Tuesday, May 8, 2012

When Dramas Get Canceled

It's something that happens from time to time. Not every show can make the cut. This happens to shows all over the world that end due to ratings or networks or a myriad of reasons.

KPOP: The Ultimate Audition Poster

It seems to bother me a bit more in kdramas, and I think it's because the format of kdramas are completely different from American TV.

American dramas & sitcoms come on once a week for a season (which is 20-something episodes) and have multiple seasons with the same cast for years until the series ends or gets canceled. For instance, we just have Glee, which has been on for several seasons now with mostly the same core cast. In Korea, they had Dream High with one cast for the duration of the series, then came back later with Dream High 2, a whole new drama with a new cast and different premise. For us, the only things that have sequels are books and movies, not TV shows. In the American TV world, kdramas would be referred to as mini-series.

Since these mini-series are so short in comparison, and because they have a definitive ending from the start, it's kind of annoying to see something just abruptly end leaving us to wonder what the heck happens to these characters. One of the most recent cancellations is K-POP The Ultimate Audition, which was cut at 14 episodes. Um, the series was ending at 16. You really couldn't keep it on for one more week? Okay, KPOP wasn't the best drama ever, but if we let shows like Dream High 2 and Fashion King air til the end, why the heck not? At least it was cutesy (in a Nickelodeon type of way), if a bit unrealistic.

Cancelled

And what really bothered me about KPOP's cancellation was the fact that nothing was wrapped up! If you know the show is going to get canceled, give us some sort of resolution. Episode 14 actually brought up a new issue for them to solve in their next performance, but why when there's nothing left! The last airing episode turned finale could have at least attempted to wrap up story lines, however abrupt and unrealistic they may have been.

I know money comes into play when the decision to cancel a drama is made, but the least the networks and writers can do is allow the story to quickly wrap up. It may be a quick and sudden end, but at least we get an ending and not just a giant question mark. At least with American TV, if a show doesn't get renewed for another season, the previous season (generally) wraps up whatever was the major conflict before going on break. Yeah, there's always potential for the next season that keeps the audience wanting more, but there is basic closure, even if it's not 100% satisfying. For instance, Tower Prep wasn't renewed for season 2, which would've went into part 2 of the mystery, but at least the final episode for season 1 ended with the students getting to the border, which was their main goal for the season. No, we won't ever learn what they're going to do now, but at least they did do what they set out to do at the beginning of the season. I'm not happy there will never be another season, but I am content enough with where it left off.

And that's all I ask.

Sources/Credits: 1 2 3

33 comments:

  1. Thanks for this post! I was thinking about watching this drama because I love Park Yoochun and his little brother is in it, but knowing that it ends abruptly without a conclusion would only end up driving me crazy.

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    1. I loved this drama honestly, and It bothers me as well that they ended it so drastically. I sure wish there was another season... but it, in fact, is worth watching

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    2. oh no, I am already hooked and I really like it . Any recommendations for after, when I start to go through kdrama withdrawal?

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    3. You should check out love alarm so good
      I was hooked in the first 2 episodes and
      Season 2 is coming out on the 12th of this month but it's so good and the cliffhangers kill me ever episode but it's so worth the pain and for a Chinese drama you should watch the princess weiyoung cuz its long and so good

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  2. I wish they would have a change of heart and do like a second season. As dumb as it may sound, I actually felt inspired by this drama. Thanks for the post, my thoughts exactly!

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  3. i totally agree i really loved this drama i started watching the week epi 12 came out and it enjoyed it so much that i was finished by time 13 and 14 were released and i dont usually startwatching a drama till it's complete. imagine my surprise when i watched epi 14 and realized it was the final and this story would be incomplete, i was highly upset. my sisters get angry with me because everytime the subject is brought up i go off on a rant

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  4. Thanks, kliknij, for the compliment! I truly appreciate it!

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  5. I just wanna know what happened after the world found out she was a girl.

    that's alL I ASK.

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  6. The story and the ending is a big mind twist because the ending just start a new beginning with the lovely couple make the separated ways but the distance would be a struggle but Park Yoon Hwan will always love Ji Seung Yeon to the end.

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  7. I honestly agree with you. I enjoyed this series a lot and wish they kept it going, my god I'm going crazy over it. I wish I knew how In-Young took care of that mess. Not going to spoil too much, it's just driving me crazy, and what about Ki-Bum, his past? I wanna know the WHOLE story, and what about the showcase how'd it go? 그것은 나를 죽이고있어!

