The podcast explores the disappointment felt by fans when their favorite TV shows are cancelled, highlighting specific examples like Firefly and Carnival. It also discusses the impact of cancellation on the audience and the challenges faced by creators. The chapter explores different shows, including The Owl House and Penny Dreadful, and reflects on the frustration of disappointing endings. It also touches on the joy of watching favorites and the phenomenon of unsung gems.
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Quick takeaways
Cancellation of TV shows leaves fans with unresolved storylines, causing a sense of loss and loneliness.
Fans cope with cancelled shows by creating headcanons and engaging in fan communities.
Deep dives
Cancellation of beloved shows leads to disappointment and frustration among fans
Fans of popular shows like Before-Ners, Paper Girls, and Penny Dreadful have experienced disappointment and frustration when their favorite shows were abruptly cancelled. The studios behind these streaming platforms have removed shows for tax purposes and to avoid paying residuals to the talent, leaving fans hanging with unresolved cliffhangers. The reliance on short-term ratings has caused a shift back to the old model of network TV, where shows are cancelled if they don't meet expected ratings within a certain timeframe. This has left dedicated fans feeling a sense of loss and loneliness as the stories they invested in are abruptly cut short.
Long-lasting impact of cancelled shows on fans' emotions
Fans of shows like Carnival and Danny Phantom have been deeply affected by the cancellation of these beloved series. The cancellation of these shows left fans feeling devastated and heartbroken. The strong emotional connection they formed with the characters and storylines made the abrupt endings particularly distressing. These shows provided a sense of escape and connection for fans, and the cancellation shattered that sense of comfort and familiarity. Even years later, fans still feel the pain and frustration of the unresolved narratives and unanswered questions.
Headcanons and fan creations to cope with cancellations
In the face of cancelled shows, fans often turn to headcanons and fan creations to cope with the loss and unresolved storylines. Headcanons allow fans to imagine their own interpretations and potential endings for the shows, providing a sense of closure and satisfaction. Fan art, fan fiction, and online communities provide a space for fans to connect with others who share their love for the cancelled shows. Through these outlets, fans keep the spirit of the shows alive and continue to engage with the characters and stories they hold dear.
The impact of cancellation on individual fears and anxieties
For some fans, the cancellation of their favorite shows taps into personal fears and anxieties. The loneliness and sense of loss experienced when a show ends abruptly can evoke deeper existential fears surrounding isolation and abandonment. The emotional attachment developed towards characters and storylines amplifies these fears, leaving fans grappling with their own vulnerabilities and uncertainties. The cancellation of a beloved show can serve as a stark reminder of the transient and unpredictable nature of life, stirring up anxieties about the future and the potential for loneliness.
We’ve all had this experience. We get hooked on a show. We fall in love with the characters. We can’t stop thinking about them in between episodes. Then it gets cancelled or rushed to conclusion. When that happens to a show, it can feel like a relationship has abruptly ended – and a lot of them have ended in recent years. The streaming boom has gone bust. A lot of streaming services invested in sci-fi fantasy shows, hoping the for next Game of Thrones or Stranger Things. So, this wave of cancellations has hit SFF fans hard. We asked our listeners to tell us about the cancellations that broke their hearts in the recent or distant past, and how they’re trying to make sense of unresolved endings.