TV Shows – They Never End!

There is something magical about stories that we don’t find in most TV shows these days: a beginning, middle and an end!

I always wished that, for once, these creators would just sit down, write the whole thing and then start filming. I don’t understand how the process of making a TV show works, but it becomes irritating when you know the show you’re watching is going nowhere. They just keep the show going because of the ratings. And when these ratings drop, they cancel the show without giving a proper ending.

That is why I have a huge respect for Japanese animated shows. Granted not all of these shows are great, but they all have one thing in common. By the time a show airs, the whole series is already planned out. When Japanese creators tell you a certain show is going to have 26 episodes, it’s going to have 26 episodes no matter how the audiences respond, and yes, I still watch those.

If all TV shows would work like that, only then will we get well-constructed stories and not something like this:

Season 1:

Boy: “You’re hot. Let’s go out.”
Girl: “But I don’t want anything serious.”
Boy: “Sure, sure.”

Season 2:

Girl: “We’re so broken up.”
Boy: “But, I love you.”
Girl: “It’s over!”
Boy: “But… I love you!”
Boy moves on, gets a new girlfriend.
Then Girl tells him (at season Finale) “I love you too.”

Season 3:

Girl: “I love you.”
Boy: “Woman, I moved on!”
Girl: “I love you more than anything!”
Boy: “I’m engaged!”
Season finale
Girl: “It’s ok. I’ll always love you.”
Boy: “That’s it! I can’t live without you! Let’s hook up!”

Season 4:

Boy: “Let’s get married.”
Girl: “I don’t know.”
Boy: “Oh, yeah I still need to break up with my fiancé.”

Turning points are an important aspect in story lines of any TV show. It’s also an effective tool to make viewers come back, but it’s very rare when these romantic relationships are actually interesting. In fact, they rarely do make sense. Take Grey’s Anatomy and Gossip Girl for example. In every season, characters make up, break up or cheat on their partner. It’s gets annoying and weary when you have to watch it happening over and over!

I really wonder how the discussions among the writers goes:

“Viewers need some action! Let’s make Blair and Chuck break up.”

“Again? Didn’t they break up like 5 times already?”

“Dude, people love this stuff!”

I’m sure people would appreciate new ideas from time to time too.