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Unresolved Television Shows that Left Me Cold

Dec 23, 2010

by MichaelN
posted in Pass The Remote!

I got to thinking about television programs that were cancelled with not all loose ends tied up and in some case, totally unresolved. I remember being really mad at my teacher when she told me the story of The Lady or the Tiger. Since then it always bothered me when I got unto a television show that left it up to the audience to decide the resolution.

Lost In Space (TV show)

Anyone who grew up in the 60's watched the Robinson family as their attempts at rescue seemed to always be foiled by the stupidity of Doctor Smith. We did get a glimpse or two of what could be as Will Robinson was transported back to Earth in one episode but nobody believed who he was so he was not able to help his family. Oh the pain!

The Time Tunnel

When we last saw Doug Phillips and Tony Newman, they were still hopping around time with their same clothes (Doug with the suit and Tony with the green turtleneck). We also got a glimpse where Tony got back to a few years before his time and met a younger Doug, who didn't know him.
See the full review, "Join Doug and Tony as They Skirt Around Time".

Land of the Giants

It seems that Irwin Allen had a knack for not resolving any of his shows and would leave the cast stranded. I don't know if he was just not imaginative enough to come up with a good ending to tie up the story. As tjos was the least popular of the 3 series that involved stranded characters, it figures that this one would never be resolved either.

FlashForward

I thought this was the best television program of the season that it airred and was hooked on it from the first episode. Mark was able to solve some of the dilemas such as his returned drunkeness and preventing Dimitri's death. However the calamity that was supposed to end the world in 2013 was never faced as well as the resolution of Mark's relationship with his wife and Dimitri's relationship with his lawyer fiancee.
See the full review, "The Best Prime Time Series on Network Television!".

Dark Shadows

When we last left Barnabas and Julia, they had returned to Collinwood in 1970. There was no resolution as to whether or not Barnabas was still a vampire and whether or not Barnabas and Julia would hook up. Instead we were given the Bramwell and Katherine story in 1840 parallel time.
See the full review, "One of the best television programs to come out of the 1960's".

Dark Shadows 1991

This show ran into trouble being airred on Friday nights when viewership is down and then got bumped off a couple of Fridays due to the Gulf War. To top it off, NBC head Brandon Tartikoff left NBC which left executives that were not interested in the show. When the last episode ended, Victoria Winters had just returned from the 1700's and awoke to see Barnabas with a frightened look on her face.
See the full review, "Great Reboot, Unfortunately It Ran Into a War".

Gilligan's Island

When the series ended the castaways were still stranded on the island thanks to the regular bumbling of Gilligan. Yes in later years the producers made a couple of lame sequels that did not have the energy or comic impact of the regular series so I don't really consider it a resolution.

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Bethany_K December 27, 2010

I didn't realize Flash Forward was canceled, though I obviously hadn't seen it on TV this year. What a bummer! I was really interested in the plot. Interesting list!

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djevoke December 26, 2010

What a great idea for a list! I always hate when a show gets cancelled or ends and you're left with 50 million questions. Thanks for sharing :)

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Scotman December 23, 2010

Great list! I remember that Time Tunnel episode where Tony and Doug's period clothing disappeared and the suit and turtleneck reappeared! I think they were fated to wear them whenever they went through time. I met Lee Meriwether this past year. I should have asked her about that!! Besides the Irwin Allen silliness, I have fond memories of watching them in my pajamas in front of our old wood cabinet Black & White TV. It was a trip to see them in color years later. I just got the book Flash Forward and want to read it before renting the videos of this TV series -- still have not seen it.

MichaelN December 23, 2010

The book was very different than the tv series. In the book a scientific experiment gone awry makes everyone black out see themselves 20 or so years in the future. The tv series was a few months into the future. Since you have the book, I don't want to tell you any more because I do not want to spoil it for you.

Scotman December 24, 2010

Sure, thanks. I'm looking for more sci fi books to read and then write reviews for my own community, Forbidden Planet.

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MichaelN
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I first got on this blog to discuss my first passion which is books. Since I have gotten on I find that books are only a piece of this blog and I can discuss just about anything that comes to mind. It … more

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