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  8. Ahh! I started watching this show a day ago and binge watched til I just finally finished at 3 am! Honestly, I was so confused when it didn't start episode 15. I mean like what?? I feel so unsatisfied and incomplete and ugh! Why is it even on Netflix? If I knew it was incomplete I would never have started it and become so attached! There are so many unanswered questions and i'm just so so so so sad. I'm greatly disappointed. :/

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    1. OMG yes I binged watched it too and finished at two in the morning. I was so sad when I heard it was canceled. It makes me so sad. 😭

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  9. SRSLY the ending was cute but still like what would happen in the future I am majorly confused and I would loovveee it if there was a season 2 but all I have to do is pray I'll definitely try tho

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  10. I LITERALLY SPEND 48 HOURS STRAIGHT TO FINISH THIS SHOW. DOES ANYONE KNOW TO CONTACT THE DIRECTOR?!?

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    1. I wish I did! I would demand another season, or at lesast another few episodes to finish the story

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    2. I know right! I wish I knew but evan than I cant speak korean. I mean seriously atleast if you cant make more episodes at least write to the public what would have happened so we kniw how it turns out.

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    3. Honestly just finished watching this and was confused to find episode 14 was final with so many unanswered questions it's quite frustrating if you ask me. If only there was a way to contact them and possibly find a way to do a petition to encourage them to carry it on either a short film for answers or at least finish the last 2 episodes? I really hate getting into dramas that don't finish to. It's fullest potential! I'd even donate if that's what they required.
      also thoughts that never came to mind of even making them into a completely seperate group they work well together and she could've become the only female singer of the group!

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  11. OMG ITS NOT FINISHED?!?! I THOUGHT NETFLIX COULDNT GET THE LAsT EPISODES! I WAS SERIOUSLY HAPPY WHEN I CAME TO EPISODE 14 THINKING ITS ENDING BUT NOW I AM SO MAD THAT IT DIDNT FINISH! THEY SHOULD FINISH IT EVEN IF THERE ARE ONLY A FEW OF US WHO WATCHED IT. FOR US THAT DRAMA WAS GOOD EOUGH TO KEEP US COMING BACK. madddddddd and i was also hoping for a little bromance between some of the juniors hehehe they should add that XD

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  12. This was literally the highlight of these past few days. I have not stop smiling every second i watch this! The ending left me with so many questions and I'm glad they atleast ended up together.. I just wish it wrapped up the loose ends. Sigh** aigoo

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    1. Ok so Seung Yeon and Woo Hyun do end up together again good i was gonna walk away and just pretend that they live happily ever after now I can Finnish it

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  13. So mad right now.How could they.

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  14. Make and ending, wrap it up in a 2 hour movie!!!

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  15. I watched this show and I got really sad and upset and couldn’t sleep the whole night. I wish they would’ve continued it but that’s why I became a writer so I write my own endings for shows that don’t finish.

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  16. I was really attached to this show and didn't know it would end so abruptly. I'm high key disappointed

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  17. I loved this show...I have never seen another K drama end so abruptly without tying up so many loose ends. K dramas are usually amazing at that and even sometimes show the characters with happy endings into the future....

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  18. I have watched this show ever since it has came out. And I have watched this show exactly 3,000 times. And still waiting on a new season.

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  19. Uhhh i actually really love this show and i don't even like these kinda show or speak the language, but it had me from the first episode ��, and i couldn't stop watching it, but got disappoint as that was the last episode of k-pop extreme survival, why WHY WHY PLEASE TELL ME WHY? I'm so heart broken ������.

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  20. How the hell can it end like that?!? Why did they even bother if they weren't going to finish the bloody thing?

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  21. hey i have a question if you guys willing to help i want to make a side comic that can countine the series but i don't think i can do it alone how want to help?

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  22. Watching K-pop on Netflix channel in Canada...Why can't you do another Season? Ending a show like that is so aggravating!

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    1. I don't think I'd want another season; the beauty of kdramas is that they finish in one season (for the most part). But I *do* want a real ending! I think it needs a reboot for it to be handled properly.

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  23. WTH! If they would have put a spoiler alert at the beginning I would never have even turned on this little drama. Its was so cute and light-hearted after watcing some of the heavy-weight dramas like Vagabond but was so disappointed they way the producers treated not only these actors but the fans as well. Shame on you people!

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  24. I’m watching this 10 years later not knowing they ended it on a cliffhanger and I am so unbelievable disappointed. I mean we got zero resolutions and they left us dangling with all the couples and worse over the ultimate fate of M2 Junior. It’s only been 10 minutes since I finished it but I can’t imagine that I won’t still be mad and disappointed tomorrow.

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