You never truly abandon an old beloved fandom.

[rogueslayer452]

I've mentioned before that I've been kind ore revisiting some previous older fandoms since the last half of 2023. It's kind of what I do sometimes when I'm in a media lull, sort of in between finding the next thing to get obsessed with or trying something new. And believe me, I have a long list of things I want to try, but it's a matter of finding the right time to do it and sometimes you just need a breather before doing that. Anyway, while I can go back and forth of rewatching some recent things I've already watched or that I constantly rewatch for time to time I sometimes have a desire to rewatch something I haven't seen in some time. And for some of these, it truly had been a hot minute.


Lost Girl -- this is a show I really liked up to a certain point where I stopped because I didn't like the direction the show was taking or the treatment of certain characters, and hearing what happened via the fandom over the years, yeah, I'm glad that I stopped when I did. Rewatching it from the beginning, though, shows the potential it had. It wasn't perfect, it still had its share of issues early on, some things that are uncomfortable or downright offensive (ex: the blatant transphobia, particularly transmisogyny in the second season premiere, major yikes), but it was still enjoyable despite those faults. The lore was intriguing, bringing in not just the fae but other mythological and folklore elements as well (it's where I actually learned about what a brownie and squonk were). Bo, Kenzi, and Tamsin were my favorite characters and the reasons why I kept on watching for as long as I did. And Bo/Tamsin still remains my OTP.

Wynonna Earp -- another show from Emily Andras that I stopped watching after two seasons because of story and handling of character issues (a pattern with her work, it seems). However, those first two seasons were pretty damn awesome, and that is an opinion I still stand on. Melanie Scrofano is perfection in the role of Wynonna, she's so expressive and the way she delivers her lines is priceless. I love the lore of the story, the setting, the entire western vibe, everything, it's so good.

Warehouse 13 -- ah, my beloved lighthearted show that I thankfully never saw the last season of because knowing what I do that was a hot mess and you didn't deserve whatever that was. But in all seriousness, Warehouse 13 is a show that I have gone back to every now and then over the years, but it has been a while since I did that. Rewatching it from the beginning gave me a newer perspective of characters and how they started out to where they ended up later on and the growth that happens. This show was fun and silly and lighthearted, but it also wasn't afraid of going to some pretty dramatic and heartbreaking places. Some arcs are still a gut-punch.

Revenge -- this is a show that I watched when it premiered but somehow after the second season I unintentionally drifted away from it and always meant to pick it back up, regardless those just returning to the first season alone reminded me why I found it so addicting in the first place. It's such a soap opera revenge drama that drips with delicious melodrama, backstabbing, betrayal, and scheming. Emily VanCamp is phenomenal as Emily Thorne, the way she plays people in order to extract her revenge scheme. I also love her and Nolan's relationship.

Falling Skies -- another show where I unintentionally only watched the first two seasons of (sensing a pattern here?), but this was a scifi drama on TNT where it's about the aftermath of a post apocalyptic world during an alien invasion on Earth. It's very character driven and has some interesting elements to it, especially with the aliens and how humanity is attempting to survive and fight back. I do need to finish the show in its entirety. I have heard that the last two seasons weren't as strong or as good, but I'll wait to judge for myself once I reach there.

V (2009) -- the 2009 V reboot only had two seasons sadly, but I remember being very invested with it when it aired and disappointed when it was cancelled. It definitely has some ups and downs, but it held potential to go into interesting places especially where things left off right before it was cancelled. I had forgotten what a stellar cast it had, most importantly that of Elizabeth Mitchell and Morena Baccarin, Morena especially really ate everything up deliciously with every scene she appeared in. She rocked that short hair she sported at the time, too.

Tru Calling -- another show that lasted only two seasons before it was unjustly cancelled right as things were getting interesting with the plot. Obviously I watched this for Eliza Dushku, but the concept itself was intriguing and unique, especially in the second season, that I was so curious to see where they would go. And rewatching it again has reignited that feeling of wishing it had continued so we could see more explored because the mythos surrounding it is so interesting to me, that it could have gone to some fascinating places.


