At what point should a series of ended?

[Not G. Ivingname]

Many films, books, or game series drag on long after their experation date simply because they keep the cash cow rolling. Even when something ended in a way that made it sequel proof, they do it anyway. When do you think these series should of ended and where?

For me, I think the Modern Warfare sub series to Call of Duty should of ended with the first one, since the story left all the relevant baddies dead and the world clueless that Russia just had a civil war. MW 2 on the other hand had tons of plot holes (why go to war with America when any camera in the entire airport would show you that it was the work of a known terrorist).

 

[the_pleasure_is_mine]

inb4 Halo.

I agree with Call of Duty... should have ended with Modern Warfare 1.

 

[Serenegoose]

It's called "The Return of the Jedi." That's when that particular series should have ended.

 

[Infinatex]

I bought MW2 for the multiplayer, so as far as I'm concerned the story finished at the end of number 1. When MW3 is released I'll just do the same thing.

 

[Blue_vision]

Most forms of story media should end after their first instalment. If you're going to make a second one, you should be crucified for doing it for the sole purpose of moneymaking, and you absolutely have to innovate. Change things up, add something to the formula.

But this is only applicable to the natural end of a series. As in, if the book/game/movie/tv show in question wasn't specifically intended to continue past a certain point (for instance, a book/video game/movie, a trilogy, or the first 3 seasons.) If you're going to make a sequel, you have to make it radically different from the first. Case in point, Half Life 2, with it's totally new plot and general feeling of newness taking Half Life into account.

So, something like Modern Warfare 2 or L4D2 just shouldn't exist. If there's still work to do on it, then give game updates and expansion packs.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

When it feels like the story is being made up as it goes along. If it continues like that, it should really just go down quietly.

 

[Nico III]

Sorry, pet peeve:
Thread title should be "At what point should a series HAVE ended?"

Heroes should have ended after season 1, but anyone who watched the show already knows that.

 

[Scobie]

DELETED

 

[Tagball]

Lost should have ended with certain people getting off the island for the first time.

No getting off the island, getting back on the island, frozen donkey wheel, big-ass nuke, MiB

Spoiler

everyone is in Heaven ending, Locke's death, Jack's death and absence of Walt.

That is absolute poopy of the highest quality!

There should've been more Josh Holloway and his trademark "Son of a *****" quote.

 

[Swarley]

When it stops printing money.

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

The thing about series (serieses?) ending is that once they start going bad, they can't end, because no one will want to see the grand finale. "This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but with a wimper." Not sure who said it, but it was on Doctor Who. Anyway, like I said, a series needs to end with a great hullabaloo, but then the people who wrote the hullabaloo think they're cool stuff, and they decide that they could keep going for another season, and ride out the hype. But when they hit the sand, they realize that no one was watching after the waves died down, so they ride out again, only to find that the tide's gone out, and they're stuck on a rock.

 

[Throwitawaynow]

If it still makes a profit and is still fun for a large part of the fanbase, then keep making em.

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

It's called "The Return of the Jedi." That's when that particular series should have ended.

I think for that series, it should of been more of "where should of it began?"

 

[Not G. Ivingname]

When it stops printing money.

Even if their is nothing more the creators can do with the material, the original creators don't WANT there to be a sequel, or it makes no story sense for there to BE another sequel?

It makes perfect business sense to milk the cow for every last green drop but is that good for the series reputation or quality?

 

[Sneaky-Pie]

The Last Crusade.

 

[ALuckyChance]

The time after the Spyro and Crash Bandicoot original trilogy was released.

 

[ArianaUO321]

Certain things I believe should have ended?

God of War series, ended at GoW2. GOW3 was just an excuse to make a PS3 version.
Halo, ended at 3.
Star Wars had no need for a prequel trilogy involving retarded characters like Jar Jar Binks.
Twilight series should have ended before it was even published.

 

[Drexlor]

I can think of a series whose tagline was "There can be only one." They made more than one.

 

[Terminate421]

Twilight should have ended on twilight (The first one, hell it should have ended on the first sentence of the book)