Breaking up is hard to do. Everyone knows that. And yet, breaking up with a TV show shouldn’t be that difficult. It’s not like you need to worry about tears, or hurt feelings, or restraining orders. You just stop watching. No muss, no fuss.
But then you start remembering all the good times you once had, and you believe them when they vow that they can change, baby. How can you just walk away from something that once meant so much?
Last week, Variety wrote about breaking up with Prison Break, a show that hasn’t given me that lovin’ feeling for quite some time. I caught myself watching episodes out of a sense of obligation, rather than the desire for some wacky prison hijinks or shirtless Michael. Frequently, it would sit on my hard drive for days, until I would finally, reluctantly, watch it – and half the time, I’d be cleaning my room at the same time. Trust me, if I’m choosing to clean instead of watch TV, something has gone awry.
It’s not the only show that has me thinking unfaithful thoughts. Recently, I’ve been feeling as if Grey’s Anatomy just doesn’t care anymore. It keeps rehashing the same tired old lines and doesn’t even try to spice things up. Once, I felt like it made an effort to woo me with energetic characters and clever writing. Now, it seems to be going through the motions. It still looks pretty, with so many gorgeous doctors that people would consider developing Munchausen’s syndrome in order to be treated there, but a relationship cannot last on such a shallow premise. Sadly, the show doesn’t seem to have a soul anymore. It’s randomly putting characters together and splitting them apart for no other reason than they need a new plotline. The atrocity that was George and Izzie was all the proof we needed that the writers a) were incompetent or b) stopped caring. Considering that the show started strong, B seems the obvious choice. Now, my momma taught me well: if they don’t care for you, get out while the getting’s good. Don’t waste your time caring for them.
In the end, it all comes down to the fact that Grey’s can’t commit. It can’t commit to a storyline, to character development, to its viewers. It wanders from scene to scene with no clear sense of direction, and each new episode makes that more and more clear. It seems like it wants to have a carefree fling, but it’s too late for that now. This show needs to buck up and get serious about working on our issues or I’m walking away. Chuck has been phoning and sending roses, and I’m more than happy to let myself be wooed all over again.
What about you? Are you considering any breakups of your own?
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November 27th, 2007 at 10:08 am
I was considering ending it with Heroes, but it has managed to pull me back in, and so I am giving it a second chance. I’m still hanging in there with Prison Break (I can’t really tell you why, other than Wentworth love), though I do other stuff when it is on too. I’ve had similar feelings for Grey’s, but again I’m not ready to totally let go. (I’m still watching ER for goodness sake). It was so good when it started. It had 2 really really good seasons and then got all dodgy with the third. It’s that old chestnut whereby characters that have been forced apart get together and then there’s less drama, so they pull them apart again for sod all reason. This whole Meredith Daddy Issues thing is a bunch of crap. Just marry McDreamy and have his babies already. And I was ok about the Gizzie (not thrilled but ok) until they went and did the ‘we’re having rubbish sex’ thing. Huh? It is just a rehashing of stuff, and it is getting old. I also miss Addison and Burke.
And I’ve gone a bit, as usual.
(Oh but, I watched the first ep of Chuck. Liked it, but not overly so. I’ll give it another go).
November 27th, 2007 at 3:47 pm
Give Chuck a chance. It didn’t really start to find its groove till episode 5 or so. Plus, it just got a full-season pick-up! You know, for when the writers can start writing again.
Prison Break and Grey’s Anatomy both need a serious reboot if they have any hope of returning to form. Maybe we should swap casts? Put Prison Break in a hospital and the Grey’s crew in a prison?
November 27th, 2007 at 5:14 pm
Ha, yes! PB can attempt to resurrect Sarah to appease fans and Grey’s can actually have something to whine about for once.
November 27th, 2007 at 7:24 pm
Yay! Chuck full season pick-up! Woo!
I still watch Grey’s. I am a sucker for a bit of soap in my lineup and it is really the only thing that fits the bill this season. Plus Bailey is probably still my favorite character on TV, and I can’t abandon her.
November 29th, 2007 at 4:14 pm
I broke up with Prison Break a while back. One of the interesting things about getting rid of the cable is that it means I have to put a bit more effort into watching TV (either spending ages adjusting the antenna, or downloading, plus if I dl I have to actively *choose* to watch, instead of just being told “now is when you’re watching!”), so it’s awfully easy to tell when my interest is waning.
(Chuck, though, Chuck I love!)