I also came across a brief article recently which poses the question of why some of the top streamed shows are older rather than newer ones. I'm sure similar articles and statistics have been done before, but having just done my recent revisiting of older shows myself, aside from my personal reasons already stated, obviously having shows that are a.) longer in both seasons and number of episodes per season and b.) already finished, not worrying whether it's going to be cancelled and removed from the streaming service (that will happen regardless though, which is why physical media is very important). Sure, nostalgia and wanting something familiar is also a factor and it is fun to revisit (or even discover) something that aired decades ago, but I think it's become apparent that a lot of people miss the 20+ episodes across multiple seasons structure of television shows. I know I do, personally speaking.

Comments

[profiterole_reads]

My beloved Tamsin! <3 The show was such a bitch to her all the time, especially in the final season.

[shipperslist]

Ohh I remember Falling Skies! I don't remember how many seasons I watched but I liked it. V didn't really catch me, I was too annoyed by the mains to watch it. A bit the same with Revenge, I really didn't like her and that turned me off.

(That link is behind a region block btw.)

[corvidology]

I loved Wynonna Earp! Still do in fact.

[rekishi]

Oh I'm very with you!

I've been doing a lot of media revisiting lately as well (because it's easier to get my brain to cooperate with that). All the shows to binge watch are exhausting and I think it's also a lot of adrenaline exhaustion. Because they have to up the stakes more and more and no one is ever in a lull or happy or can just breathe a bit while we focus on different characters for a filler episode or two.

And then everything is sort of 'realistic' and grimdark rather than silly or or lighthearted and even stupid sometimes. Because of budget but also because I think the producers are afraid that one 'failed' episode will cost them the viewers.

'Heartstopper' works there, but I think also barely, and it does because it is such a slice of life show anyway. But I think shows that are super plot driven need filler episodes. And weekly airings instead of dropping the whole season at once.

So yeah I'm with you.

[lebateleur]

Driving by to say Haunted is one of the most criminally underrated albums of ever.

[blakmagjick]

I loved Warehouse 13 so much too! I should do a re-watch of that sometime soon.

I never finished watching Lost Girl, don't exactly remember where I stopped, but I hated how the show was going as well.

[author_by_night]

I agree with the people who miss "filler episodes". I want to see the characters living their everyday, so-called boring lives. FWIW.

[rogueslayer452]

What's interesting is that there are those who hate any kind of "filler" episodes, as in episodes that they believe adds nothing to the plot, when not every episodes needs that? Sometimes it's nice to have a breather, and even if it's not advancing the plot it can still be good for character development. Having only 8 episode seasons gives us little room for character relationships and personal arcs to truly bloom in a gradual, organic way that isn't rushed. It allows us, the audience, to connect and care about the characters more that way, which makes whatever happens in the future develops of the story matter more because of it. And also, sometimes it's nice to have some experimental episodes as well.

While not all shows need multiple seasons or 24 episodes per season, the streaming standard has really seemed to make it mandatory which is hurting a lot of shows that need more than just 8 episodes.

[rogueslayer452]

WH13 was a delightful little show. The premise was interesting and the characters were great, and I especially loved the introduction of H.G. Wells and her whole story development, particularly with Myka. :)

I remember stopping midway through after the reveal of The Wanderer plot. Because yeah, that storyline was such a letdown especially after the mystery leading up to it.

[rogueslayer452]

Seriously. "Haunted", "Control", "Hey Pretty", "Walk The Walk", "Could've Gone Mad", so many good tracks on that album.

[potentiality_26]

Boy, do I have fond memories of Tru Calling. Such a unique premise. I'd love to see it again.

Warehouse 13 was one of my happy place shows for sure. I wish I had skipped the last season myself. Ugh.

[blakmagjick]

I don't even remember The Wanderer plot...which just means I really am due for a re-watch.

[rogueslayer452]

I love Tamsin so much, and the treatment she got on that show was pretty shitty. I stopped midway through the show so I didn't get to some of the nasty shit, but having her heart broken and then what happened in the final season just makes me silently seethe. Ugh. Tam-Tam didn't deserve that.

[author_by_night]

While not all shows need multiple seasons or 24 episodes per season, the streaming standard has really seemed to make it mandatory which is hurting a lot of shows that need more than just 8 episodes.

