MovieChat Forums > Flashforward (2009) Discussion > Why On Earth Would You Cancel This Show?

Why On Earth Would You Cancel This Show?

posted 8 years ago by journalist1
5 replies | jump to latest

Flashforward is a masterpiece of in-depth characterization, plot complexity (in a good way) and hard science, all wrapped up in a neat, powerful package that screams quality, yet against their better judgement, the ABC network cancelled the show.

Remember, this show was developed before GoT, a series, we know all to well. GoT wears the crown for amazing casting, in that, they were able to contract the most highly-talented tv actors on earth, based on one man's vision.

Brannon Braga and David S.Goyer really outdid themselves with FlashFoward, yet, incredibly, the show was cancelled, what they should have done was 'cancel' the network execubots in charge of such a balls up.

Well done, Goyer and Braga, we appreciated and loved your work on FF, shame ABC didn't.

“You're....gonna....make...a..deal...with....THAT......diabolical beeaatch?..??”

[–] jimbofinesse 8 years ago

I hear ya. The cancellation of this show was a real disappointment to me too. I tuned in every week. It was telling a compelling story jam packed with great characters. ABC snatched defeat from the jaws of victory when they cancelled it.

The season ended with that big explosion which was obviously intended to be a cliffhanger heading into season two but since that never happened I now prefer to pretend that the explosion killed everyone. The bad guys won. It gives me a little token closure.

[–] Izzyennygood 8 years ago

It is on my list of shows to watch again, together with Terriers, Mad Dogs (US) and Carnivale

Too late to die Young

[–] wizbang66 8 years ago

You should check out the novel, I found it a bit more interesting than the show.

[–] tay-15 8 years ago

"High concept" sci fi isn't always going to grab people and it didn't here (at least not enough to get high enough ratings).

I've read the novel, and frankly the book itself has some credibility issues. With that being said, the TV show introduced law enforcement characters (an element ignored in the book) and the problem is they don't act in a believable manner. That's my main beef with the TV show, especially when we're already straining credibility to buy into the concept.

[–] Izzyennygood 8 years ago

The show's biggest problem was the number of episodes in season 1. Twenty two episodes is far too many and there were a lot of stories that seemed to go on without any resolution in sight except that of the Starks, mainly to fill out the number of episodes in the season.

Unlike others, I thought the book was a huge bore and I'm amazed that someone took that premise and gave us what we got. Almost a classic sci-fi show with interesting people (Dominic Monaghan apart)

The book's action takes place in Geneva, not LA. The FBI, nor any other police force (with the exception of one individual) are not involved. The FlashForward shows a time 21 years in the future, not a few months. The main characters are two physicists, one of whom is to be murdered and the resolution of that, gives us the only modicum of excitement in the novel. The characters are cardboard cut-outs lacking any personality and much of the book is written in scientific mumbo-jumbo and philosophically ponders the meaning of "Free Will", "Is the future cast in stone ?" and THOSE questions about "Immortality" and "Infinity and Eternity"
A little heavy !

Too late to die Young