4. Repetition
Some TV shows are much better equipped than others for a multi-season run. Ive mentioned previously how well
Firefly could have sustained ten seasons, for example. Even shows like
F.R.I.E.N.D.S manage to remain relatively fresh throughout multiple series due to a strong character group and talented writers. Other shows, which rely on one or two principal concepts, start off extremely well, but really begin to show their age around the third season.
Dexter is one such show, as several of its seasons are merely recycled versions of previous ones with a slight twist. Lets examine the first four seasons (spoilers ahead.)
Season 1: Dexter discovers he has a brother, and connects emotionally with him hes never been able to be honest about who he is before, but his brother accepts him as a killer. However, his brother is too chaotic and kills too randomly, refusing to obey Dexters code, so Dexter has to put him down.Season 2: Dexter meets an attractive young woman, and connects emotionally with her hes never been able to be honest about who he is before, but this woman accepts him as a killer. However, this woman is too chaotic and kills too randomly, refusing to obey Dexters code, so Dexter has to put her down.Season 3: Dexter strikes up a friendship with a local DA, and connects emotionally with him hes never been able to be honest about who he is before, but this friend accepts him as a killer. However, his new friend is too chaotic and kills too randomly, refusing to obey Dexters code, so Dexter has to put him down.Season 4: Dexter begins to look up to an older serial killer, and connects emotionally with him. However, his new mentor is too chaotic and kills too randomly, so Dexter has to put him down. Then, surprise ending! To be fair,
Dexter has managed one or two rejuvenating moments (in which it has changed its main set-up), but it still remains excessively formulaic. There are many shows in which the basic premise becomes exhausted after a few seasons, and so the writers are forced to make the situations increasingly ludicrous to take the characters to new places (
Peep Show). Really, its nothing more than greed, as studios want to keep a show going as long as its pulling an audience regardless of whether or they have anything new to say.
How to Fix It: Let a show die gracefully once its time has come.
Fawlty Towers had only 12 episodes and
Blackadder had 16 but both shows remain critical darlings 20 years later. Meanwhile,
Two And a Half Men is soon going to embark on its 11th season, despite 1 of the
Two and a Half Men having been killed off and the half having grown up to the point that the show could now be called
Three Men. Generally, US programmes tend towards this a little more than their UK counterparts.