10 Things Television Fans Found Too Distracting
2. When Too Much Changes Too Quickly
TV shows often follow a character's progression through life, and while they may change jobs, build or lose a family, or become the villain, odds are the show will do these things gradually. If too much is changed too quickly, it can distract viewers, and lose them, leading to early cancellation.
Prison Break was all about breaking out of prison, but as the seasons progressed, that was no longer an issue, and it didn't work. Changing the location can be done well, as The Walking Dead has proven, but even that series has lost viewers by switching up the location format too much over the years.
Pacing issues can also be distracting to viewers, and one show that suffered from this was Rome. The series began at an appropriate pace, but when it was clear Rome was to be canceled after the second season, it went into overdrive.
One of the worst changes can come in the form of a format mix-up, which is what happened with Twin Peaks. The series was supposed to be about the mystery of Laura Palmer's murder, but the studio execs pushed David Lynch to wrap it up in season two, which left the series without an identity moving forward.