Short Seasons and Dashed Expectations

You know what I miss? TV seasons that last longer than 2 and a half months and then vanish for a year.

With the 50th anniversary of Star Trek this past week, Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiering on cable, and the X-files mini marathon on Chiller, I realized that the shows that are so good today are just so short lived. Sure, not all the Star Trek episodes were that good and there were a few stinkers during the X-files seasons, but they had 20–30 episodes in a season. These days, we’re excited when a series gets picked up for 10 or maybe 13 episodes. And if one of those isn’t up to the high standards we have these days, it’s 10% of the season that leaves us wanting.

Why is it that all the standard (24–26 episode) season shows are simple comedies, basic procedurals, or just crap?

I suppose I’m just pissed that Mr. Robot’s season is coming quickly to a close and I want more.

I mean, I guess I should be excited for the new a Fall season, but I just expect that the new shows are gonna be more of the same. It seems like nothing I saw at Comic-Con really stood out – sure there’s potential but I feel like I’ve been burned by so many ‘great new shows’ that I’m just not worked up for anything this year.

So I guess a week after I looked at the shows I was interested in, I just feel like I’m a bit burnt out on short seasons and dashed expectations. Hopefully I’ll be proven wrong.