I want to address this topic later in a more complete way, but I want to pose this question right now as a way to introduce the topic:
Should more shows on American television be conceived for an close-ended run?
I ask this since I can see a lot, and I mean a lot, of shows that would benefit by a defined number of episodes: anywhere from six to thirteen. And yet, they linger and languish as shows with an unclear finish line. Along the way, both we and the show suffer.
This is why the announcement of a finite end of Lost has me so excited. I don’t relish the thought of only forty-eight episodes of my favorite show of all time left before it moves onto the great beyond, but I am beyond thrilled that the producers of the show are getting firm knowledge of the show’s end, and therefore have a chance to end the show in the proper way.
But look at shows like Chuck and Reaper: I love these shows, but can you see either last the six seasons Lost will when all is said and done? This has very little to do with quality and everything to do with conceit: both Chuck and Reaper are high-concept shows with questions that demand answering. Shows like CSI and Criminal Minds ask no such questions and therefore can continue on perpetually without repercussion. I don’t have a problem with shows like that. I don’t watch them, but I don’t abhor them. But let’s not pretend for a second that CSI and Chuck are remotely related.
So today’s study question: what shows currently airing would work best as a close-ended narrative? Which have earned an open-ended structure that ensures years to tease out the themes established in the show? Answer me that and I will flesh out my responses in the near future.
3 Comments
Well, Smallville for one deserves an ending date, I mean the dude has to fly sometime. I watch this show called Life right now, I think I might be the only one, but, that show could run for about 3 seasons and THAT’S IT. I have no idea why his character would be interesting when his “mystery” get solved. It’s not like Veronica Mars where they could introduce new mysteries every season, at least those mysteries were on the main character’s periphery, not So with Life.
For open ended show, Friday night lights is perfect, every season starts with a new football “season”, characters can be introduced and never clearly stated what their class status is (in terms of freshman, soph, etc) We just found out that the quarterback was a junior this past week for God’s sake. Too bad the show will be cancelled right quick. Other open ended shows that work well, The Shield, The Office, Pushing Daisies, Weeds, and I feel like Dirty Sexy Money can go beyond it’s mystery as well, there’s enough interesting characters on that show that they can build plot lines around for YEARS.
agree on Life, it should end when the mystery is over. i do love it though. another show that should have an endgame close at hand is Damages, assuming its been picked up for another season. they’ve “solved” one mystery and it conveniently led to another one, but i think if they try to stretch it any more it’ll break.
by the way, did you read about the new Joss Whedon project “Dollhouse” starrgin Eliza Dushku??!!! eeeeeeeek!!! so excited.
oh, and bonus points for the Neil LaBute reference.