D r a g g i n g I t O u t

 

Sometimes, you watch a show and think

 

'Why did they drag it out for so long?'

There have been a few shows over the last few years that would have been greatly improved if they had not stretched the story out for a 22/24 episode series on US TV. A few, in particular, spring to mind - Flashforward, V and the last series of Torchwood. I'll come back to Torchwood but the other two were shows that I was really looking forward to - they had strong casts and interesting premises. But, jeebus, they went on! As for Torchwood, compare, if you will, the last series (Miracle Day) with series 3, Children of Earth.

• Children Of Earth was 5 episodes shown Monday to Friday in the same week. This was incredibly exciting. The characters were developed, but the small number of episodes meant that the pace was what made the show exciting.

• Miracle Day was 10 episodes shown weekly. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the story and loved the emotional resonance of learning more about Capt Jack's lost love. However, it was WAY too long! They could have easily cut out 2-4 episodes of this and the pacing, which was at best turgid, would have been at the same level of Children of Earth.

Some ideas are not meant to be stretched out over 22/24 episodes and 5 series. And that is OK. 

This is another reason why I like the cable networks approach of doing fewer episodes in a season - True Blood is 12 episodes and Game Of Thrones is 10. 

I don't mean that I don't want any 22/24 episodes seasons. I'd just like them to contain a story that suits that format.