This is a subject that has been rattling around inside my head for quite some time and each year it gets even worse.

Television in the noughties sucks!

Seriously. I don't mean the individual episodes, or the acting. Those are still quality work. But the tv shows in general just dissapoint me. In this post I am going to show you the different shows that make my favourites list for this decade, as well as my all time favourite show which (THANKFULLY) started back in the nineties.

The problem is simple. The Powers That Be want ratings. and if a show drops by one point they will axe it witohut a glance back. So many good shows have to FORCE changes in order to keep the show 'fresh' and 'new' or else fear being killed. This is what kills series. It's all the execs fault.




Stargate SG:1

To me this show has always been great. The first few seasons are a little rocky in comparison to continuity and general plot, but since the end of the second season it really came into it's own, and this is why:

Characters:

The characters in SG:1 were always well done, from the main lead to the smallest extra I was never dissapointed. But here is a breakdown of the main characters.

Colonel/Brigadier General/Major General O'Niell: This character, and it's actor, Was all rounded. He was clearly the leader, and yet was also the comic relief. A risky combination, but one that worked out perfectly.

Captain/Major/Lieutenant Colonel Carter: She was the Jack of all Trades (Or in this case the Jill of all Trades). She filled the cracks that might show up. A genious as well as an expert shooter she broke the mold of the stereotypical damsel in distress. Being able to defend herself as easily as any air force officer while the very next second being able to figure out how to use a device to manipulate time itself.

Doctor Daniel Jackson: Origionally he filled the stereotypical geek role. A master of over 27 Earth based languages and countless alien ones. He used his diplomatic abilities to solve conflict with words, as opposed to bullets.
But the main thing about Dr Jackson was he evolved (No not literally, well, he did ascend, but I mean something else). He was a geek and then after his time away he grew as a person. He took a more active role in saving the planet, even resorting to rely on a weapon if he needed to. He became one of the macho fighters, while still holding onto his geek inside.

First Prime of Apophis, Teal'C: Simple, and yet beautiful. All of his actions come from one point inside himself. His need to free his people. An honourable warrior who would die to save one person. At first glance he's the muscle. And he was. To quote Jack "Take point and look scary". But beneath all the muscle beat the heart of a sentimental person. This, too, was a mold-breaker.

Now the reason I point this all out is because in the 8 years (I am not counting the last 2 years, because as a true fan I belive that TPTB ruined SG:1 by trying to boost the rating by forcing the spinoff, SGC, to be SG:1. If they had ended SG:1 at 8 and created SG:C then it would of been a great movie, but this happened in the noughties. My first bit of proof that TV sucks).
Anyway. In the 8 years that the real SG:1 ran for they changed, but it felt natural. Officers got promoted, characters in the show died. These things happen. But the soul of the team never changed. There was one year without Jackson, but even then the soul was the same.

Storyline:
Another great thing was the storyline evolved, while staying true to itself. Defeat the Goa'uld. in 8 years that never changed.

Now I'm going to show you my favourite shows in the noughties and show you why, even though I still love them, they are not as good as the ninties.

In keeping with Stargate I present:



Stargate Atlantis

This show is good, but not great anymore. Too many changes are being forced into it from higher up, for example:

Characters

Ford: They took this guy out of the show because he didn't fit right, not enough people loved him, so they killed him off in the first season.

Beckett: A much loved character, so much infact that they made him a main character. Then they thought "Hey, let's FORCE some drama in here". Boom. A much loved character is killed because they wanted drama.

Dr Weir: I didn't like her too much. She was OK, but nothing flash. But instead of doing things to evolve thier characters they try to FORCE them. They killed Weir off in order to make room for a new leader. Trying to FORCE fans from one show to follow her over. and what happened to her?
Colonel Carter: Not dead (shockingly), but not enough people loved her. So it's off with her and in with a new guy. Bet is new guy bites it before the end of season 5.

Now that's good TV! Not enough people like this guy? KILL HIM!

Ford is a good comparison to Jackson. They all agreed the character wasn't what they wanted. Back in the good TV days they'd change him. Over time they'd make him a little different, more likeable.
Now? KILL HIM!

Storyline

The sGA storyline is ok, thankfully it's not as bad as some shows out there. But the general plot seems to be jumping between two different bad guys, it's a dangerous move, but it might pay off.

Next up, and a change of pase, is:



How I Met Your Mother.

I love this show. it's great. But there is still one drawback that bothered me. THE HOOK.
See, now days another concept is to hook people in right away and then once they're fans it doesn't matter what you do. This show's hook was the title.

It's a story of how this guy met his wife. Good enough. Well written and funny... up until season 2.
See, origionally Ted would be dating a new girl every week but in season 2 he was with Robin all year. In just an average sitcom that'd be cool. But this one had THE HOOK. So everyone sat there and thought "Get it over with. just break up" Because we all knew she wasn't the mother, so they were just dragging it out.
But now Ted is single again, and dating. So who knows, THE HOOK might still be relevent.

In the order of THE HOOK next is



My Name Is Earl.

Again, one of my favourites. I even bought the DVD sets. But it had a hook, too. Which worked for the first seasons. The List.

Earl used the list to fix his life. It was great. THEN TPTB decided to 'shake things up' by changing everything. First they put Earl into Prison so he couldn't work on the List, and then in a damn coma.
And now they got him married. So I'm not sure what's on the horizons. more "shocking" plot twists more likely.



House

Good show. But for the latest season. Trying to 'shake things up' they fired House's entire support staff. So instead of having a medical show with faces you know and love a good portion of the show was directed to FORCING three new people into our lives.
I agree that change is a good thing, but it feels forced in today's TV too much. His entire staff being fired/quitting in the same episode? But of a reach there.



NCIS
My main example of forced character addition/removal. I know what season of NCIS i'm watching just by the starting credits.

Season 1 had Kate
Season 2 had Kate and McGee
Season 3 had David
Season 4 had the Director
Season 5 is the only season with no major changes in the start up. But I do notice that there is a new director at the moment.


and ther eis one more show, which surely needs no introduction




Lost

Well, I don't think i can even list these ones. The changes happen nearly every episode. But even worse then the characters was that the overall plot chaged every season, like clock work.

Season 1 had the hatch
Season 2 had the button and the tailies
Season 3 had the others, etc etc

you know, for a deserted island that no one can really get to they had a HELL of a lot of new people they added to it over the season.

and what was the deal with the freaking Smoke Monster?!

i'll still watch it because, sadly, I'm hooked. But it seems that tv shows in general are FORCED to change to suit the most viewers, instead of stepping back and saying "Hey, I have a nice little cult following here, screw you TPTB, I'm sticking to good characters and strong plot.
And on that note a quick Salute, to some much loved, but not loved enough, heroes.



FireFly
For a show that didn't even finish a full season it has a hell of alot of fans.


Drive
Axed after only 4 episodes. 4!!


The Dresden Files
As a fan of the book series I am straight up PISSED about this one. They had 10 full sized novels full fo epic adventure to work with, but it didn't get enough fans in the first episode to make it worth keeping around. Hey, TPTB, here's a hint. Stop sabourtaging your own work and advertise the bugger! I mean hell, the 'fallen' shows had little to no Advertisement.
It's like TPTB create a show and even before they air it they axe it "Not enough pre-premire viewing. Kill it"

So I end this with a shout out to the future.


Sanctuary

finally. The real Powers That Be decided to cut away from the executives and their trigger-happy axes.


This is TelKesh saying, "I can't belive you actually read all this"

-That is all.