I recently finished watching the third season of "Twin Peaks" and I was a big fan. David Lynch, who seemed to fall off the face of the earth nearly fifteen years ago like Salinger after writing "The Catcher In The Rye", came back with a vengeance, writing one of the greatest seasons of television (with co-writer Mark Frost) that I've ever seen. The writing and visual filmmaking, particularly in the eighth episode of the third season, was extraordinary.
I was just wondering, after watching the ending, what all of your thoughts are on ambiguous television endings? "Twin Peaks" was far from the first T.V. show to do this, (with both "Lost" and "The Sapranos" as examples) but do you think it works by ending your show on a cliffhanger? My thoughts are that by doing this, it makes for some damn good coffee room conversation.
Personally, I don't like ambiguous endings to shows I've been watching for years. I think it shows how the writing room just got too messy and the bible didn't have a complete idea to begin with. Just like with a feature, I want to feel satisfied at the end of an epic series experience. I think I sort of remember that 'let down' at the end of Twin Peaks..but you're right, it's in a category of its own.
I love endings that aren't so "buttoned up." Loved Twin Peaks. It certainly is in its own category, that's for sure! Lol! ;) An ambiguous ending is just as "planned" as any other ending. Not everything is like the series Lost. They admit to getting lost in Lost. Lol! ;) Ambigious or open endings are much like life, yes? Buttoned up endings can seem too contrived. Of course, it depends. ;)
Oh, there's a horror film on Netfix, The Open House that has an unsatisfying ending. It rather gives the audience the middle finger. I haven't seen anything that irked me as much as that in quite some time. Ambiguous or open endings can certainly satisfy, absolutely. They can leave you thinking about a story long afterwards. But endings that clearly make you realize that you've wasted your time investing in the characters, in the story itself are a whole other kind of offense. :/
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My interpretation of "Twin Peaks" is that evil has always existed, and always will. The only thing that has the potential to put an end to it, however, are the brave people who make a stand to rid the world of it. This fight, however, becomes a never ending circle. Just as Agent Cooper relentlessly trying to find Laura's killer, he ultimately loses himself in his own subconscious (my perception of "The Black Lodge") only to return to the world in two forms: one of evil and the other of good. He then fights the evil to become good once again.
I think with storytelling, the actual story never really ends because there are always characters left to either make sense of the carnage, or find peace in an otherwise hopeless world. Just look at the world we live in. Wars are still being fought and people are still dying for nothing over words within a book that were written over two thousand years ago. That's why I love television, especially today. The world within the story becomes that much more evolved and the characters have that much more of a pulse. For me, leaving the remnants of the story for the audience to piece together is the perfect way to end things, because to end a show with every lose end tied down verges on being unrealistic, because in all honesty, are all loose ends really tied down?
A series ending I found unsatisfying was Dexter. They were going for a buttoned-up ending, but misfired. I'd rather that one had ended more open, or at least let it end as they implied it would. :/
Then again, to craft a story with absolutely no loose ends tied down will amount to a story that might not be worth telling, and one which a producer would never invest in.
I hated the Dexter ending. The writers should have taken more time to craft the last season. Season four was undoubtedly the best season of the show, at least for me. In that season, Dexter finally met his match in the serial killer played by John Lithgow. If they found a way to take the depth of the fourth season and apply it to the eighth, they could have at least ended things on a high-note.
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Jeremy, yeah... I like your analysis. Twin Peaks seems almost allegory, in a way. ;) Stories or series that make their worlds seem "real" seem to end in a way that keeps them going, keeps them "living." So I certainly agree with you; open endings do that in my opinion too, reflect life much better. If you ever watch Justified, I think they ended that series incredibly well — those who like straight-up endings and those who like things a little open-ended will be very satisfied. ;)
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I never watched Justified. I'll have to check it out. I remember how many people the ending to "The Sapranos" enraged, but the fact is that even to this day, I still hear people talk about it. If your writing can create a conversation, I think you played your role.
Oh, about The Sopranos... I never really got into that series, but I read many of the final reviews. One I read stated that they thought the ending showed "respect" to the character Tony by not showing exactly what happened—you know, not showing the typical violence that surrounds crime families. So he's there with his family after everything they've been through... a suspicious guy who doesn't order anything goes past him to the bathroom... and then it abruptly cuts, perhaps shows what he sees at the end... black. That's the hint. "You probably don't even hear it when it happens, right?" So I dunno... Fuggedaboutit. :)
Hahaha, fuggedabout, I like that line ;) I really enjoyed "The Sapranos". I remember being seven years old watching it with my father. Kind of an inappropriate show for a seven year old to watch, but that's the way my family was: inappropriate. My favorite episode involved two men who worked for Tony "taking care" of a guy in the middle of winter.
