly. My original comment was specifically directed at the frustration of starting a serialized show that gets cancelled before its resolution.
Cancellations... why even watch new shows?
- Thread starter Danoz
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Exactly. My original comment was specifically directed at the frustration of starting a serialized show that gets cancelled before its resolution.
Fair enough, but I can't help thinking you're missing out on the classic shows.
Seriously, would the original THE AVENGERS tv series have been improved by ongoing arc plots and some sort of conclusive "series finale"? Are the shows any less witty or entertaining because the show is not structured like a novel?
I have seen the original Avengers (and keep in mind, it ended long before I was even born), and I like it a lot, but it's not something I can sit down and watch for several hours at a time. I usually only watch TV shows on my days off, so I tend to have marathons. It's hard to do that with episodic TV without getting bored.
Back when I had cable, it was easier to get into an episodic show. I could just turn on the TV and watch what was on. Now, though, when choosing new shows to watch, I need to make conscious decisions about where my time is going. I tend to only watch shows that have already proven themselves and have either already ended or are popular enough that they will likely be given a proper ending.
Back when I had cable, it was easier to get into an episodic show. I could just turn on the TV and watch what was on. Now, though, when choosing new shows to watch, I need to make conscious decisions about where my time is going. I tend to only watch shows that have already proven themselves and have either already ended or are popular enough that they will likely be given a proper ending.
Maybe old episodic shows are just as good, I haven't seen a whole lot of them. The original Twilight Zone is a great example of an episodic style that wouldn't have been improved by serialization.
But nowadays, serialized shows as a whole are far better than episodic dramas. I cant think of a single wholly or mainly episodic drama that's worth bothering to watch. The last one I tried was Person of Interest, which is somewhat serialized anyway, but it was still just too boring, repetitive and constrained by the cop show formula so I finally gave up.
That may be because the best writers have been attracted to serialized shows because of the greater creative freedom and prestige of being associated with cable rather than broadcast, rather than that the format is inherently superior, but it's the same difference either way.
I've had cable for a long time, but my tolerance for episodic shows has diminished anyway, to the vanishing point. I'd say it's more a function of being spoiled by great serialized cable dramas plus simply being overexposed to the episodic formulas. When you get to the point of being able to recite the character's dialogue before they do, it's time to find something else to do with yor time.
But nowadays, serialized shows as a whole are far better than episodic dramas. I cant think of a single wholly or mainly episodic drama that's worth bothering to watch. The last one I tried was Person of Interest, which is somewhat serialized anyway, but it was still just too boring, repetitive and constrained by the cop show formula so I finally gave up.
That may be because the best writers have been attracted to serialized shows because of the greater creative freedom and prestige of being associated with cable rather than broadcast, rather than that the format is inherently superior, but it's the same difference either way.
I've had cable for a long time, but my tolerance for episodic shows has diminished anyway, to the vanishing point. I'd say it's more a function of being spoiled by great serialized cable dramas plus simply being overexposed to the episodic formulas. When you get to the point of being able to recite the character's dialogue before they do, it's time to find something else to do with yor time.
When I go home to visit my parents, my mom usually has TNT playing. As a result, I have caught many random episodes of "Bones" and "Law and Order." I enjoy them, but they are not shows I could ever get invested in. I view episodic TV kind of like mini movies. It's fun to watch one episode every now and then, but I get bored watching too many of them in a short period of time; they're all too formulaic.
I take it you don't care for the original Star Trek then?
I care for it as much as any formulaic show. I can watch an episode here and there, but it's not something I would watch for hours at a time. I've been a Trekkie my entire life, and I've still only seen maybe 25% of TOS episodes. TNG, DS9, and VOY, however, I watched every single week.
But we're missing the point. If I were watching the original Star Trek when it aired, I'd be doing the same thing, and I'd enjoy it and look forward to it because it's just one episode.
BUT I DON'T WATCH TV LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
When I watch TV shows now, I watch multiple episodes at a time, either via DVD or Netflix streaming. I'm not looking forward to the latest episode of anything because I'm not watching shows week-to-week. I don't set aside my 8pm block on Wednesdays to watch Voyager or my Friday nights to watch Farscape anymore.
If I was just regular TV viewer, I might enjoy episodic TV more, but I'm not. I work a night, I don't have cable, and I don't have a DVR. Any TV that I am going to watch is going to be something that is already out on DVD, and for me, it's an investment in both money and time. I don't have the ability to just catch random episodes of things and hope that I like them.
But we're missing the point. If I were watching the original Star Trek when it aired, I'd be doing the same thing, and I'd enjoy it and look forward to it because it's just one episode.
