They Wasted a Perfectly Good Plot/Live-Action TV: Difference between revisions

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* For a brief time on the US version of ''[[The Office]]'', Jim was promoted to be co-manager with Michael. When this setup was reverted by the company's new owners because it was a [[Incompetence Inc|totally stupid idea]], Michael decided to step down because the new company's generous commission program for salesmen paid more. However, the role reversal (Jim as manager, Michael as salesman) lasted for an episode before Michael realized he couldn't handle not being in charge anymore; many fans said they thought the new setup could have been milked for much more material.
* For a brief time on the US version of ''[[The Office]]'', Jim was promoted to be co-manager with Michael. When this setup was reverted by the company's new owners because it was a [[Incompetence, Inc.|totally stupid idea]], Michael decided to step down because the new company's generous commission program for salesmen paid more. However, the role reversal (Jim as manager, Michael as salesman) lasted for an episode before Michael realized he couldn't handle not being in charge anymore; many fans said they thought the new setup could have been milked for much more material.
** And in the span of that single episode, the writers decided to focus on Michael (who had been seen acting as a salesman several times in the show before this point) rather than Jim, even though this was a perfect opportunity to have some payoff to the "Jim yearns for more from life deep-down" subplot that had been running since late in the second season.
** And in the span of that single episode, the writers decided to focus on Michael (who had been seen acting as a salesman several times in the show before this point) rather than Jim, even though this was a perfect opportunity to have some payoff to the "Jim yearns for more from life deep-down" subplot that had been running since late in the second season.
** Season 4 saw Ryan promoted to vice-president of the company after three seasons of being one of the show's biggest [[Butt Monkey|Butt Monkeys]]. Unfortunately, due to the 2007 writers' strike, the season was greatly shortened, and Ryan appears very little before he is finally fired in the season finale. Worse yet, Ryan's biggest contribution to the company, an automated website, was seen early on as a necessary asset for the company to remain relevant despite Michael, who wanted to cling to older and more traditional ways of doing business, finding it threatening. This struggle between old and new is never mentioned again after the third episode of the season, and the website is revealed in the finale to have been a failure.
** Season 4 saw Ryan promoted to vice-president of the company after three seasons of being one of the show's biggest [[Butt Monkey|Butt Monkeys]]. Unfortunately, due to the 2007 writers' strike, the season was greatly shortened, and Ryan appears very little before he is finally fired in the season finale. Worse yet, Ryan's biggest contribution to the company, an automated website, was seen early on as a necessary asset for the company to remain relevant despite Michael, who wanted to cling to older and more traditional ways of doing business, finding it threatening. This struggle between old and new is never mentioned again after the third episode of the season, and the website is revealed in the finale to have been a failure.
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** To be fair that was forced by a case of [[Real Life Writes the Plot]] as Hugh Laurie was developing serious back problems from using the cane so much and needed time away from it.
** To be fair that was forced by a case of [[Real Life Writes the Plot]] as Hugh Laurie was developing serious back problems from using the cane so much and needed time away from it.
* In one episode of the ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined (TV)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' reboot, the Centurions are given sentience and free will. Their first act as sentient beings is to {{spoiler|gun down the branch of the Cylon leadership that they are angry with, who just download to new bodies}}. There is one more scene where a Six says “please” to a Centurion after giving it an order, and the entire thing is never mentioned again. Considering all the parallels between the Human/Cylon history and the Cylon/Centurian relationship, this could have gone in many interesting directions.
* In one episode of the ''[[Battlestar Galactica Reimagined (TV)|Battlestar Galactica]]'' reboot, the Centurions are given sentience and free will. Their first act as sentient beings is to {{spoiler|gun down the branch of the Cylon leadership that they are angry with, who just download to new bodies}}. There is one more scene where a Six says “please” to a Centurion after giving it an order, and the entire thing is never mentioned again. Considering all the parallels between the Human/Cylon history and the Cylon/Centurian relationship, this could have gone in many interesting directions.