So they drove to a secluded spot, and when they opened the trunk, the guy they thought was dead broke free from the rug he was rolled in, leaped out of the trunk, and started running. They shot him, but still, he kept on running, so they started chasing him down, only to realize that they had no idea where their car was. The remainder of the episode revolves around these clowns trying to find their car while their paranoia and the cold both set in. Simple, yet effective based on its dark humor. It might be a show worth revisiting, Beth.
Wow, I'd never let my kids watch The Sopranos. No way! Yeah... mobs, drug gangs, those kinds of stories typically don't interest me... I have never watched any of the Godfather films, etc—yeah, I know, that may be shocking to some. However, I did see Good Fellas and Casino--which is the last mob film I ever wish to see. Ever. That ending, Gawd! Although I have enjoyed Queen of the South TV series. I was hesitant... but what brought me into the series are the two female leads—great characters. They've done two seasons now. Season one can be found on Netflix, if interested. ;)
I'd never let my son and daughter watch "The Sapranos" until they're at least fourteen, but every parent is different. I bet some parents even shoot up on heroin with their kids, but luckily I don't know any of those parents.
The violence can be a bit much for mobster movies, but "The Godfather" is pretty tame for today's standards. Even if you're one of those chicks who loves shows like "The Gilmore Girls" (not saying that you are), I'd still give "The Godfather" a watch just for the incredible story and filmmaking. Francis Ford Coppola, back in the seventies, knew how to direct the hell out of a movie. "Apocalypse Now" is also a movie worth the three hour running time. Another director worth taking a look at is Stanley Kubrick. One of the finest director profiles in the business. If you haven't seen "A Clockwork Orange", I'd give it a watch, but the violence is far worse then "The Godfather" so for you, it might be worth avoiding lol ;)
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Okay, "those chicks"—huh, excuse me? It's rather about personal taste, which has absolutely nothing to do with my gender. And it's not the violence... Hell, I own the Blu-ray collection of the Hannibal TV series. Lol! ;) Silence of the Lambs is one of my all-time favorite films. Thriller and horror are probably my favorite genres. Love true crime documentaries, etc. I'm currently working on a script loosely based upon a female serial killer. I've never even seen Gilmore Girls. LOL! Zero interest. And, sorry, I hated Clockwork Orange. The only Kubrick film I like is The Shining. Here's the thing... I just didn't like Casino. It wasn't for me. I don't care for mobster stories, great filmmaking or not. Some people seem to have a "romantic" fascination with crime families and mobsters, which is totally fine, to each their own, but I do not. And it's perfectly fine to not have interest in a subject matter—whether you are male or female. Plus I honestly cannot stand Al Pacino's acting. So, no, I'm just fine, thanks. I am well-versed in film. And I am a parent. Judging from your comment above, I assume I'm much older than you, Jeremy. Lol! Best to you! ;)
Hannibal was a pretty damn good TV series. I only made it to season three, however. I thought the first season of "True Detective" was very strong -- especially from first time screenwriter, Nic Pizzolatto. The show lost me in the second season. I think they needed a writing staff instead of having Pizalatto attempt to do all the writing himself. I'm also a father. I've got two little bundles of joy (who are also little devils in disguise lol). I'm sorry about what I said. You're right, the whole spectrum of TV shows and movies being gender specific doesn't add up because the entertainment industry is all based on personal preference. What one person loves another despises. And I never watched "Gilmore Girls" myself. I just thought of a show I was always quick to flip through growing up. I enjoyed talking films with you, Beth. Have a good one :)
Likewise, Jeremy! And no worries. ;) Congratulations on those two little bundles of joy. Mine aren't so little any more, my oldest starting to drive. Lol! :)
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They grow up fast. My oldest just turned three and it seems like only yesterday when I was holding her for the first time.
"Those chicks"??? Actually, my friend, Gilmore Girls is one of the most well written shows in the last 20 years that I´ve seen. It was a wonderful TV show actually and I´d watch an episode of Rory vs Lorelai banter back and forth any day of the week even today ahead of watching Godfather. Godfather to me seems to be a Movie every guy is proud to have watched. Sure cinematically, acting-wise, a decent film. But it has become something of a middle aged man´s Ferrari if you know what I mean. I don´t need that manly confidence boost in my life LOL. I am happy with who I am so Movies like Godfather are unimpressing to me.
Legend of the Seeker ended pretty abruptly with neither of the two main villains being really defeated. Yes, they defeat the Keeper, but...