I am
absolutely fed up of American networks cancelling shows that I love, particularly
when the season finale is either a cliffhanger or leaves hooks that lead into a
continuation of the story in a new season.
How dare
they!
I have just
finished watching season three of The Following starring Kevin Bacon as a
flawed FBI agent hunting psychopathic serial killers. I was excited because
although the story of season was concluded, it left things open for an
interesting season four.
“I can’t
wait for that,” I said to Mrs PM who also enjoyed it.
Imagine my
disgust when I discovered not ten minutes ago, that there would be no season
four at all.
Rant? I
think I may have redefined the word. My soapbox is struggling under the ferocious
assault and the cats are watching my fury, wearing their specially made ear
defenders so they can laugh at my antics.
 |
| Oh dear - he's off again!!! |
It’s like
having a book you are reading snatched from your grasp and hurled into an
incinerator and then discovering that it was the only copy. Or watching a film
and discovering that it was only partly finished.
The
behaviour of these faceless people infuriates me.
I can
imagine a bunch of suited men in black sitting in an office and deciding
whether to continue the season. Just because a few thousand less people watched
it, is that truly grounds for pissing me and thousands of other people off?
It doesn’t
matter whether the show is a triumph – it’s all to do with money at the end of
the day – and that’s a real shame.
Don’t get me
wrong; if a series finishes and ties up all of its loose ends to bring the
story to a satisfactory conclusion, then I am happy. I may not be happy with
the ending, but at least I have some kind of closure, something I desperately need
from such a series.
One of my
favourite shows ever, Babylon 5, survived for 5 seasons, despite the threat of
cancellation lurking over it like an unseen nemesis. As brilliant as the show
was, I feel that it seasons three and four were somewhat rushed in order to get
as much of the story in as possible. The result was a triumphant season four
story arc that thrilled me. It was so good that season five was commissioned
and, sadly, didn’t reach the high standards of its predecessor. However, at
least the writer managed to conclude the story in a satisfactory manner,
leaving one happy Plastic Mancunian.
Some series
have been so popular that the television company has persevered and allowed
them to run to a conclusion and I’m delighted that they have. One example is
Breaking Bad, which Mrs PM and I are currently ploughing our way through. Somebody
bought us the DVD box set for Christmas with a recommendation that we should
give it a try. We are currently close to finishing season three and are both
thoroughly enjoying it, knowing that the series reaches a satisfying
conclusion. I am happy that I can watch the remaining episodes in the knowledge
that there will be complete closure.
I have to
say, that UK TV companies generally allow a series to run its course and seldom
cancel a show at the end leaving a massive cliffhanger. It has been known
though. The world’s longest running science fiction series, Dr Who, was
eventually terminated after 26 years in 1989 and the UK geek world was
outraged. Thankfully the BBC had a change of heart, though it did take another
16 years to do it.
I just wish
that the US networks, who are meant to provide entertainment, would concentrate
less on being so ruthless and look at the bigger picture. There are millions of
people outside of the US who love these shows.
Think about
that, Fox, NBC and all of you other US networks. Next time you want to cancel a show, ask me first!
How about
you, dear reader.
Have you
suffered the deep frustration of having your favourite TV shows
cancelled?
If so, which
ones?
