It seems to me that all parties concerned - viewers, networks, creators - would end up happier if a fairly standard clause in contracts for a television series would be that the moment a series is officially canceled, a budget is cleared to produce two or three additional episodes under the explicit mandate that these should be used to leave the viewer with that sense of closure, the warm, fuzzy feeling of not having been screwed over by yet another serial of which the last chapter will never be told. It would leave people feeling better about the series that was canceled and create good will towards the network that cared enough to not leave them hanging. It would also, crucially, make viewers more likely to recommend the completed series to others, making for higher long-term profits.
I am curious to hear what other people think about this and if I am perhaps misinformed about the inner workings of television. Would this work? As a fan of big story arcs that you can invest in for a deeper emotional payoff, I do want to keep loving serials. But the television industry is making it hard to do that and I have been tricked too often. Don't make me watch reality TV. Please don't.
Article comments
1 - Johnnycakes
Interesting article with one major flaw. The last episode of the Sopranos was only ambiguous on the surface. A truly great ending can force you think and discover what the show has always been about. David Chase did that.
What is most impressive is that the writer has crafted a rather exhaustive critique of the conclusion of the final episode, while also providing a larger contextual view, of which the ending is a piece.
The writer also offers an analysis of the final scene and the sequence of shots that I haven't read elsewhere. The essay also contains a fascinating look at the Kevin Finnerty coma dreams, the connection between Phil and Tony in the final season and of course, the meaning of those ducks and how they relate to the final scene.
What it expresses more than anything else is that David Chase created one of the great works of art of the last century. Reading this I want to watch the whole series again.
2 - Steven van Lijnden
Right, well I used the wrong show as an example apparently. Though it is strange that people would need to do a near-academic study of a final episode to understand that the ending is NOT, in fact, an open one. I wasn't a regular viewer (plan to catch up) but friends who watched interpreted it as an open ending. In any case, it was just an example and my point still stands.
For my money, the best series' finale is from Six Feet Under, which manages to leave your heart aching and makes you ponder life.
From an interview will Scrubs'Bill Lawrence on the Entertainment Weekly website:
"One of the problems with network TV is that they don't reward loyalty. I've gotten to the point now that if I find a new show I like, I'll check its ratings before committing. If it's not a gangbuster hit, I'm very careful about getting invested."
See the url for the link to the interview.