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Movies & TV Shows

Why do some successful TV series (sometimes) have bad endings?

This publication was also writen in SPANISH and PORTUGUESE.

Breaking Bad simply raised the bar for quality too high.

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I had actually thought about this before (several times over the years), but I believe I had never written anything about successful TV series that have bad endings, and today is a nice day to reflect on this because I remembered the subject. Anyway, I know that unanimous endings don't exist and that there will always be disagreements because everyone has their own preferences and quality standards. However, it is very common to see successful TV series with a really bad conclusion.

You have certainly watched some of them (or many). As I write this post, I can particularly remember, almost immediately, Lost, Game of Thrones, Dexter and Stranger Things (just to mention two recent examples) which had above-average development throughout their seasons (despite all their respective ups and downs), but which gradually lost their way (until reaching a very questionable ending). Although fortunately this is not a constant, it is undeniable to say that some of these TV series really suffered.

I don't bring any definitive answer in this text to the question that serves as the title of this text (and that is not my intention), but I think that some more notable aspects can be categorized as possible reasons for this standard deviation. The first of them is the production time between releases of each new season. In particular, in recent years, waiting for a next season has become a major burden; and one that still can't be justified to the public (at least not in a very convincing way, so to speak).

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In the midst of this wait, the audience changes (on different levels) and their respective priorities change as well. Therefore, what was interesting to watch one or two years ago may no longer be today. Another aspect is strategies where marketing fragments an entire season to make it last longer than it should. At this point, nobody knows how to do something as annoying as Netflix, which bet on the format with a division of seasons (with distinct volumes). I particularly hate this type of strategy, because it ends up interrupting my rhythm of immersion in the narrative.

Last, but definitely not least, two other aspects: creators and screenwriters who don't know where (or when) their own product will end (forcing the script to always be remodeled according to the reception signaled by the audience); and the involvement of producers (and even creators and screenwriters) in parallel projects, which easily favor a dispersion of ideas over the lack of focus on what really needs to be finished.

If you read this text, and managed to think of some other possible answers to answer the question in the post's title, write them in the comments and let's exchange ideas about this very controversial topic (and even very frustrating regarding the way some TV series have been treated over the years). Perhaps the scenario is changing, but I think that a truly effective change can only happen after a reformulation within the television universe (which is no longer so restricted, considering the increasingly high and much more amplified level of production).


¿Por qué algunas series de televisión exitosas a veces tienen malos finales?

Realmente ya había pensado en esto (varias veces a lo largo de los años), pero creo que nunca había escrito nada sobre series de TV exitosas que tienen finales malos, y hoy es un buen día para reflexionar sobre esto porque recordé el tema. En fin, sé que no existen finales unánimes y que siempre habrá divergencias porque todas las personas tienen sus propias preferencias y estándares de calidad. Sin embargo, es muy común ver series de TV exitosas con una conclusión bastante mala.

Seguramente ya debes haber visto algunas de ellas (o muchas). Mientras escribo este post, particularmente puedo recordar, casi de inmediato, Lost, Game of Thrones, Dexter y Stranger Things (solo por mencionar dos ejemplos recientes) que tuvieron un desarrollo por encima de la media a lo largo de sus temporadas (a pesar de todos sus respectivos altibajos), pero que fueron perdiéndose por el camino (hasta llegar a un final bastante cuestionable). Aunque afortunadamente esto no sea una constante, es innegable decir que algunas de estas series de TV realmente sufrieron.

No traigo en este texto ninguna respuesta definitiva a la pregunta que funciona como título de este texto (y esa no es mi intención), pero pienso que algunos aspectos más notables pueden categorizarse como posibles razones de esa desviación estándar. El primero de ellos es el tiempo de producción entre los lanzamientos de cada nueva temporada. En especial, en los últimos años, esperar por una próxima temporada se ha vuelto una gran carga; y que todavía no puede ser justificada ante el público (al menos no de una manera muy convincente, por así decirlo).

