#tv asks

[pynkhues]

Hiii why do you think you there is no longer any filler eps in media??? I miss a 25 ep series so much!!!! ATP I’ll even take 12 eps!!! Like yes I do actually want to see the characters do random things and it not necessarily have to mean anything for the plot. It seems like we lost the art of shows being character driven vs story driven.. what do u think?

Hi! Oh, I can actually tell you the specific reasons for this, anon, because there are specific reasons. It's the rise of streaming and the cinema-ification of television.

Television used to be considered a second-tier form of entertainment that sat beneath cinema, and the result of that was, across the board, cheaper. You had lower production values, cheaper writers, cheaper actors (there's a reason there used to be a firm deviation between movie stars and tv stars), and on top of that, it was ad-supported, which helped to pay for everything. Add to that that the traditional television model ran on a year-long schedule that had to be filled as opposed to a stop-drop-and-binge model, and the fact that longer seasons were also cheaper (everyone gets a pay bump each season, so having one 22-episode season instead of two 12-episode seeasons again were a way of keeping costs down) meant that they just made sense.

The two things that broke TV was the rise in this concept of television not as a medium in an of itself, but as an "eight-hour movie" i.e. bingeable content that Netflix started in order to compete and move viewers away from traditional television and towards streamers. The effect of treating TV as a film meant that production values soared. TV needed to look and feel better so it meant hiring A-list talent, from directors like David Fincher, to casts like Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon, to crews, which meant that schedules changed (A-list talent won't be available to shoot a 22-episode season of anything) and costs went up because suddenly you have movie stars who work for movie fees.

Shortening seasons as a result became a matter of scheduling talent and being in any way shape or form affordable. This was contributed to by the fact that streamers relying on subscriptions instead of advertising has meant they've been beholden to grow subscriber bases by offering bigger, more bombastic shows as a means to entice new subscribers. It's also what made shows disposable, because whatever wasn't luring in viewers was not a 'viable product'. This model has just kept become entrenched as audiences have demanded that across the board, and network television / traditional TV has struggled to compete.

So yeah. We've been in a bit of a snake-eat-tail situation, but on a positive note, we are starting to see some swingback there. Obviously streamers are having to become ad supported because the theory of infinite subscriber growth was never going to last, which may actually revert the way streamers function, but network TV is also starting to feel its way back to the traditional model, with both sitcoms like Abbott Elementary on ABC and procedurals like Found on NBC both getting 22-episode season orders.

It's an interesting time, but yeah. If you're looking for someone to blame for losing filler episodes, it's streaming.

[liveontelevision]

your suffer series reminds me of the song “if we ever meet again” by timbaland

Hell yeah! The chorus really captures all that angst going on lol

[i-platypus]

ripper street for the tv asks!

Fantastic! Thank you :)

Favourite character: In this house, we love and protect Detective Constable Albert Flight

Funniest character: It's a tie between Fred Best and Homer Jackson... nah, it's totally Fred

Best-looking character: Well, I won't say Flight again (although he's a cutie). So, let's go with the lovely Rose

3 favourite ships: Oh my, there are a lot... Rose/Bennet (they earned their happy ending); Reid/Jane Cobden (we could have had it aaaaaaaaalllll); but I also like Reid/Deborah Goren, and Reid/Jackson (someone just please love that tragic DI); and Raine/Susan (there is some really nice fic out there)

Least favourite character: See, this is hard, because the caliber of antagonists on this show is just *chef's kiss ... so, I'll say Jedediah Shine (because I could write many essays on his twisted pseudo-father-figure-emotional-blackmail dynamic with Flight)... but damn, if he isn't a great character

Least favourite ship: Shine/Flight (because, ugh, no thank you please); Reid/Mimi (I'm sorry, y'all... I did not like Mimi as a character); Mathilda/Samuel (because they were kind of boring)

Reason why I watch it: THE WRITING... especially the dialogue. See Silas Duggan's "Men of Old Stone" speech in s2

Why I started watching it: My guess is because after Being Human UK, I wanted to see DaMo (Damien Molony) in as many things as possible. And then I fell into the Void.

Let's Play! Send me a TV show ask game...

