that difficult second series...

pickarooney

Like a fresh-faced, enthusiastic band with a killer début album, it can often be hard for a new series to keep its dynamic going into and beyond the difficult second series.
Which ones from last year do you think will make it, which ones will jump the shark, get axed, fade into obscurity?
What recent series have made it through the barrier succesfully and what ones should have been let die in the off-season?

Thinking about last season's winning premieres, I'm hoping Lost can find something spectacular to keep interest levels up. If it hadn't been so damn good in season one, I think it would be a relatively easy task, but it's given itself a lot to live up to. I'm going to go with success, but only until halfway through season two, with a tangibly less addictive storyline dragging it across the finish line.

Desperate Housewives should be more than capable of making a good second impression. The first series gave us a lot to chew on, but didn't overexplore any of the characters and the introduction of new ones is pretty easy, given the set. The main story wrapped up pretty well last time out, but there's no reason a new story can't do as well.

Veronica Mars, though with ostensibly a very similar central plot to DH will, I fear, struggle badly in season two. The none-too-strong supporting cast and sometimes piss-poor subplots weakened what was otherwise a breath of fresh air as high-school dramas go. With the main intrigue resolved in the finale, it's hard to see VM getting its breath back in time for kick-off in a couple of weeks.

Nighty Night. I didn't get to see the first episode of series two yet, but have hopes that it will continue the Britcom tradition of well-distributed laughs over a couple of seasons.

Ideal was something I only got hold of a few weeks back, and was pleasantly surprised, as I'd never heard anything about it before. I think it's back soon and am looking forward to it, though admittedly without rat-baited breath.

Hmm, bit busy at the moment actually. More on previous shark-jumpers later. Possibly.

Agent Orange

I have a horrible feeling Lost is going to stumble in its second series. The first season was way more dragged out than it needed to be - case in point:

the hatch

. A series can go from huge to cancelled in one season flat: look at Joan of Arcadia, Ally McBeal and Twin Peaks.

Basq

My two cents on the shows i've seen:

Lost

Lost is definantly the hardest one to carry into a second season. An excellent and exciting first season will more than likely put major pressure on the dynamic of the second seasons. Doesn't help with how much the characters have been explored and changed this season. Watch the first episode again and you'll notice a lot of the characters (particularly Jack and Sawyer) have branched out and changed tremendously as compared to recent episodes. They'll need not spend as much time explaining characters backstories this year.. though getting straight into the action also may water down the characters relationships. Definantly will be need to be a stupendous second season!

Desperate Housewives

Got very sick of this show very quickly! And regarding a second season.. with the rivalries and bitching among cast members.. this will probably be the last season!

Veronica Mars

I thought VM was probably the best new show of last season (besides Lost, of course). But a second season will prove ever difficult especially with getting the viewers as UPN have put VM's second season in the same time-slot as 'Lost'! :rolleyes: Am hoping it will be somewhat of a good season though!

daveirl

This post has been deleted.

tvnutz

Basquille,no matter what DH spouts out it will always have a big audience,and will go on for years. It has that type of audience that keep tuning in,even if it continues to get crap (The OC comes to mind).

Basq

tvnutz wrote:

Basquille,no matter what DH spouts out it will always have a big audience,and will go on for years...

I'm not saying DH will end due to loss of viewers.. the show is like 'Sex And The City' - no matter if it deteoriates, people will still tune it!

What i am saying is this petty squabbling, rivalries and bitching among members of cast (google "Desperate Housewives Vanity Fair shoot incident").. it seems quite obvious they don't get along. And if the show does end, it'll be due to cast members leaving, not poor viewing figures.

And funnily enough.. the 3 who seem to be not getting along are probably the 3 biggest stars of the show: Marcia Cross (Bree Van De Kamp), Eva Longoria (Gabrielle Solis), Teri Hatcher (Susan Mayer). If any or even all of them leave, that's a pretty big void to fill.

tvnutz

Ummm...possibly,but not likely IMO,they are getting a nice pay package this year,their fame has skyrocketed since the show began,reviving Teri hatcher's career,making Eva the hottest women on earth all of a sudden and also making Marca a big star. Something tells me they won't throw it away all too quickly,even if they don't get along.

Wheels

Agent Orange wrote:

I have a horrible feeling Lost is going to stumble in its second series. The first season was way more dragged out than it needed to be - case in point:

the hatch

. A series can go from huge to cancelled in one season flat: look at Joan of Arcadia, Ally McBeal and Twin Peaks.

Joan of Arcadia was never huge, it did well especialy to recieve an emmy nomination but it was never a break out hit. Ally McBeal lasted five years and like every other David E Kelly show it ran out of steam around season 3 and just died a death after that.

As for Desperate Housewives, I think the second season is going to tough for them. Losing Rex was a mistake but it will be interesting to see Bree live as a widow. I'm not looking forward to seeing anymore of these physco kids stories (ie Andrew and Dana). Then theres Susan who toward the end of the season became a wet blanket of a character who's whole life seems driven by just wanting to be in love, its not very appealing.

segadreamcast

WTF WHEELS WTF, SPOILER TAGS. Jesus!

iguana

Wheels wrote:

Ally McBeal lasted five years and like every other David E Kelly show it ran out of steam around season 3 and just died a death after that.

I thought the series with Robert Downey Jr was the best, wasn't that series 4. The final series was utterly unwatchable.

DH isn't that great tbh, I read an article about the show before it was shown here and it was described as quite good, but only as long as there was nothing better showing on HBO. I think that about sums it up, though I really liked Mrs Huber's sister's speech to the neighbours when they found her body.

Does anybody else hate it when a new series starts and it inexplicably introduces a host of new characters who have just moved to the area. It especially happens on US 'teen' drama, like the OC season 2 had Zack, Alex Lindsey and DJ.

tvnutz

NoelRock wrote:

WTF WHEELS WTF, SPOILER TAGS. Jesus!

Why? Desperate Housewives has been shown on Irish and British TV. No need for spoiler tags. Reading this is stuff is done so at your own risk.

segadreamcast

Hah, sorry, I thought he was talking about Lost (???) and managed to throw my eyes away from the screen without realising that the names didn't correspond with Lost. Never mind!