En medio de esta espera, el público cambia (en diferentes niveles) y también cambian sus respectivas prioridades. Por lo tanto, lo que era interesante de ver hace uno o dos años, hoy puede que ya no lo sea. Otro aspecto son las estrategias donde el marketing fragmenta una temporada entera para hacerla durar más de lo que debería. En este punto, nadie sabe hacer algo tan aburrido como Netflix, que apostaba por el formato con una división de temporadas (con volúmenes distintos). Particularmente odio este tipo de estrategia, porque termina interrumpiendo mi ritmo de inmersión en la narrativa.

Por último, pero definitivamente no menos importante, otros dos aspectos: creadores y guionistas que no saben dónde (o cuándo) terminará su propio producto (obligando al guion a ser siempre remodelado de acuerdo con la recepción que es señalada por el público); y la participación de los productores (e incluso de los creadores y guionistas) en proyectos paralelos, que fácilmente favorecen una dispersión de ideas por la falta de enfoque en lo que realmente necesitaría terminar.

Si leíste este texto, y lograste pensar en algunas otras posibles respuestas para responder a la pregunta título del post, escríbelas en los comentarios y vamos a intercambiar ideas sobre este tema tan controvertido (y hasta muy frustrante con respecto a la manera en que algunas series de TV fueron tratadas a lo largo de los años). Quizás el escenario esté cambiando, pero pienso que un cambio realmente efectivo solo podrá ocurrir después de una reformulación dentro del universo televisivo (que ya no está tan restringido así, considerando el nivel de producción cada vez más alto y mucho más amplificado).


Por que algumas séries de TV de sucesso às vezes têm finais ruins?

Eu realmente já havia pensado sobre isso (por várias vezes ao longo dos anos), mas acredito que nunca havia escrito nada sobre séries de TV de sucesso que tem finais ruins, e hoje é um dia legal para refletir sobre isso porque eu lembrei do assunto. Enfim, eu sei que finais unânimes não existem e que sempre haverá divergências porque todas as pessoas tem suas próprias preferências e padrões de qualidade. No entanto, é muito comum ver séries de TV de sucesso com uma conclusão bem ruim.

Você certamente já deve ter assistido algumas delas (ou muitas). Enquanto eu escrevo este post, eu particularmente consigo me lembrar, quase que imediatamente, sobre Lost, Game of Thrones, Dexter e Stranger Things (apenas para mencionar dois exemplos recentes) que tiveram um desenvolvimento acima da média ao longo de suas temporadas (apesar de todos os seus respectivos altos e baixos), mas que foram se perdendo pelo caminho (até chegar a um final bem questionável). Embora isso felizmente não seja uma constante, é inegável dizer que algumas dessas séries de TV realmente sofreram.

Eu não trago neste texto nenhuma resposta definitiva para a pergunta que funciona como o título deste texto (e essa não é minha intenção), mas penso que alguns aspectos mais notáveis podem ser categorizados como possíveis razões desse desvio padrão. O primeiro deles é o tempo de produção entre os lançamentos a cada nova temporada. Em especial, nos anos recentes, esperar por uma próxima temporada tem se tornado um grande pesado; e que ainda não consegue ser justificado ao público (ao menos não de uma maneira muito convincente).

No meio dessa espera, o público muda (em diferentes camadas) e mudam também suas respectivas prioridades. Logo, o que era interessante de ser assistido há um ou dois anos, hoje pode não ser mais. Outro aspecto são estratégias onde o marketing fragmenta uma temporada inteira para fazê-las durar mais do que ela deveria. Nesse ponto, ninguém sabe fazer algo tão chato como a Netflix, que apostava no formato com uma divisão de temporadas (com volumes distintos). Eu particularmente odeio esse tipo de estratégia, porque isso acaba interrompendo meu ritmo de imersão na narrativa.

