Ideal Length of a DRAMA Series?

x0x · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 13913 Location: Ontario, Canada

The exception to every entertainment rule is "comedy".

As in, you have a movie that doesn't quite makes sense or has great acting but you brush it off because it's just a "comedy", as we often brush off repetitive brass humor like Married With Children (a show I still watch from time to time btw).

However dramatic television series are held in a much different light. We claw at plotholes and we criticize acting, but perhaps most of all, we are annoyed by a show's continuance if it seems like it should have ended. The various reasons stem from actor age. Obviously if you have a drama show set on High School, after ten seasons the actors are....well not in freaking High School ( I would hope not....and yes this is why Glee is unwatchable ).

The same can be said for cop shows in which a young cop is now in his 30s and one jaw-dropping cases are rehashed and nothing tugs at your heartstrings...nothing.

So what is the ideal life cycle of a dramatic television series? And I obviously mean good shows. Can they be ever-lasting with replacement of characters? Or should they have a generational run of 6-8 years?

For reference, Miami Vice lasted 5 seasons, The Wire Last 5 seasons, Lost lasted 6 seasons, Sopranos lasted 6 seasons, Oz lasted 8 seasons, The Shield Last 7 seasons, West Wing lasted 7 seasons, etc

Now if you go back, Dallas lasted 13 seasons and Little House On The Prairie lasted 9 seasons but.....well it's questionable what side of the genre coin those fit into it.

More or less though, you see a distinct pattern. 5-7 seasons and of course all those gems that went for only a few.

What is your ideal life cycle?
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THE DUKE · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Posts: 14287 Location: Centerville, OH

6 seasons seems about right to me, but obviously different shows have different needs. One Tree Hill should have ended after season 4, Prison Break should have ended after season 2, etc...
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Sandwiche · Posted: Sat May 26, 2012 11:37 pm Post subject:

Ideally, I prefer a show to last about 3 seasons. Just long enough to have a detailed and intelligent story line. I prefer a show with an ending in mind from the very beginning.

In the end though, the real rule of thumb is however long it stays good. If it ain't broke, don't can it.
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FourThreeMafia · Joined: 28 Sep 2006 Posts: 40080 Location: East of Sixburgh

ninerfanwheelz · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 12:17 am Post subject:

5 or 6 in general imo. But it also depends on what's going on with the show and what not.
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Packman Luke · Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Posts: 20000 Location: Minnesota =(

The Wire at 5 was pretty great. Mad Men could run 100 seasons and still be great. Watching Deadwood right now, and starting the 3rd and last season. Wsh it had more.
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RainbowCarebear · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 6:08 am Post subject:

tom cody · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 6582 Location: Canada

3-5 seasons. After that long a series starts to lose its edge.
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Apodrocks · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 11:19 am Post subject:

Really depends on the situation, Breaking Bed is going to be 5 seasons. Which is perfect because the situation Walter is in, should never get dragged out too far.

However, shows like Game of Thrones where they can introduce new characters so frequently could go for 6-7-8 seasons if they please.

Friday Night Lights is another great example, it got 5 seasons, but it could have easily had 2 more.

Homeland should have had 1 season, because I have no clue what they're going to do with season 2.
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x0x · Joined: 10 Jul 2008 Posts: 13913 Location: Ontario, Canada

ttitansfan4life · Joined: 30 Dec 2009 Posts: 18415 Location: Delaware

If its a great show like Boy Meets World, Friday Night Lights, and King of Queens, then I don't ever want them to end Laughing

Still pissed Friday Night Lights only went 5 seasons.
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tinoynk · Posted: Sun May 27, 2012 3:04 pm Post subject:

Greg_Jennings · Joined: 06 Nov 2006 Posts: 22849 Location: Milwaukee

A cycle like Breaking Bad is perfect. 5 or 6 seasons is ideal.

as Apod stated, a show like Game of Thrones is different, they are always introducing new characters, shockingly changing things up, and changing locales. Not to mention it has a source material, so it could probably go 8-9 seasons quite well.
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Adrenaline_Flux · Joined: 19 Dec 2008 Posts: 15124 Location: The Iowa

I think it varies show to show. If a show can stay compelling then more power to them. But yeah, I dislike when shows run too long.
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JaguarsFan28329 · Joined: 23 Apr 2008 Posts: 7824 Location: JMG on the sig

Smallville Lasted ten when it should of only lasted 5.

Supernatural peaked at 5 and should have ended there but they continued. But in a good way and it is still going strong.

5 or 6 is my guess as well.
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