When Angels Fall...

The news started to break on Friday night. The current season of Angel will be the last. Bah.

So, my list of cool shows that were killed off by Networks:

• Dark Skies
• Space: Above And Beyond
• Crusade (Babylon 5 spin off, didn't even get through an entire season)
• Dark Angel
• Farscape
• Firefly (also didn't get a whole season)
• Birds of Prey (ditto)
• Angel

The more I see about it, including the stuff Joss Whedon has said the more it seems like this was more of a political decision than one based on ratings - Season 5 has been a fantastic effort, the show has picked up in so many ways. If it was about ratings it wouldn't be too surprising though.

The long and short of it is that sci-fi and fantasy shows aren't good business. In terms of followings they get a fairly solid loyal following from a small subset of the population who value quality over formula. In terms of making money for the networks, that doesn't go too far.

Sometimes shows do make it into the mainstream. Star Trek did it in the 60s. The X-Files and Buffy did it in the 90s. Really of those three Buffy was the only one that didn't become a tired formula. But if something works, the networks like to stick to it. That's why Star Trek has become a much-derided franchise, and why Friends carried on far longer than it should have. Of course, the networks do recognise that people want something new every so often, and they do keep looking for the next big thing. They're just not particularly patient in waiting for a show to become the next big thing.

Oh, and networks like control. And ownership. I would imagine that Smallville won't be cancelled, because WB own the show wholly and completely. And Smallville isn't exactly high-brow fare, it's more like Dawson's Creek with super-powers (Although it does have Allison Mack in it. Rowrrrrrr)r. And the control thing? Well, Crusade bit the bullet because jms (the writer/creator) wouldn't kow-tow to the TNT execs who wanted more control over the show's content. I respect that. If it's your story, you tell it the way you want to tell it. Joss was also a one for always pushing the envelope. Tara and Willow didn't get to kiss onscreen until Buffy Season 6 because WB wouldn't allow it. The musical episode was something Joss wanted to do for ages, but also WB wouldn't allow it. I would imagine that with the network execs pushing his luck like that doesn't count in his favour, whereas with us it does.

The other thing UK viewers have to put up with is that a show's popularity over here doesn't mean shit over there. They've already sold the show to our networks, they don't care if it does well or not. It's US viewing figures that count, nothing else. And given that as percentage of population goes Buffy and Angel have a much bigger following over here than over there, this is pretty annoying.

So keep an eye on Tru Calling. I know many Buffy fans resent it because Eliza Dushku chose it in favour of doing a Faith series, but get over it. At the moment it's one of the only fantasy shows we've got, and if it's good it should get a fair chance. Because once there are no scifi or fantasy shows left on-air in the US, it'll be a long time until we see any others.

All things must pass sooner or later. I'd much rather have Angel go now while it is still up than to have the "Buffyverse" perpetuated beyond its time like has happened with Star Trek.

And I very much doubt it's anything that Joss has done that has lead to this, I've seen enough shows go to the wall to know that it's more about boardroom politics than anything else. There's little point in taking it personally, or holding grudges because of it. The way these shows normally go, we're damn lucky to have gotten five seasons in the first place.

Joss has said: "Two roads diverged in a wood, and I took the road less traveled by and they CANCELLED MY FRIKKIN' SHOW. I totally shoulda took the road that had all those people on it. Damn."

I respect him for taking the other road. Nothing comes without risk.