For many years the season finale of nearly any tv present is assured to be a cliff-hanger. Why? For the straightforward motive that tv showrunners and writers will not be assured that their viewers will return when the present does. They determine one of the simplest ways to make sure that their present viewers is seated in entrance of their tv is the cliff-hanger.
But right here’s a small secret: viewers hate cliff-hangers. It presupposes that viewers received’t tune-in however for the cliff-hanger. When, in actuality, followers of a tv present usually tend to tune-in whatever the cliff-hanger. That is why they’re followers – they preserve coming again. Fans by their very nature are devoted and dedicated. They don’t have to be toyed with and manipulated.
So along with making a viewer’s mind wish to explode at any time when they see the phrases “to be continued” or the episode ends with out decision to a serious character’s standing –cliff-hangers additionally don’t even permit the viewer the small consolation of figuring out that their favourite character shall be returning; notably as characters in jeopardy or getting ready to loss of life are the popular.
However, as a result of this plot gadget has been utilized advert infinitum for years, followers have turn into a bit numb and unimpressed with cliff-hangers. Such a tool is extra of an annoyance and it insults the very person who the present needs to maintain when the present returns.
In latest years, cliff-hangers even have one other lethal side-effect: if the present doesn’t return, then followers are actually left hanging to marvel for eternity how issues would have labored out. Before the widespread use of the Internet, it was not even attainable to search out out what would have occurred. Today, by means of the usage of fan websites, conventions, and Twitter, it’s a lot simpler for writers and showrunners to convey to followers the “what would have occurred” had the present continued storylines.
But for the huge variety of viewers who will not be so “plugged in,” they may at all times marvel. It is a bone-of-contention — the not figuring out what would have come subsequent. It can rub away on the mind for years – turning into an more and more delicate sore spot if anybody have been to convey up the present and the way it merely stopped and by no means ended.
While it isn’t new that some exhibits don’t get adequate discover to wrap-up or conclude their storylines earlier than receiving discover that their present has been cancelled, it’s slightly new that some exhibits are willfully selecting to ignore the writing-on-the-wall. It has turn into a regular showrunner’s ostrich-tactic to disclaim the approaching death-knell and protest to the bitter-end that there might be a final minute reprieve.
But such willful blindness to the cruel realities of tv will not be solely ludicrous, it’s alienating. It is just mistaken for a showrunner to ignore the chilly, onerous fact that their present might get pink-slipped on the finish of its season or is not going to obtain the coveted “again 9” episode order – or worse but, might be pulled off the printed schedule at any second.
This lack of foresight finally divides the fan-base. There are die-hard followers who will recognize the last-stand method and who will stand by the present even when it fails to plan for its end-date. They will nonetheless purchase the DVD’s and encourage others to find the now defunct present.
However, there are additionally the followers who shall be outraged that the present ended with out a correct ending — the place characters are left disjointed, caught in jeopardy and with out seeing their favourite {couples} united. Nothing is extra galvanizing than by no means seeing if a “will-they-or-won’t-they” kind couple really will get collectively. The lack of a payoff and/or decision drives away the very followers that supported the present and caught with it as soon as it’s gone. They is not going to purchase the DVD’s and they’re going to inform everybody they know that it was not value watching as a result of it didn’t have an ending.
Just like movie-goers don’t wish to be kicked out of the theater earlier than the film ends, and book-readers don’t wish to purchase half-a-book, tv followers don’t wish to be left with out decision both.
In the case of such latest exhibits as LONESTAR and MY GENERATION, they weren’t even on the printed schedule lengthy sufficient for anybody to completely perceive what both present was about, not to mention to actually turn into connected and mourn them once they have been all of a sudden cancelled. But within the case of a number of different latest tv sequence, they have been round quite a bit longer and followers turned way more connected and invested within the tales and characters. A number of, like CAPRICA and LIFE UNEXPECTED, perceive that their end-date is approaching they usually make an effort to resolve their greater storylines and place their characters in settled positions that their followers will recognize. Such exhibits shall be remembered fondly for his or her foresight, sensitivity and appreciation of their followers.
