this is why we can't have nice things...

[rhivolution]

Per taraljc, Rubicon has been cancelled. Yes, in light of renewing The Walking Dead after two.episodes.

Sigh. Yes, I know, #firstworldproblem, niche programme, but I enjoyed that show. It was the US answer to early Spooks*--thoughtful, dangerous, intelligence agency drama, and a slow burner.

...which was probably why they tossed it. The US viewing public has no patience for slow burners.** Their loss.


* Should that remake happen, and I have no idea how it would be done (as the FBI is incredibly different culturally, and we have also had about ten million FBI shows), I will cry.
** Please tell me we are grown-up enough to know that I don't necessarily mean You Specifically when I say 'the US viewing public'. There IS a dominant sociocultural construct of television viewers, both perceived and actual, in every country, though.

Comments

[alchemy]

The Walking Dead is phenomenal. Despite loving Rubicon, I absolutely can see why they made this decision.

[rhivolution]

I don't entirely see why they couldn't fund both, to be honest, or fund a shorter Rubicon series. Is TWD too costy in terms of effects?

[alchemy]

I have no idea. I had always assumed Rubicon wasn't going to be more than one season anyway. I loved it, but I still haven't finished the last several episodes because it's just so constantly heavy, even when you're only watching one episode per week. I don't know what AMC's budget is like, I just know this decision makes sense to me if they can only have one or the other.

I also wanted to mention that making derisive comments about the American viewing public is kind of insulting even when you clarify that you're not speaking about me, personally. If you have to add a footnote to explain why it shouldn't be insulting, maybe you ought to consider phrasing it differently in the first place.

[rhivolution]

EDIT: Essentially, what the footnote was meant to signify was not that I have suddenly fallen into the OMG US SUCKS contingent. (I am of the mind that most of the television industry sucks everywhere, not that they let me run things.) I will have to reword next time.

[alchemy]

Well, to be fair, I think most reality TV is extremely dubious no matter where you go. The US is the country that spawned Jersey Shore, after all.

ETA: That's fair, but ultimately I don't think the footnote helped. If anything, it seemed kind of condescending, like I should obviously know that even though you're talking about a group I am a part of, you're not speaking about me, personally. Which doesn't quite work.

[rhivolution]

I think I see where we're coming at this differently; I was trying to express a distinction between the single viewer and the greater gestalt audience and how those POVs can be vastly different.

But I sounded wanky (still sound wanky?) and I do apologize.

[djkittycat]

I'm not sure you are right. The Wire was a slow burner (the slowest of burners and the greatest of slow burners), and people got it just fine. I think they just cancel shit to be assholes.