BUT I DON'T WATCH TV LIKE THAT ANYMORE.
When I watch TV shows now, I watch multiple episodes at a time, either via DVD or Netflix streaming. I'm not looking forward to the latest episode of anything because I'm not watching shows week-to-week. I don't set aside my 8pm block on Wednesdays to watch Voyager or my Friday nights to watch Farscape anymore.
If I was just regular TV viewer, I might enjoy episodic TV more, but I'm not. I work a night, I don't have cable, and I don't have a DVR. Any TV that I am going to watch is going to be something that is already out on DVD, and for me, it's an investment in both money and time. I don't have the ability to just catch random episodes of things and hope that I like them.
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i can understand the thread starter's pain. i started to warm up to shows like FlashForward, The Event, Terra Nova and then they were canceled after the first season. Well at least they gave SGU 2 seasons before pulling the plug.
I still remember one season wonders like Firefly, Space:Above and Beyond and Space Precinct from earlier years.
I still remember one season wonders like Firefly, Space:Above and Beyond and Space Precinct from earlier years.
I watch new shows because you never know what you'll discover. There was this summer filler show that cropped up several years ago-my wife talked me into watching it even though I "knew" the premise was too weak to keep it going very long. I was actually alarmed when I realized how much I'd enjoyed the first 2 episodes-I knew I was hooked and this show was going away quickly...
I own the first 3 seasons of Burn Notice on dvd now, and intend to get the rest as I can afford them.
I own the first 3 seasons of Burn Notice on dvd now, and intend to get the rest as I can afford them.
Sorry to quote myself but I just got another prime example as to why I don't really watch things week to week while they are airing.
My GF turned me on to Falling Skies late last year, she had them all still saved in her DVR so she threw them on a disk for me, I watch them all (all 10 of them) within a few nights and thought I would stick with it when season 2 started.
We then started watching season 2 together (we just watched last week's episode) only to get an announcement at then end of the episode that next week was the season finale. WHAT!
10 episodes? That's it? Really? Then basically wait another whole year (if there isn't something that holds it up even longer) for season 3?
No thanks, I'll watch the next episode then I'm done with it, let it air however much it's going to air and I'll sit down in a few years and watch the entire thing, heck at 10 episodes a season I could watch the whole thing in a few sittings.
These short seasons are killing TV, don't these networks get that?
We went from 24 to 22 episodes in a season, then 22 to 13, now 13 to 10?
No thanks.
Yeah, I saw the promo for Falling Skies season finale, and I told my wife there's no way we watched 12 episodes so far, but she didn't believe me.
10 episodes? Well, I guess it's better than nothing (it's a fun show), but waiting another 10 months to get back to it....I don't know.
10 episodes? Well, I guess it's better than nothing (it's a fun show), but waiting another 10 months to get back to it....I don't know.
That's mostly a cable thing. The big networks still aim for 22 eps, assuming the show has the ratings to justify it.
The smaller channels have less money to spend so they produce shorter seasons.
But these are generally the critically acclaimed shows that everybody raves about and most people in this thread say they only watch.
Not scientific, but it kinda goes against what you're saying.
I think people have just gotten lazy or something all of a sudden. Breaking Bad broke it's already short seasons into 2 smaller seasons and won't air the second half until next year. I love the show, and that's not a problem for me. My younger brother, on the other hand, hates it. But then, his memory doesn't seem to be as good as mine, he tends to forget characters and story elements from week to week.
The human race is in trouble, not remembering simple storylines on TV and not having the patience for waiting for something so trivial is actually a little scary!
The Wire had 13 episode seasons and they were all great. There's rarely a weak episode. Short seasons can improve the quality of a show. Longer seasons are better if all you really want is something to go to on a particular night of the year and be generally entertained with. Procedural shows fall under this category.
Cable is not killing itself with short seasons. Cable is gaining viewers at broadcast's expense, and broadcast is where the long seasons are.
Apparently the audience likes short seasons, or maybe its closer to the truth to say that the audience likes having its specific tastes catered to, which cable can do a lot better than broadcast, since cable doesn't need to chase a mass audience.
In other words, its not the length of the season, but the content of the shows, that counts.
Apparently the audience likes short seasons, or maybe its closer to the truth to say that the audience likes having its specific tastes catered to, which cable can do a lot better than broadcast, since cable doesn't need to chase a mass audience.
In other words, its not the length of the season, but the content of the shows, that counts.
I the shows had good writers there wouldn't be any need for "filler" episodes.
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