I completely agree. Can you imagine Buffy if it had only been eight episodes? Or if we hadn't had any filler? I'd argue a LOT of Buffy episodes were filler. Especially in the first few seasons. Honestly, half the time the "real" story arc didn't really ramp up until mid-season. I've noticed that in a few longer running shows, thinking about it. Especially in the earlier seasons where there are fewer things to build off of (there aren't many previous plotlines to bring back, for instance). I'm not a TV scholar, I can't really speak to precisely how it works, but it seems to me that "traditional" shows work something like:

Episodes 1-2: Let last season's paint dry and take measurements.

Episodes 3-8: Situation of the Week, with hints at a larger arc.

Episodes 9-11: The arc is built.

And from there, you get a mixture of episodes that 100% serve the arc and episodes that are still Situation of the Week.

This is an incredibly generalized example and doesn't allow for shows where there aren't necessarily running seasonal arcs, I realize. But even those generally have some sort of continuity, along with Situation of the Week, the latter of which might still drive the plot forward, but might also just be filler. And you're right that it does a lot for character development. I love seeing characters just existing, just living their lives. One of my favorite shows has about a million side characters, and it works because there's so much time given to just having the MCs sit and talk to the side characters.

[rhoda_rants]

I would also add that all the episodes are the SAME DAMN LENGTH. Like, yeah a lot of the newer streaming shows are only 8 episodes each, but sometimes those "episodes" are like 2 hours long. Which infuriates me for reasons I can't articulate.

[rogueslayer452]

I've become used to Asian dramas that have different time lengths with their episodes, but Western shows need to have a better structure. Obviously what we're used to is due to how shows were written and structured to fit to network television, with the right beats for commercial breaks, which doesn't happen with streaming since they are structured around being without commercial ads (although that is changing, defeating the purpose of the perks of streaming to begin with, making it all pointless). I don't mind the extended minutes if it makes sensed, however my issue is that most of the time it's not warranted because it doesn't utilize those minutes wisely via the storytelling. It doesn't have structure, which is what is missing.

[night_owl_9]

I think it's become apparent that a lot of people miss the 20+ episodes across multiple seasons structure of television shows. - Too true!

[rogueslayer452]

It really was something unique, and it held a lot of promise and it's a damn shame it was prematurely cancelled.

I know that final seasons can be a make-or-break with many shows, but they really fumbled the ball with the last season of WH13. Just hearing about how things happened made me just inwardly cringe. I'm with the rest of the fandom and pretend it doesn't exist.

[rogueslayer452]

It really was a fun show.

[rhoda_rants]

It is partly that, but also I don't always know how much of a time commitment I'm making, and that instability bothers me. Not to the point of not watching it—I've binged the entirety of Stranger Things three times now—but enough to complain about it every so often.

But yeah, it's the structure. And the lack of "filler" episodes, depending on what kind of show you're watching. Honestly, one of the reasons I think I loved TVD as much as I did was because it was that old format and I didn't realize how much I'd missed it.

---

[elizalavelle]

I just picked up the first two seasons of Revenge on DVD to rewatch - found them outside my apartment building, brand new in the packaging. Yay!

Much love for Lost Girl and for Warehouse 13 even though both got messy near the end. I also liked V when it was on.

I didn't get into Tru Calling as much but one day I should pick it up and give it a go.

I do miss the longer seasons of shows when there was time enough to have a longer plot arc and a few fun episodes. I think there are shows that suit the 10-12 episode model when they're planned well but not every show is best with a shorter season.

Plus waiting for years between seasons isn't a great time. I like a predictable schedule.


I see you listening to Poe. She's one of my favourites!

[pianogurl330]

I agree I miss the 20+ episodes across multiple seasons structure of TV shows. Also I tend to remember them better if they're longer. I also like revisiting old shows.

[rogueslayer452]

Yeah, I mean if something is memorable enough I'll definitely remember it regardless of how many episodes it is (and I rewatch things constantly anyway, so) but the current streaming model is dropping entire seasons all at once, and every season is short for easy binge-watching, which is definitely a problem because people will watch something and then forget about it as they move onto the next thing to binge-watch. Plus, a lot of these shows take forever before a new season emerges, so interest in said thing might wane in between which isn't good. Say what you will about traditional network television, but at least it had a constant schedule of knowing when a show would return and for the seasons to be extended across months.

