The worst part of being a Binger is when the binge comes to an end. Often, though, the ending of a movie or series can make or break the entire experience. It’s happened to me countless times. Sometimes an underwhelming ending pollutes an otherwise powerful show. Other times, we can be tricked by a strong finale into liking a mediocre product. Any seasoned viewer knows the feeling of sinking into a showhole—that feeling of emptiness after completing a particularly enrapturing show. It can leave you wondering if you’ll ever find another story to recreate the thrill. Though it’s usually a temporary feeling, finding the motivation to start another show can be exhausting or even pointless, like diving into a new relationship after a nasty break-up.
Game of Thrones (HBO)
Although it seems like yesterday, Game of Thrones’s HBO adaptation came to a close in May 2019. The first few seasons were an unprecedented critical success, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about shows of all time. David Benioff and D. B. Weiss did a fantastic job adapting George R. R. Martin’s published work, but once they forged beyond the book’s content around Season 6, the general consensus is that the story took a nosedive. As plot events came to a head and the characters’ questionable decisions became less and less forgivable, positive hype for the show died down and most people felt burned out. To me, this is a textbook example of a very well-written show being held back by a less than stellar ending. Don’t get me wrong, writing a satisfying conclusion is quite possibly the most challenging part of composing a compelling story. All the more reason, then, that you must spend ample time planning for it. Before the actual conclusion, characters should be in the correct position to make a good final impression on the audience, almost like planning ahead in chess so when you need a piece, it’s already in position to make a move. I invested a lot into Game of Thrones (GoT), so when the ending fell short of my expectations, it was more than a little disappointing.
The Witcher (Netflix)
Even with GoT’s lackluster ending, audiences wanted more. There was no denying that despite its flaws, GoT had a setting, budget, and scale that was unrivaled by its competition. People were itching for more, and they just happened to be in luck when Netflix’s The Witcher launched its first season. For many, myself included, it was the perfect continuation that maintained—and in some ways improved upon—most GoT aspects. The hype GoT created is part of the reason why shows like The Witcher get greenlit—when showrunners see a popular franchise, they want to capitalize on its success! It’s also one of the advantages of being part of such a vocal community, because our voices matter. With The Witcher in the spotlight, hopes are high for a killer second season.
WandaVision (Disney Plus)
The delay between seasons of live action TV can be painful, so while I restlessly wait for a continuation of Geralt’s story, another show by the name of WandaVision launched as the first mainline Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) product since 2019. The new miniseries format for the MCU kicked off in January 2021, and ended after nine solid episodes. After a year with very little Marvel content released, it took the MCU in a new direction rich with Easter eggs and returning characters. WandaVision is connected to other Marvel installments, but its unique plot and conflicting stylistic choices make it stand apart. A common complaint of the MCU is the ‘same-ness’ of its more recent movies, so these changes might be for the better. My only significant issue with the series is the shift from the novel and weird, to the safer, more Marvel-esque second half, but I wasn’t left with the same bad taste in my mouth as GoT. Instead, I’m cautiously optimistic about the future of the MCU. WandaVision isn’t perfect in every regard—some questionable acting and a formulaic conclusion bring it down a tad—but it’s a refreshing palate cleanser after all of the excitement revolving around Avengers: Endgame.
With the season finale of WandaVision, yet another creative story has come to an end, and some of us Bingers might be feeling a bit discouraged, especially after all of the production delays caused by COVID. But this time, the solution is presenting clearer than in Game of Thrones’s case. Marvel has fresh content coming every single week for the rest of 2021, whether that be a miniseries episode or a movie, so there should be no shortage of viewing for Marvel fans!
The format of shorter TV shows and miniseries is becoming more and more popular these days, so we might be switching between shows more and more often, but that’s not necessarily a problem. As one fad takes hold, other studios can make changes to the formula to create a novel but reminiscent product. The BingeRoom community is doing its part by recommending content you will love based on what you’ve seen. Once you list what you’ve been binge-watching, chances are you’ll find something similar or more satisfying. So when a story does end, keep your head up—a new experience is just around the corner! We’ve been blessed with so many amazing and varied stories over the years, so don’t let the show-hole keep you down. Set your eyes on the horizon, because the future looks bright. The show-hole might seem impossibly deep, but art creates art. The end of any story just might be the inspiration for another fantastical experience.