[saltyfilmmajor]

sorry to send MASH but I legit don't know what other shows you watch just movies

Jokes on you Sarah I don’t watch movies either dhdhdhdhd I just vibe and waste time with unmedicated adhd

Favorite Character: main character syndrome strikes again, it’s gotta be Hawkeye but besides him my next favorite is Mulcahy

Funniest Character: it’s a comedy show so I feel like they’re all funny but klinger especially so

Best-looking Character: hard to say, gonna go with trapper on this one

3 Favorite ships: hunnihawk, Hawkcahy and uh let’s put hawnk in there to for some spice.

Least favorite character: don’t really have a least favorite.

Least favorite ship: I don’t care for Margaret and Hawkeye romantically but their dynamic fascinates me

Reason why I watch it: it’s a genuinely good show and a cornerstone of American pop culture and I just think it’s neat

Why I started watching it: I was reading the tvtropes page for Tower Heist and saw that They categorized Alan Alda as playing against his type, contrast to him as Hawkeye and I was like: WAIT HES THE GUY IN THE WATCHMOJO VIDEOS THAT MENTION MASH?

And then I caught it on tv and got really into it.!

[honestlydarkprincess]

Ted Lasso for the TV asks?

Favourite character: jamie!! i love love love all of the characters but there's just something about jamie, he's my little guy. the growth of his character is just UGH chefs kiss Funniest character: dani 😍 he's just so !! wholesome and hilarious Best-looking character: rebecca 🥺 absolute QUEEN 3 favourite ships: roy/keeley/jamie, roy/keely, and i haven't finished the show yet i'm mid season 2 (even tho i've been keeping up with the spoilers so i do know what happens in season 3 lskdjf) Least favourite character: RUPERT Least favourite ship: anything involving rupert Reason why I watch it: i started it because my friends really love it and hyped it up but i keep watching because it's just so 🥺 like they do so many things so WELL and i just love the characters so much !! Why I started watching it: my beloveds @dykemunson and @afterafternoons got me into it !!

send me TV asks<3

[doyelikehaggis]

Eastenders for the tv asks :D

Yesss, more than happy to do this :D

Favourite character: Now, this one is hard because there are So Many. I wanna say... Bobby. I relate to him on too many levels (obviously not the murderous one), and he's just very close to my heart. But also, pry Ben Mitchell from my cold dead hands. (Also Syed, I adore him)

Funniest character: Freddie can definitely be some good comedic relief, same for Alfie (they're basically the same character in a slightly different font lmao). I do love Ben's dry humour a lot as well though. Oh, but Shirley's hilarious as well. Does drunk Kathy count?

Best-looking character: Well, that's just not fair either. But I have to say Syed, he is beautiful. Suki and Eve, too. Shit, I can't pick just one character for any of these sfhjsgh

3 favourite ships: Bobby/Freddie, Chryed, Sukeve

Least favourite character: Right now, it's Elaine. Sometimes it's Sharon, sometimes it's Keanu. They all have their moments.

Least favourite ship: Sheanu.

Reason why I watch it: The drama. And I'm so deeply invested in so many of the characters. It's been part of my life since childhood, so there's a bit of nostalgia to it as well.

Why I started watching it: Initially, because it was a soap and my parents watched it so I just did as well (plus I loved Bradley and JAy), and then I started watching it again properly in 2021 because I'd seen some stuff surrounding Ben and Callum, and the Gray storyline, so I wanted to see what was happening. I am deeply invested again.

Send me a TV series!

[claire8216]

16 & 33! 🥰

16. Do you feel like there are any underrated TV show formats? If you're familiar with the musical The Last Five Years, I absolutely love that format. It's a nonlinear type narrative, where from one character's perspective they are telling a story in chronological order, and from the other character's POV they're telling the same story in reverse chronological order. It's weird and chaotic but there's a moment when they meet in the middle and it's really cool. I'd love to see something else use a format similar to that! (I’m sure there is I just have not watched it haha)

33. Would you be interested in trying a show in another language? I would absolutely be interested! But, as I mentioned in another ask, I do not do well with subtitles haha. So it would probably be a bit of a struggle for me, but I'm sure overtime I would get used to it!

TV Show Ask Game!

[watchyourbuck]

No im not “grieving” Buddie, do you know how amazing it is to have queer/bisexual men representation in today’s media? Do you know how important it is for all of the community and the younger people watching this? This is a huge milestone and Buck’s sexuality is valid outside of any type of ship. Today we celebrate.

[bli-o]

hey autistic people who get overwhelmed by large groups or noise or conversation or etc etc etc you’re not evil for wanting to leave a family gathering. just so you know.