[kissapentu]

So many good shows on your list. I understand why you dropped Lost Girl. I continued with it to the end and Bo, Kenzi, and Tasmin will remain my favorites, too. It's been a hot minute since I've seen the show but over all I did enjoy it despite its many faults.

Falling Skies will always remain a love of mine. Yes, the last 2 seasons weren't as strong nor as good but I loved the series in a whole.

Revenge is Outstanding and you MUST FINISH!!!! Emily does play Emily Thorne very well. And I love her and Noah's relationship through the whole series.

[rogueslayer452]

I do plan on finishing Falling Skies and Revenge as soon as I can get my hands on all the seasons. I'm basically planning on getting DVDs for some of the shows that I haven't finished either watching or collecting in general.

[rogueslayer452]

My plan is to get the rest of the DVDs of the shows I haven't finished, mainly because I have at least one or two seasons but never the rest but also because, due to how physical media has become sacred these days, I'm all about getting what I can.

I think there are shows that suit the 10-12 episode model when they're planned well but not every show is best with a shorter season.

Yeah, and I say this with any show regardless of its number of episodes. As long as it's planned out well, the seasonal arc and storyline, that's all you need. Some shows benefit for having shorter seasons, some with longer seasons. But it shouldn't be mandatory for all shows to follow one particular formula, and having no structure has really truly ruined so many potentially good shows that deserved it.

I also like a predictable schedule. Weekly releases were better for a show's longevity, imho.

Yes! I love Poe. :D

[rogueslayer452]

I think the producers are afraid that one 'failed' episode will cost them the viewers.

Sadly, this is all too common nowadays with the way streaming has become, because even good shows can get cancelled and pulled from the services if they don't perform "well" (whatever that means depending on the service, but generally it's about not wanting to pay residuals and other bullshit). Failure isn't an option, and so many stories suffer because of it. And it sucks.

I've seen this said from others and it's true, but the current state of the entertainment industry doesn't allow media to just exist anymore, and it's depressing to see. Even if a movie or show sucks, who is to say that it cannot exist? There were so many cancelled shows that were panned by critics and audiences alike in the past that gained a cult following due to DVD sales and reruns on network stations. Now? You cannot get that.

[elizalavelle]

I've started buying DVDs again and making lists of what I need for when I'm in second hand stores. Big agree on physical media being important these days. I feel like streaming may drop off quite suddenly. We already see lots of times where people have bought a digital copy of something and it gets taken away because a service changes their rules or loses access to that studio etc. I hate the "you will own nothing and you will be happy" future.

Agreed on the show. If there's a plan and they stick to it then the season usually works. If they get 10 episodes because that's what the network gave them and they just make it work it's usually not so strong.

I keep hoping that one day we'll randomly get new Poe music.

[rogueslayer452]

My rule has been this: if the Internet were to go down all of a sudden, would you still have the media you purchased?

Because physical media can exist outside of streaming/online and you actually own it. I never quite stopped buying physical media, although I never was that quick to get something once it was available because it was always "I can always buy it later" since I never thought that physical media would end up becoming obsolete. I still have VHS and cassette tapes from years ago, too. I just don't rely on digital or streaming. Never have. Sure it's more convenient, but if a service can just take it away at any given moment, why bother?

[cruel_summer]

I absolutely loved Revenge was it was on! I need to do a rewatch sometime.

[elizalavelle]

Good thinking. The internet is fantastic but if it goes down what does one have.

It's interesting because I see a lot of the micro condos being built that are designed with the idea that you won't really own much at all and everything would be streamed (books, movies, games etc.) and that's all well and good until the moment it doesn't work. If I didn't have the internet I'd have a lot of movies and shows to watch. If I lost power I'd have books.

I also have some of my old VHS tapes and a VCR. I set up the VCR in my TV stand and it's fun to see people react when they come over and see it. I don't use it really but I do feel like keeping the ability to access older tech is important.