Burlap Sack: Two-part series finales
Why does anyone think this is a good idea?
Warner BrothersIt’s 1 a.m. You’ve finished studying, and you made yourself some macaroni and cheese to eat while you unwind with your favourite show or movie.
However, as you go to Netflix or Hulu or any of the streaming conglomerates, you see that you’ve already watched the last episode of the season, because the showrunners decided to split it into two parts. Now you have to wait another couple of weeks just to finish the season, and your mac and cheese is cold because you had to find a new thing to watch.
Jokes aside, ever since the Harry Potter series, there has been a growing trend of splitting the last season of a TV show or the last film of a movie series into two parts— which, frankly, is the worst idea ever conceived.
The second part is always just another couple of episodes or another movie added to a series, which means it’s delaying the actual finale. Although I hate to see things end, the satisfaction of finally seeing the main character defeat the villain or finding out the final clue to solve the mystery is an amazing feeling, and makes bingeing an entire series worth it. On the other hand, sometimes a series isn’t that good, so you just stop watching because you don’t want to wait.
Also, why even bother stating that you’re splitting the final season or movie? They’re essentially just saying that they’re adding onto a series the same way they would by adding another season, so why is this one special?
Well, because making it seem special rakes in the cash. The two-part finale is ultimately a marketing ploy, especially when it comes to films. It’s a risky maneuver (peep Allegiant: Part Two), but, when done right, it can award producers and directors a boatload of money (Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part Two).
Franchise fatigue is still a thing though, and the two-part finales might be ruining blockbusters. Showrunners need to start listening to viewers and stop being cowards. Release forty episodes or a six-hour film if you have to, but do not split the final installment of a series into two. Let me binge in peace.
