Syndication, the same thing that offers immense wealth to the owners and core participants of US series, also had a stultifying effect on creativity. Hitting that magic 100 episodes for a syndication package was so immensely lucrative it overrode quality control all too often.
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Until the mid-90s, it was very unusual for a series to have a strong narrative arc across the season because syndicators didn't want to be required to run every episode and in their intended order. They wanted to play the favorites.
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I was a toddler when the original Star Trek ended, so I knew primarily from syndication. Certain less popular episodes were rarely if ever played and I only knew of them from the James Blish short story versions. You can't do this with a show like 'Babylon 5'.
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The UK shows always had strong arcs because of the short runs. They also avoided writer and actor burnout. Sometimes even going a year or more between series, waiting until the writers felt they had something worth doing.
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I've watched Breaking Bad at least twice all the way through, and in part many times. Also all three seasons of Better Call Saul all the way through, and in part many times. They're almost a form of literature -- you can watch them indefinitely.
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No so called prestige cable shows come close to I Claudius.
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Are there shows today like Six Million Dollar Man - which inspired countless kids to get into robotics, orthopedics, engineering, defense and space work?
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I rewatched Breaking Bad
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Porridge was better.
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Eh? Lots of people rewatch dramatic series. I have. Rome, The Wire, The Shield, Longmire.
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Dick Wolf made a similar point when explaining why Law & Order eschewed multi-episode story arcs, noting that his reruns blew away ER’s in ratings.
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I love that show so much I actually had the theme song played by the orchestra at my first wedding.
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Yes. The British House of Cards was a 6 hour thrill ride.
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Sherlock is the modern successor to those.
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DOWNTON ABBEY IS CHARMING!
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Prestige TV is the biggest con happening rigjt now. Can't wait until the Serious TV bubble bursts and we can all stop pretending that Westworld, This Is Us, and Shameless are important pieces of art and just go back to having fun television
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Westworld is fun though. Who doesn't like naked titties & thinly veiled Jaynes?
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