Then there are the exhibits that play “ostrich” and refuse to acknowledge that the top is coming. Three good examples are V, THE CAPE and STARGATE UNIVERSE. Ratings for these sequence have by no means been very excessive and but ignoring the indicators that these exhibits have been in jeopardy, the showrunners intentionally selected to maneuver ahead at their leisurely tempo as if they’d on a regular basis on the earth to introduce and resolve their tales.
Having simply watched the season finales (and more than likely, the sequence finales) for V and THE CAPE, such stubbornness feels egocentric. Just as a result of the showrunners/writers didn’t wish to acknowledge, not to mention plan for an accelerated end-date, they actually left their viewers hanging. These are the exhibits that divide followers and received’t be remembered so fondly. To not see if Vince Faraday was ever reunited together with his household; did Peter Fleming succumb to his alter-ego Chess; did Orwell slowly lose her thoughts like her father – THE CAPE by no means answered any of those questions. It solely left followers questioning what-might-have-been. Likewise with V – it left all the inhabitants of the planet enthralled by Anna’s bliss and susceptible for occupation; it didn’t clarify Hobbes’ sudden departure and abandonment of his new relationship with Erica; it didn’t reveal if Tyler was really useless or can be saved by the superior medical expertise of the Visitors; and the fates of each Lisa and Chad Decker have been hanging within the steadiness.
To conclude both of those exhibits at such unresolved factors is painful and disillusioning. While THE CAPE solely aired 9 episodes and had its closing episode reserved for web viewing and thus might not have had sufficient time to actually write and movie a correct ending, it definitely may have added an epilogue or filmed yet one more scene displaying Vince reunited together with his household. However, in V’s case, the crime is extra egregious. Being in its second season and by no means being a real ratings-hit, the sequence may have simply deliberate an alternate-ending episode. There was adequate time and spot to plan for the eventuality that the present doesn’t return for one more season.
In addition to V and THE CAPE, there are a number of extra tv sequence which can be more likely to fall beneath the chopping-block this season and which ought to plan for an finish in case they’re cancelled. Currently, STARGATE UNIVERSE is airing its closing 10 episodes. It has already acquired its cancellation discover and, whereas it will not be attainable to movie an alternate ending to wrap up the sequence, the present does have time so as to add maybe an epilogue explaining what occurred to the survivors caught overseas the alien spaceship Destiny. Also heading smack in direction of cancellation is THE EVENT and maybe FRINGE. Both have borderline scores and will simply fall underneath the tv guillotine.
It is time for showrunners and writers to look at the legacy of their exhibits. Do they need their legacy to be alongside the traces of: “enjoyable present, but it surely by no means had an ending – can’t advocate it” or “enjoyable present, cut-short earlier than it’s time, however they at the least acquired to wrap it up – advocate checking it out”? Television isn’t just leisure for the current – it offers leisure for the longer term. Several tv sequence have secured their legacy just by discovering a manner to supply closure for his or her followers. Two key examples have been FIREFLY and PUSHING DAISIES. By hell-or-high-water these exhibits discovered a manner to supply satisfying endings for his or her followers and they’re remembered not solely with fondness – however with fanatical fervor as new followers are recruited annually. There is one thing to be stated for legacy – if solely every present would take such care with their tales and characters, then they too may enter the hallowed halls of welcomed acclaim.
It is time for tv to cease following the churn-and-burn philosophy as if it didn’t matter how a tv present is remembered, and undertake an contingency plan. An exit technique solely demonstrates an appreciation of the established followers. So it’s time to abolish cliff-hangers. Such low cost methods are undesirable, pointless and are ruining tv. 
Tiffany Vogt is a contributing author to TheTVAddict. She has an ideal love for tv and firmly believes that leisure is a world of wondrous adventures that deserves to be shared and explored – she invitations you to hitch her. Please be happy to contact Tiffany at [email protected] or observe her at on Twitter (@TVWatchtower).
