Comments | kiwikazoo: Cliffhangers: the good, the bad, and the ugly

kiwikazoo

Cliffhangers: the good, the bad, and the ugly

May 25, 2005 21:04

What happened to good, suspenseful writing? Why does every fucking show feel the need to take the easy way out and have a cheap shock value ending?
( In which I compare the endings of some the series finales I've seen in the past while. Spoilers for pretty much anything that's aired in the past week, obviously. )

Comments 5

inigo May 26 2005, 11:43:29 UTC

I want to read and comment but I can't because I'm, like eight episodes behind with both Alias and Lost. But I anticipate that your post kicks ass and once VM is not my entire life ie. when the transcripts are done, the character glossary is done and whatever else, I'll catch up with them and this post.

alliterator May 27 2005, 00:23:18 UTC

Heh. I totally understand. The finale of NCIS and Alias ruined more for shock! surprise! cliffhangers! I mean, seriously. NCIS? Was a jaunty precudural comedy! And I loved it for that. But then: blam. And Alias? Ridiculous twists and turns. So much so, that I wouldn't be surprised if Vaughn's real name was Spanky. Both enjoyable shows that somehow are lessened by their endings.

But Battlestar Galactica had a cliffhanger that actually worked. I was completely unspoiled and totally surprised - and yet, it made sense. We've known all along that Boomer is a Cylon and she rigged the explosives in the water tanks, but it still shocking when she shoots Adama. And? The finale wrapped other things up, but left some things open, which is how it's supposed to be done. Like Veronica Mars.

Lost, eh. Somehow, I expected at least one mystery to actually be solved. And not for them to open the hatch and find... more hatch.

kiwikazoo May 27 2005, 00:29:39 UTC

Part of me is glad I was BG-spoiled. The whole reason I got into the show was reading a collection of reviews of 1.12 and 1.13 on AICN that had been sent in from the U.K. and they were all "OMG THIS SHOW IS AWESOME!" and, of course, they spoiled the ending. Also good? I probably would have had a fucking heart attack if I hadn't been waiting patiently for that twist.

alliterator May 27 2005, 01:08:24 UTC

Heh. Yeah, I was completely unspoiled and almost had a heart attack at that moment. It was cool because they totally didn't show it. The moment was all about Adama rubbing it in to Apollo and then BAM! But in a good way, since the show was already dark unlike NCIS.

ibe2sweet June 8 2005, 03:29:16 UTC

I was pissed that they killed off Kate on NCIS, the most interesting part is watching the cast fight like ten year olds.