Por fim, mas definitivamente não menos importante, outros dois aspectos: criadores e roteiristas que não sabem onde (ou quando) o seu próprio produto irá acabar (obrigando o roteiro a sempre ser remodelado de acordo com a recepção que é sinalizada pelo público); e o envolvimento dos produtores (e até mesmo dos criadores e roteiristas) em projetos paralelos, que facilmente favorecem uma dispersão de ideias sobre a falta de foco no que realmente precisaria acabar.

Se você leu este texto, e conseguiu pensar em algumas outras possíveis respostas para responder a pergunta título do post, escreva nos comentários e vamos trocar uma ideia sobre esse tópico tão controverso (e até muito frustrante com relação ao modo como algumas séries de TV foram tratadas ao longo dos anos). Talvez o cenário esteja mudando, mas eu penso que uma mudança realmente efetiva só poderá acontecer depois de uma reformulação dentro do universo televisivo (que não é mais restrito assim, considerando o nível de produção cada vez mais alto e bem mais amplificado).

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Comments · 4

  • @sandef(57)· 1h

    I think one major reason is that endings are incredibly difficult to write. Starting a story is relatively easy. You can introduce a mysterious character, create unanswered questions, establish conflicts and keep giving the audience reasons to continue watching. Every episode can end with another question. Who is this person? What happened here? Why did they do that? What is going to happen next?, but eventually, you have to answer those questions and that is where things become complicated.

    The longer a series runs, the more expectations it creates. Every mystery becomes another promise to the audience. Every character arc needs some form of conclusion. Every major conflict needs to be resolved and sometimes there are simply too many things to wrap up within the amount of time the writers have and also to put plainly some successful shows can become victims of their own success🤷

  • @netflixr(79)· 4h

    two other aspects: creators and screenwriters who don't know where (or when) their own product will end

    this is probably the main point. GoT has not good excuse for this because they were well aware that the thing had to end but just mucked it up anyway. But for the most part I think that series continuing has everything to do with audience numbers, focus groups, and profitability. LOST went on for far too long and only threw in the towel once it was no longer making tons of money. The last several seasons made absolutely zero sense and the story from the start of it started to unravel into "WTF is going on?" after just halfway through the 2nd season.

    Breaking Bad I think did set the bar really high, because if they had milked it, they could have kept that thing going for several more years and still raked in the money but they decided to have an epic ending instead.

    Insisting that series be a certain number of episodes is also a downfall. Some series that I really wanted to do well were destroyed by having 50% (at least) of every episode being "filler" that served no purpose other than to fill up the obligatory 44 minute episode. Punisher comes to mind the most in this example, but there are droves of others.

  • @johneyreacko(63)· 4h

    I think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned the uncertainty these productions face from season to season.

    It would be a difficult and heartbreaking task to write the end of your own job. Thinking about it that way it kind of makes sense that the quality can drop off a cliff when they know the end is near.

    Not to mention wrapping up multi seasonal plot lines that you've planned on continuing. That alone would be a huge problem.

    I think The Boys on Amazon Prime kinda' touched on this in the final episodes leading up to the finale. There's this character that serves as a 'self insert' for the show runner. This character is a writer for tv shows, and in one instance he talks about how impossible it is to adequately tie up and end the various plot lines leading up to a series finale, and that finales are always disappointing...

    It was a very poorly done 4th wall break, practically warning the viewer that a lackluster and disappointing finale was about to come their way.

    They should never have attempted meta commentary... It was seriously cringe worthy.

    The point they make though I think carries weight.

    It takes a level of talent rarely seen to end a show to the same standard it had begun with.

    Another good example is Star Trek: Voyager, that had such a rushed and clunky finish. A bad end to an otherwise amazing show.

    Now that I think about it, the opposite can also happen. Shows can start off poorly, but end amazingly.

    Like star trek: ds9, Babylon 5, or even Stargate.

    The first seasons of those shows were.. mid at best, but damn did they have a hell of an ending.

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