Giving a Show a Proper Ending

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

Going back through the archives pertaining to the shows of my time is an interesting treat. It's strange though just how many shows get pulled before the writers can even put together something conclusive to finish with, particularly in animation.

What is your favorite episodic show that never got a real conclusion episode, and how would you conclude it?

 

[Kapol]

inb4 anyone says Firefly. Yea, it got a movie, but it still seemed to die too early. There seemed like there were so many more tails to tell. And the 'ending' was hardly a real ending as much as 'stuff's gonna keep happening.' I'd like to have seen some sort of closure with things like Mal's relationship with Liara (can't remember if that's her name) as well as most of the other relationships that were hinted at and played some parts but never reached a conclusion. I'd also like to see more of life on the ship after losing one of their own like that.

I know there's another one, but I can't remember it off hand.

 

[Reaper195]

Firefly. The show was cool (I wouldn't go as far as to say 'it's da g8tst shoe evar!"), and ended without really giving much of an explanation to far too many things. Granted there was the movie, but that only explained just one thing (Reavers). Lost ended without a real ending. In fact, that entire last season can fuck right off.

THis is what happens when tv series try to go on for as long as possible instead of telling a story. One (And close to the only) reason why I like some anime. They make one season. That's it. And maybe they'll give it a sequel. Not a second season, but a sequel. I wish the US did this. I want to see decent budget, single season tv shows which tell a story instead of telling a story, having a crap ending, and then telling about a dozen more so it can keep going until it gets cancelled, or the writers decide to end it and then it gets picked up and the original writers leave and the show looses a lot of its...ness (Supernatural).

 

[Truehare]

That would be 3rd Rock From the Sun, which I'm currently in the process of watching back-to-back. I understand it never had a proper ending, and I would love to see how that would work out.

I don't have a good idea on how it would end (haven't watched all episodes to form an opinion, I'm in the middle of Season 4 at the moment), but it would have to involve the Solomons somehow being exposed as aliens, at least to those people close to them. And it would be nice if they somehow got to stay on Earth indefinitely, continuing their mission but now with the aid of their human friends.

EDIT: Oh, and how could I forget the X Files! That show was such a huge part of my life back in the day, and it would be nice to see it end in a dignified way for a change. And I say that without having watched the second movie, but I have the impression it doesn't provide any closure either.

 

[are.you.the.god.its.me.vader]

Teen Titans, before they released the "Trouble in Tokyo" film. The final episode of Teen Titans was such a non-episode.

 

[silver wolf009]

Invader Zim. It just kind of... Ended. That's it? The Valentine's day Platypus? If I could go back, I'd end it with Zim winning. Dib goes to wake up the sleeping masses, but fails, and humanity is destroyed, with him being the only survivor. Zim, sick green thing that he is, finds Dib, but leaves him alive, drifting dead in space forever. Silence for the rest of his miserable human life, forever haunted by the fact that he lost.

 

[artanis_neravar]

Teen Titans, before they released the "Trouble in Tokyo" film. The final episode of Teen Titans was such a non-episode.

Agreed. I would also like to add Heroes to this list. Stupid writers strike pushed it to it's premature demise.

 

[Bobic]

My Name is Earl. It ended on a complete cliffhanger, which isn't even my main gripe. I just wanted to see Earl finally finish his list and be happy with life, is that too much to ask?

Also, to comment on something more local, Doraleus and Associates. I know it's technically just a hiatus, but, with all the other shows that have dropped from the escapist, I can't see it coming back.

 

[Sean Hollyman]

Dragon Ball Z.

Should have ended atfter Gohan obliterated Cell.

Gohan rose, Goku went on to live in heaven with King Kai, and Vegeta finally did a good deed.

 

[b3nn3tt]

To my mind, the only shows that end like that are the ones that have outstayed their welcome. These shows are good at first, but go well past where the original hook could take them. So various side stories are added which no-one really cares about. People stop watching, and the show gets cancelled due to low ratings. Then people who watched from the beginning never get s satisfying conclusion.

Sorry if all of that sounded overly cynical.

 

[liveslowdiefast]

My Name is Earl got left in a silly state, we get left on a giant cliff hanger, i won't say the exacts seeing as spoliers but if you watched, you know we wanted to at least have that situation cleared up before it went off the air waves.

 

[Caer Seraphim]

Looks like a couple people beat me to listing My Name is Earl. Tragedy, a real American tragedy...

King of the Hill, perhaps?

 

[Sampler]

Drive - was just getting good when it got canned.

Oh and SG:U and even Atlantis - that was like

Spoiler: In case you haven't seen it

"Yey, we're home in this mutha-lover city sized space ship and kicked the big bad guys arses in the process - let's land and have cake"

 

[twistedmic]

Invader Zim and Freakazoid were both denied proper final episodes. Invader Zim could have been ended with an epic two-parter or movie (theatrical or t.v.) yet, because of the pricks at nick, it simply faded away.

 

[newguy77]

Kind of Better Off Ted. The first season was hilarious and I wish they could have kept it going longer, but even at the end of the second season it was starting to drop off. So to reiterate, I wish they could have kept it going strong, but it was probably for the better that it got cancelled.

 

[Jace1709]

Dark Angel was the first one for me that did that, it had a huge cliffhanger ending, but im not sure about the popularity of it, so i dont know how many people will care. There were a few books that continue the story, but ive not read them, ive heard they're pretty poor.

 

[Vandenberg1]

Going back through the archives pertaining to the shows of my time is an interesting treat. It's strange though just how many shows get pulled before the writers can even put together something conclusive to finish with, particularly in animation.

What is your favorite episodic show that never got a real conclusion episode, and how would you conclude it?

Married with Children / thread.

 

[HellRaid]

Samurai Jack.

The most awesome cartoon ever, building up a solid story and cast over several seasons for an epic climax that never got to happen.

I heard it was going to get a feature-length episode to wrap it up but it too was cancelled mid-production.

 

[MLChanges]

Dark Angel was the first one for me that did that, it had a huge cliffhanger ending, but im not sure about the popularity of it, so i dont know how many people will care. There were a few books that continue the story, but ive not read them, ive heard they're pretty poor.

I loved that show. Your not alone in wishing it had a proper ending. Also as someone else said, SG:U. Got cancelled and left with a cliffhanger just as it was getting done with all the overly dramatic crap.