Missing TV Shows

PHOTO CREDIT: OFFICIAL TV SHOW POSTER

BY RACHEL CALLAHAN

When getting invested in a television series, deep down we know that it won’t last forever. Most series that are successful last for about six seasons, while the not so lucky ones get the axe after only one or two. TV shows come and go so often it’s hard to keep track but there are a select few that no matter how much time goes by, we just can’t stop missing them.

Once in a while, a show enchants enough people and scores enough ratings that it stays on air longer than average. These long-running shows, like all, must come to an end. For six seasons, the science fiction series, Lost kept viewers invested in the story of survivors of a plane that crashed on a mysterious tropical island. A critically acclaimed and popular success, Lost won many awards but unfortunately the biggest legacy the show left behind was it’s confusing and, to many, disappointing finale. Even more impressive than six seasons is ten. Not many shows can achieve that, but the popular show Friends did, and many hoped it could have gone longer. Revolving around a circle of friends living in Manhattan, the show had many fans who will be pleased to know that they can soon enjoy one of the few benefits of a long-running show that ended: binge watching . All ten seasons of Friends are now available on Netflix; it’s not new episodes but it’s a close second.

Even sadder than a long term series ending poorly is a promising one ending to soon, which can occur for various reasons. Even a show with 17 Emmy nominations, such as Pushing Daisies, can be unceremoniously cancelled. This show, starring Kristin Chenoweth, abruptly ended six episodes into its second season. A more recent cancellation was The CW’s fledgling series The Tomorrow People. Although the show had a following, its ratings just weren’t enough to keep up with the other shows on the network. The CW’s new series, The Flash, while not The Tomorrow People, is a nice alternative.

No matter how long the show is or how many fans it has, the end of a series is always a sad thing. Once and a while, it’s fun to reflect back on old shows that we just weren’t ready to let go of yet. Thankfully, when a series ends, it’s only a matter of time before a new one comes along.