I also shudder to think what would've happened next in QaF. I think I would almost have preferred no S5 to the season we got. Not that QaF is unique in that - X Files went on too long, and wasn't very good once DD left. Stargate SG-1 went on too long after the departure of RDA. I don't know about Atlantis because I haven't seen the latest season, but I'm not expecting much. Criminal Minds is still okay, even though they've lost Gideon, but how long will that last? Without a Trace is boring a lot of the time. CSI's got pretty silly although it might improve. CSI:Miami has a cartoon detective with his portentous pronouncements, sunglasses and promises he can't know he can keep (usually to children), not to mention his liking for illegal revenge. Even NCIS - and I *adore* Gibbs - isn't what it was and I've only seen up to S4. The studio gets a successful series and milks it like a cash cow, regardless of quality, characterisation, good writing, good plotting etc. I can't think of a series I've watched (I didn't watch West Wing) which *hasn't* gone on too long (except *maybe* Star Trek TNG).
Unlike many people, with the exception with the whole fighting over the baby thing, I was okay with S5. Besides, this question just asked which shows we missed, not which ones we'd like to have seen go on longer or went on too long.
That said, it's rare that I think series go on too long. I certainly have not felt that way about any of my favorites. Sometimes I don't like the direction a show takes -- e.g. I stopped being interested in Lost when they pushed it away from being a character-driven piece to being all about the supernatural magic island crap -- but in terms of shows just going on too long? not really.
Really well-crafted series finales are few and far between though. Probably the best in my memory was that for Six Feet Under. Really brilliant.
On the other hand, way too many excellent shows have been cancelled entirely too soon.
As for the shows you named, I never liked The X-Files, I never really watched Stargate, Criminal Minds, or Without a Trace, and the CSIs and NCIS are just background filler for me when I'm doing paperwork or cleaning the house. I am a fan of the entire Star Trek universe though and I was fine with all of them, though some series were clearly better than others.
As for The West Wing, it truly is one of the most brilliant things that's ever been on TV. I highly recommend you check it out sometime.
The studio gets a successful series and milks it like a cash cow, regardless of quality, characterisation, good writing, good plotting etc. I can't think of a series I've watched (I didn't watch West Wing) which *hasn't* gone on too long (except *maybe* Star Trek TNG).
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That said, it's rare that I think series go on too long. I certainly have not felt that way about any of my favorites. Sometimes I don't like the direction a show takes -- e.g. I stopped being interested in Lost when they pushed it away from being a character-driven piece to being all about the supernatural magic island crap -- but in terms of shows just going on too long? not really.
Really well-crafted series finales are few and far between though. Probably the best in my memory was that for Six Feet Under. Really brilliant.
On the other hand, way too many excellent shows have been cancelled entirely too soon.
As for the shows you named, I never liked The X-Files, I never really watched Stargate, Criminal Minds, or Without a Trace, and the CSIs and NCIS are just background filler for me when I'm doing paperwork or cleaning the house. I am a fan of the entire Star Trek universe though and I was fine with all of them, though some series were clearly better than others.
As for The West Wing, it truly is one of the most brilliant things that's ever been on TV. I highly recommend you check it out sometime.
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