Since this show will obviously reference the endings to certain shows, spoilers will abound. Just make sure you at least name the show you're referring to up top so that people know to quit reading right there.
I watch the last few episodes of Chuck today, and I have to say I'm very happy with the way the show ended. I'd say the meta-story (Will it be cancelled or won't it? The struggles of writing a serialized plot with such uncertainty around its future. Passionate fan pushes to keep it going. Subway, Subway, and more Subway) was more in the forefront of my mind than the actual stories within the show. That's not to say I think it was bad (OK...there were some moments last season). In fact I think the writers did an excellent job considering the nature of the task. But I was glad when I heard the announcement that this would be the definite final season of Chuck. I felt it would give the show a definite direction it was lacking for a while. And I was right. I'd say this fifth season was on par with the second season as the best in the series. And they were able to give a truly satisfying ending.
Of course, this is an artistic luxury that most serialized [footnote]If you don't know what I mean by that: "Serialized" means the show focuses on long story lines that span entire seasons or the entire series. "Procedural" shows are those like Law and Order where continuity doesn't typically matter.[/footnote] shows don't have. The most successful ones tend to stick around long after they've exhausted their spirit. Others [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/no-right-answer/5187-Firefly-vs-Terminator-The-Sarah-Connor-Chronicles] die off before they can finish their story. I can't even think of many shows that I believe ended well: The Wire, Freaks and Geeks (despite only lasting one season, the ending feels right), The Office (UK), and Battlestar Galactica. Breaking Bad also has a strong chance of pulling it off with its upcoming final season.
So what are your thoughts? What shows do you think ended well? I don't just mean the final episode, but the whole lead-up to it. Obviously, ratings are a big factor in keeping and killing shows, but do you think networks could benefit more from not trying to keep them alive for too long?
I watch the last few episodes of Chuck today, and I have to say I'm very happy with the way the show ended. I'd say the meta-story (Will it be cancelled or won't it? The struggles of writing a serialized plot with such uncertainty around its future. Passionate fan pushes to keep it going. Subway, Subway, and more Subway) was more in the forefront of my mind than the actual stories within the show. That's not to say I think it was bad (OK...there were some moments last season). In fact I think the writers did an excellent job considering the nature of the task. But I was glad when I heard the announcement that this would be the definite final season of Chuck. I felt it would give the show a definite direction it was lacking for a while. And I was right. I'd say this fifth season was on par with the second season as the best in the series. And they were able to give a truly satisfying ending.
Of course, this is an artistic luxury that most serialized [footnote]If you don't know what I mean by that: "Serialized" means the show focuses on long story lines that span entire seasons or the entire series. "Procedural" shows are those like Law and Order where continuity doesn't typically matter.[/footnote] shows don't have. The most successful ones tend to stick around long after they've exhausted their spirit. Others [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/videos/view/no-right-answer/5187-Firefly-vs-Terminator-The-Sarah-Connor-Chronicles] die off before they can finish their story. I can't even think of many shows that I believe ended well: The Wire, Freaks and Geeks (despite only lasting one season, the ending feels right), The Office (UK), and Battlestar Galactica. Breaking Bad also has a strong chance of pulling it off with its upcoming final season.
So what are your thoughts? What shows do you think ended well? I don't just mean the final episode, but the whole lead-up to it. Obviously, ratings are a big factor in keeping and killing shows, but do you think networks could benefit more from not trying to keep them alive for too long?
