Is it always important to leave them wanting more in the end of a tv series? Or should it be opposite? If you believe in either, why and how it can be accomplished?
Is it always important to leave them wanting more in the end?
- Thread starter Joe Washington
- Start date
"Leave them wanting more" is a good axiom for entertainment, but it is also important not to make the audience feel like you've underdelivered. Given a satisfactory ending, it is unimportant whether the audience wants to know what happens next or just wants to view the series again. I would hold up TNG and B5's endings as a way to put a cap on an ongoing series that can easily continue or to wrap up (most of) the loose ends in a nice bow.
There is no magic formula for how to end a TV series. Premature cancellations and business-motivated extensions cause the end of most shows to be far from their best episodes. Just have a plan for the most likely eventualities, though, and you'll be ahead of the game.
There is no magic formula for how to end a TV series. Premature cancellations and business-motivated extensions cause the end of most shows to be far from their best episodes. Just have a plan for the most likely eventualities, though, and you'll be ahead of the game.
S
Stone_Cold_Sisko
Guest
It's just a cliche catchphrase that people use so they can pretend like they have actual thoughts.
Bringing a story to a satisfying conclusion always works well. Always. In TV shows, movies, books, whatever.
Bringing a story to a satisfying conclusion always works well. Always. In TV shows, movies, books, whatever.
I prefer a satisfying ending, and I think a good example for TV is Friends. I was sad to see the show go off the air but at the same time the ending was so satisfying and wrapped everything up so nicely that I came away with a nice feeling of closure.
Yes, but with a qualifier. You want the audience having withdrawal symptoms, not with the "that's it?" impression feeling that things are unfinished.
I personally say that a conclusion should be just that. It should end the show's main plotline and wrap things up. Shows that don't do this irritate me a bit.
I'm reminded of that Seinfeld episode where George was always trying to leave on a high note. "Cos-tanza!"
I think the "non-ending" can be very effective in certain situations. As with most things there are good executions and bad executions of the specific form.
"The Sopranos" - fairly decent non-ending. At least it got people talking.
"The X-Flies" - bad non-ending.
I think the "non-ending" can be very effective in certain situations. As with most things there are good executions and bad executions of the specific form.
"The Sopranos" - fairly decent non-ending. At least it got people talking.
"The X-Flies" - bad non-ending.
It's important to leave them feeling good. They should be in some level satisfied. They may want more, they may feel that's enough for all time, but the ending should work for them. That's about it.
Frasier is a good case for me. It wraps things up; it does suggest there may be more to Frasier's story (isn't there always?) but you know what? We've seen enough, and I've seen enough, and Kelsey Grammer, I salute you.
Frasier is a good case for me. It wraps things up; it does suggest there may be more to Frasier's story (isn't there always?) but you know what? We've seen enough, and I've seen enough, and Kelsey Grammer, I salute you.
I think that the goal should be to provide a satisfying closure to a series before it's outstayed its welcome. A story shouldn't drag on well past its due. A series shouldn't be allowed to become a parody or shadow of itself simply because the studio or the network or whoever wants it to continue. But the story shouldn't feel forced, rushed or end prematurely, either. It's all a balancing act.
Yes it is, and it's simple. Don't solve all the mysteries, resolve all the threads. Or let some of your solutions raise more questions.
Leave them guessing still.
Real life doesn't fit into a nice, neat, easily explained package, no reason a story needs to, either.
Leave it in such a way indicating life goes on for these characters beyond the last page...or something goes on.
I'd rather have a series end on a cliffhanger and be cancelled wanting more like what happened with Popular, rather than an entire series be wrapped up with it was all a very long 3 year dream like with Sunset Beach.
At least you can imagine what would have happened instead of some lame writing that spoils any pleasure you might have gotten from imagining the ending
At least you can imagine what would have happened instead of some lame writing that spoils any pleasure you might have gotten from imagining the ending
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