Series that have run their course

[josbd]

I am thinking of series which used to be great, but have been on for so long that they have become hackneyed. There are a number of these, but I am particularly thinking of Grey's Anatomy. This used to be a top class series, but some time ago lost it's gloss, becoming toe curlingly trite and dull to the extent that it would not be out of place on the Hallmark Channel. IMO it should have been put to bed about five series back. Why are some originally fine series allowed to become parodies of themselves?

Not the same type of programmes mentioned above, but The Simpsons. Surely that has had its day now.

Totally agree about Not Going Out. Watched one episode where they were married with kids and never again.

Agree about Greys Anatomy - so dull. But disagree about Walking Dead - still love it though I miss Rick and was surprised they killed off Alpha- thought it had more to go with that story line.

So many of these I agree with. I keep reading thinking Oh yes I only got so far with that. Greys, ER, Once Upon a Time. I disagree about Schitt’s Creek though. I thought it was just right. I could have watched more but it was so beautiful, so funny and they kept that magic by finishing it when they did.

I recoiled in horror at the thought of a Buffy reboot. There is no need. I’m still watching the original series over and over again!

The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.

There's only so much talent to go round. Surely they've found everyone by now? Professionals already working in the industry won't touch those programmes with a bargepole, and amateurs are - well - amateurish.

Yay this thread has reminded me that I still have more schitts creek to watch!

I also have more OITNIB, Killing Eve, and the walking dead to watch , but I can’t be arsed to return to them.

@LyndaSnellsSniff

Call The Midwife. It was great when it followed the books but has just become a bit sanctimonious.

That and many or all terrestrial tv series set in the past are now identikit stories. The last of these was Land Girls. Each and every character is interchangeable with another one in another series.

Another which fits the bill is the (imo) piss poor "latest" adaptation of All Creatures Great and Small. Horrid in every way!

The Sopranos was another one that lost its way about three seasons before the network realised and stopped commissioning it. I've still got a bunch of episodes which I've never had the energy to watch. First three or four seasons were fantastic.

Desperate Housewives the same.

Killing Eve should have stopped after series 1 - or been put on hold until Waller-Bridge could write for it again! It was her "voice" that made it exceptional. Once Game of Thrones was no longer based on the Fire and Ice books (season 7?) the same thing happened, it became trite.

Surely the worst culprit though is Dexter - whoever was responsible for the way that ended should have been taken out and shot. Same for whoever commissioned the Walking Dead after season 8.

I think Fear the Walking Dead is becoming quite a strong series because it has settled, it has very strong characters. It is largely driven by the exceptional acting and quiet maturity of Alycia Debnam-Carey who has been right there since Episode one.

Dexter; should have ended after series 3 or series 4. The Trinity Killer? That would have been a good ending.

And this was mentioned earlier. Bloody reality tv series. Cheap, easy tv, which turns idiots and morons into "stars". With respect to those who watch, we are having our brains dulled. These series only started because of the writers strike years ago, and US tv needed schedules filled. We STILL have dozens of them drowning us in dross. And it is at cost of quality, decent writing, Standards. This is also why series are boring us to death. It's bloody cheaper to keep churning out more of the same.

Apologies for ranting!

Adding to the chorus re Killing Eve.

One series that I wish had gone on a bit longer was Life in Pieces. Nobody I know watched it but I really loved it!

Lost

Making a Murderer.

Whaaaat? S2 was amazing, I want to be Kathleen Zellner when I grow up.

Personally I didn’t like a lot of these shows to begin with, but Dexter is the ultimate shark jumper. S4 was so brilliant, but yikes. The reboot should be... interesting.

Arrested Development - S1 and 2 are perfect. I wish they’d stopped there.

Lost, obviously.

Then you have shows like Carnivale which was cancelled way too soon.

The only series I can think of which was the perfect length would be The Shield - ended when it should have done, and so brilliantly.

House; CSI; Law & Order SVU.

One of the things that makes "The Wire" still standout is the distinct arc over 5 series and then the circular stop.

Mad Men and Breaking Bad could have been trimmed.

Peaky Blinders has gone on a bit ...

One series that I wish had gone on a bit longer was Life in Pieces. Nobody I know watched it but I really loved it!

Oh no I disagree! I loved life in pieces but the last series was really lazy writing.

Controversial but Strictly and Masterchef and Bake-off. All very boring now.

I disagree with so many of these. Once upon a time especially. I really enjoyed the final season.

Lost as well, i could have carried on watching.

I expect shows that are on for years to adapt and change. That’s life.

I only started schitt’s creek and oitnb recently and really enjoying both.

As a huge West Wing fan I really hope they never reboot it. A lot of fans think it should have stopped after Aaron Sorkin left but to my mind the 7 series (2 presidential terms) was perfect and wrapped up very satisfyingly.

Downton was always silly! Still loved it though. Really enjoyed the film.
Did anyone see Dickensian on Netflix? I thought that was so cleverly done. Such a shame it ended after only one series.
Most series seem to share the trend with season 1 setting the scene etc, seasons 2 and 3 the characters and storylines developing. These tend to be the best. Then the following series when it gets wrapped up is when it goes pear shaped for most of. Game of Thrones being a classic example.

I agree with call the midwife, downton and not going out, also shows like masterchef, x factor

but NOT Strictly. .it is an oasis of sparkle, glitter and general loveliness in a world a dark grey dampness and covid.

Agree with Dickensian, that shouldn't have stopped.

Also 'Rome' , they'd only just got to the beginning of Augustus, so much more to be portrayed.

Rome was so good. It was too ahead of its time I think. If it had been made now it would have run and run.

Friday night dinner - only watched one of the last series.

Definitely would have loved more schitts creek though!

@PoloNeckKnickers

Silent Witness. Ridiculous convoluted storylines with the pathologists doing all the detective work. The rot set in in about series 12 I think, so I stopped watching.

Indeed who needs police

Strictly....dancing on ice.....x factor ...Britain's got talent....Big brother...cake shows...sewing shows....
Any of those buying a house at auction and doing it up ...yawn

Handmaid's Tale should have been just the one season. It was perfect.

I never got the hype on Grey's. OITNB was very good for a while but a couple of seasons too long.

They should call time on all the shows that involves Ant and Dec hosting.

I really liked that ghost story that was on BBC a couple of years ago which could have gone on, they found a car from now in the 1890s then in went into the 20s briefly. Can't remember name

I also liked Sea of souls and Happy Valley