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That's why I prefer watching short serials like Band of Brothers or just straight series like Columbo or Star Trek. Nowadays everyone wants to grab your full a

by hawski 8y ago

That's why I prefer watching short serials like Band of Brothers or just straight series like Columbo or Star Trek. Nowadays everyone wants to grab your full attention so they produce serials. When you're finally hooked on the story thanks to the neverending thread mill of cliff hangers and further unresolved mysteries they drop the show and leave you hanging. Because numbers ain't right, they show the audience the middle finger. The audience is upset, but not enough to recognize a vicious cycle that hurt them previously many times. That's one of the reasons I don't intend to watch the new Star Trek serial. Or will watch a serial after it is naturally finished.

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blensor 8y ago
Maybe I am already too old, but a while ago I've learned that disappointment about something not being resolved is just part of life and it's better to look forward about what other things are too come than to be too upset that things don't go on as is forever. If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story. - Orson Welles
AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago
I too miss the self-contained-episode quality of TV shows. It gave viewers the ability to jump in and leave at any point in the series and still be able to follow what was going on (usually). And is it just me or do these modern serials just seem to stretch everything out to fill the season? I think that's part of what makes them un-re-watchable, because in most episodes basically nothing happens. Some shows demonstrated that you can balance long-term plot arcs with the self-contained episode format really well, and I wish more shows would do that. One that comes immediately to mind is Stargate.
- TeMPOraL 8y ago
  Yup. Stargate was perfect. I don't like series with fully self-contained episodes, because those tend to not have any overarching plot. But I also don't like the new trend of running as many plot points as you can in parallel, which don't get resolved for half a season. I think StarGate got the right balance (and I miss the show very much).
- duncanawoods 8y ago
  X-files comes to my mind as a great example. The episodic nature is built into the format - a weird thing happens, x-files are called in. Next episode, new mystery. Its then a coin flip for whether its self contained or has a link to the broader conspiracy arc. I found that satisying as a kid. I wanted more of the big arc but it almost certainly wouldn't have worked if it was the central theme of every show.
ianai 8y ago
It’s completely a gimmic and infuriating. It demonstrates a lack of creativity in the writing staff when there’s essentially one plot and tons of filler. Glad I’m not the only one to not like this trend.
YeGoblynQueenne 8y ago
>> That's one of the reasons I don't intend to watch the new Star Trek serial. You're not missing anything for it is a steaming pile of horse manure. Even Enterprise wasn't as bad.
TheCoelacanth 8y ago
The first season of the new Star Trek series wraps up the plot pretty well. There isn't much left unresolved after the season finale. I don't think it's guilty of what you are complaining about.

by hawski 8y ago

deleted 8y ago

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blensor 8y ago

Maybe I am already too old, but a while ago I've learned that disappointment about something not being resolved is just part of life and it's better to look forward about what other things are too come than to be too upset that things don't go on as is forever. If you want a happy ending, that depends, of course, on where you stop your story. - Orson Welles

AnIdiotOnTheNet 8y ago

I too miss the self-contained-episode quality of TV shows. It gave viewers the ability to jump in and leave at any point in the series and still be able to follow what was going on (usually). And is it just me or do these modern serials just seem to stretch everything out to fill the season? I think that's part of what makes them un-re-watchable, because in most episodes basically nothing happens. Some shows demonstrated that you can balance long-term plot arcs with the self-contained episode format really well, and I wish more shows would do that. One that comes immediately to mind is Stargate.

TeMPOraL 8y ago
Yup. Stargate was perfect. I don't like series with fully self-contained episodes, because those tend to not have any overarching plot. But I also don't like the new trend of running as many plot points as you can in parallel, which don't get resolved for half a season. I think StarGate got the right balance (and I miss the show very much).
duncanawoods 8y ago
X-files comes to my mind as a great example. The episodic nature is built into the format - a weird thing happens, x-files are called in. Next episode, new mystery. Its then a coin flip for whether its self contained or has a link to the broader conspiracy arc. I found that satisying as a kid. I wanted more of the big arc but it almost certainly wouldn't have worked if it was the central theme of every show.

ianai 8y ago

It’s completely a gimmic and infuriating. It demonstrates a lack of creativity in the writing staff when there’s essentially one plot and tons of filler. Glad I’m not the only one to not like this trend.

YeGoblynQueenne 8y ago

>> That's one of the reasons I don't intend to watch the new Star Trek serial. You're not missing anything for it is a steaming pile of horse manure. Even Enterprise wasn't as bad.

TheCoelacanth 8y ago

The first season of the new Star Trek series wraps up the plot pretty well. There isn't much left unresolved after the season finale. I don't think it's guilty of what you are complaining about.