[brodorokihousuke]

howling at the fact that this is officially produced content

[pynkhues]

Sophie, have you watched Kaos? I just watched a couple episodes and it's so so clever, I'm really enjoying how they translate all the Greek mythology to this kind of fantastical contemporary world. And it has Janet McTeer.

I haven't! I hadn't even heard of it, anon, but that sounds really fun. I'll add it to my list.

[ummmmandy]

[i-platypus]

Ted Lasso for the tv ask game 💖

Give me a TV series and I’ll tell you:

Favourite character: Trent Crimm, Independent || Second favorite? Rebecca Welton, of course

Funniest character: Coach Beard. I will forever love "Pineapple Percussions." (Dole-drums) || AFC Richmond himbos (just, as a collective) Best-looking character: Rebecca Welton (I mean, jesus, just look at the woman)

3 favourite ships: Ted/Rebecca (although I champion their friendship too, so if we just stayed with that, I'm happy); Roy/Keeley (grump-sunshine dynamic that actually is written well? oh my lord...); Colin/his cute squeeze (it's very sweet) Least favourite character: Jaime's dad, Edwin Akufo, George Cartrick Least favourite ship: Sam/Rebecca (there were a few problematic elements); Keeley/Jack (did neither one of them any favors in terms of the writing); Beard/Jane (just because I think they may inadvertently doom us all) Reason why I watch it: The writing is (90% of the time) clever, and it's nice to have a show that understands that positivity is complex, but kindness is an absolute necessity Why I started watching it: I think the trailer was really good? And then mum and I got hooked because s1 was so solid. I hope they can carry that through to the end -- there have been some episodes in s3 that were, well... the show deserved better

Let's Play! TV Show Ask Game

[saltyfilmmajor]

Penguins of Madagascar

Favorite Character: I’m a main character girlie, so Skipper is my favorite

Funniest Character: king Julien full stop, “no one will be sucking seed” lives rent free in my head

Best-looking Character: I’m going with favorite design for this, and I’m really into feral! marlenes design that’s really fun

3 Favorite ships: Skipper x Marlene, Skipper x Kowalski and then uh Skipper x Julien

Least favorite character: not sure I have one tbh.

Least favorite ship: also don’t really have one lmao

Reason why I watch it: childhood nostalgia

Why I started watching it: I was 11 and I liked the Madagascar movies

[honestlydarkprincess]

Hi babyy, for the TV shows asks game, how about Teen Wolf? mwah thank you!

MY LOVEEEE MY LIGHT MY WIFE HEWWO

Favourite character: Stiles and Derek !! Stiles is me and I am him (bisexual adhd disasters) and Derek is my babygirl! also Theo he holds a special place in my heart my sweet murder baby Funniest character: Stiles 🥰 Best-looking character: Derek 😈 3 favourite ships: Sterek, Thiam, and Least favourite character: Kate Argent Least favourite ship: Derek/Kate Reason why I watch it: I haven't actually finished watching it because I was obsessed with the characters but I wasn't quite as interested in the plot? Y'know? But I love werewolves and Stiles is my sarcastic king <3 Why I started watching it: I stumbled across sterek fanfic I believe? Then I started watching the show but I didn't finish it lksjdflkjsdf I do know a lot of what happens, I've spent hours on the wiki and watching youtube scenes

send me TV asks<3

[doyelikehaggis]

julie and the phantoms for the tv asks <3

I haven't properly thought about this show in ages because it makes me so sad that their story is over, so thank you for letting me dip my toe in the water a little with this <3

Favourite character: It's either Julie or Alex. I relate to both of them so strongly and also they're just precious.

Funniest character: Oh crap, they're all hilarious. I was going to say Flynn or Luke but then I remembered Alex so now I'm not sure. Maybe Alex.

Best-looking character: Oh, that's so not fair. They're all beautiful. But if I HAD to choose then... Julie. But also Willie and Caleb.

3 favourite ships: PeterPatter, Julynn, Willex

Least favourite character: Hmm, I'm not sure. Maybe Bobby? Only because I am absolutely in love with everyone else, but I do still like Bobby.

Least favourite ship: I don't think I actually have one. I don't, like, actively ship Jukebox but I don't hate them either, obviously.

Reason why I watch it: For one, the music is addictive and enchanting and so heartbreakingly beautiful. Two, the story and the characters for very much the same reasons.

Why I started watching it: I saw that Booboo, Cheyenne and Jadah were going to be in it + Kenny was involved, and as a huge fan of Descendants at the time, I just had to watch it. And I'm so glad I did because it still lives in my heart.

Send me a TV series!