** The reveal of the Pegasus (and the subsequent half-season it stayed as part of the fleet) didn't amount to much in terms of plot development or drama. The events of the "Resurrection Ship" two-parter (namely, the Pegasus' actions prior to discovering the fleet) fall by the wayside, and most of the Pegasus crew members become background characters with no opinions or characterization whatsoever. The only real episodes to focus on anything Pegasus-related are "The Captain's Hand" (which had Lee become the ship's new commander) and "Black Market" (which was universally reviled by the fanbase). The [[Nice Job Breaking It Hero|absurd]] sequence of events leading to the Pegasus' destruction in the third season also didn't do anything to further the relationship between the Pegasus and Galactica crews, with most of the plotlines devoted to Helo/Athena, Starbuck and Baltar. The only thing of consequence to occur was Peter Laird's (the chief engineer of the Pegasus) {{spoiler|death at the hands of Tom Zarek}} more than two seasons later.
** The reveal of the Pegasus (and the subsequent half-season it stayed as part of the fleet) didn't amount to much in terms of plot development or drama. The events of the "Resurrection Ship" two-parter (namely, the Pegasus' actions prior to discovering the fleet) fall by the wayside, and most of the Pegasus crew members become background characters with no opinions or characterization whatsoever. The only real episodes to focus on anything Pegasus-related are "The Captain's Hand" (which had Lee become the ship's new commander) and "Black Market" (which was universally reviled by the fanbase). The [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero|absurd]] sequence of events leading to the Pegasus' destruction in the third season also didn't do anything to further the relationship between the Pegasus and Galactica crews, with most of the plotlines devoted to Helo/Athena, Starbuck and Baltar. The only thing of consequence to occur was Peter Laird's (the chief engineer of the Pegasus) {{spoiler|death at the hands of Tom Zarek}} more than two seasons later.
* ''[[Robin Hood (TV)|Robin Hood]]''. How can you go wrong with a story about a loveable [[The Charmer|Charmer]] forming a [[Chaotic Good]] [[Nakama]] in the forest, stealing from the rich to give to the poor, and winning back the heart of his [[First Girl Wins|Childhood Sweetheart]]? Well, you could [[Stuffed in The Fridge|stuff Maid Marian in the fridge]], turn your [[The Hero|Hero]] in a complete [[Jerkass]], throw your hunky [[Anti Hero]] so far over the [[Moral Event Horizon]] that no one but the rabid [[Fan Girl|Fan Girls]] [[Draco in Leather Pants|cares what happens to him]], introduce his interesting sister and then make her a [[Yandere|crazy]] [[Designated Villain]], ignore the whole "rob from the rich" deal in favor of turning [[Demoted to Extra|the outlaws into extras]], introduce a universally reviled [[Jerk Sue]] as Robin's new [[Love Interest]], and then [[Kill Em All|kill almost everyone else off]].
* ''[[Robin Hood (TV)|Robin Hood]]''. How can you go wrong with a story about a loveable [[The Charmer|Charmer]] forming a [[Chaotic Good]] [[Nakama]] in the forest, stealing from the rich to give to the poor, and winning back the heart of his [[First Girl Wins|Childhood Sweetheart]]? Well, you could [[Stuffed in The Fridge|stuff Maid Marian in the fridge]], turn your [[The Hero|Hero]] in a complete [[Jerkass]], throw your hunky [[Anti-Hero]] so far over the [[Moral Event Horizon]] that no one but the rabid [[Fan Girl|Fan Girls]] [[Draco in Leather Pants|cares what happens to him]], introduce his interesting sister and then make her a [[Yandere|crazy]] [[Designated Villain]], ignore the whole "rob from the rich" deal in favor of turning [[Demoted to Extra|the outlaws into extras]], introduce a universally reviled [[Jerk Sue]] as Robin's new [[Love Interest]], and then [[Kill'Em All|kill almost everyone else off]].
** Granted, the original legends often had a tragic end for the main characters, the key word being ''end''. The writers here began their mass slaughter of the main characters halfway through the second season, negating most of the [[Story Arc|story arcs]] that they'd been building for the first twenty-six episodes and consequently floundering for ideas on what to replace them with. [[Aborted Arc|Why they didn't simply finish the stories they'd started is still a mystery]].
** Granted, the original legends often had a tragic end for the main characters, the key word being ''end''. The writers here began their mass slaughter of the main characters halfway through the second season, negating most of the [[Story Arc|story arcs]] that they'd been building for the first twenty-six episodes and consequently floundering for ideas on what to replace them with. [[Aborted Arc|Why they didn't simply finish the stories they'd started is still a mystery]].
* ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]'''s third season ends with the premise that the government finds out that the Russo's are wizards, setting up an interesting plot for the final season. Then came the first episode of season four... {{spoiler|with Professor Crumbs revealing he set that up as a test..}}. Curse you {{spoiler|Crumbs}}!
* ''[[Wizards of Waverly Place]]'''s third season ends with the premise that the government finds out that the Russo's are wizards, setting up an interesting plot for the final season. Then came the first episode of season four... {{spoiler|with Professor Crumbs revealing he set that up as a test..}}. Curse you {{spoiler|Crumbs}}!
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** [[James Marsters]]: "I hated the chip, right? I thought it would be ''much'' more interesting to watch Spike try to be good to impress Buffy - and fail. Miserably. Every time. In a comedic way." Additionally, Marsters wanted Spike's feelings for Buffy to always remain ''one-sided''. But then the writers made Buffy and Spike's romance a two-way thing, leading to an infamous scene where Spike tries to rape Buffy, which shook Marsters up so much that he now always asks if there's going to be a "rape scene" in anything he's acting in.
** [[James Marsters]]: "I hated the chip, right? I thought it would be ''much'' more interesting to watch Spike try to be good to impress Buffy - and fail. Miserably. Every time. In a comedic way." Additionally, Marsters wanted Spike's feelings for Buffy to always remain ''one-sided''. But then the writers made Buffy and Spike's romance a two-way thing, leading to an infamous scene where Spike tries to rape Buffy, which shook Marsters up so much that he now always asks if there's going to be a "rape scene" in anything he's acting in.
** No mention yet of Marcie Ross? Anyone remember the eleventh episode "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"? Marcie was sent to a government training facility to study infiltration and assassination, and this is never brought up again. Think of the fascinating possibilities! This might be one of the biggest examples of this trope.<ref>She's [[Incredibly Lame Pun|never seen again]] on screen, but the comics are another matter...</ref>
** No mention yet of Marcie Ross? Anyone remember the eleventh episode "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"? Marcie was sent to a government training facility to study infiltration and assassination, and this is never brought up again. Think of the fascinating possibilities! This might be one of the biggest examples of this trope.<ref>She's [[Incredibly Lame Pun|never seen again]] on screen, but the comics are another matter...</ref>
* [[Seasonal Rot|The third season of]] ''[[Merlin (TV)|Merlin]]''. The two part opener sets up a fantastic scenario, in which Morgana has turned into a [[Well Intentioned Extremist]] who has sworn to assassinate King Uther. Despite everyone knowing that there's a traitor within the walls of Camelot, only Merlin knows who it is. So much wonderful potential for suspense and drama, not to mention a tragic [[Character Arc]] for Morgana as she falls further into darkness at her misguided attempts to "save" Camelot. Pity all this was squandered by turning her into a one-dimensional villian (her [[Face Heel Turn]] happens entirely off-screen in the year that passed between seasons two and three) and completely ignoring the "who's the traitor?" [[Story Arc]]. Later in the season {{spoiler|Morgana is successful in her bid to take over Camelot}}, forcing Arthur and the loyalists to hide out in the forest. What could have been a great series of episodes in which they scrouge for survival, gather up allies, and plan their counter-attacks is all squeezed into a two part finale.
* [[Seasonal Rot|The third season of]] ''[[Merlin (TV)|Merlin]]''. The two part opener sets up a fantastic scenario, in which Morgana has turned into a [[Well-Intentioned Extremist]] who has sworn to assassinate King Uther. Despite everyone knowing that there's a traitor within the walls of Camelot, only Merlin knows who it is. So much wonderful potential for suspense and drama, not to mention a tragic [[Character Arc]] for Morgana as she falls further into darkness at her misguided attempts to "save" Camelot. Pity all this was squandered by turning her into a one-dimensional villian (her [[Face Heel Turn]] happens entirely off-screen in the year that passed between seasons two and three) and completely ignoring the "who's the traitor?" [[Story Arc]]. Later in the season {{spoiler|Morgana is successful in her bid to take over Camelot}}, forcing Arthur and the loyalists to hide out in the forest. What could have been a great series of episodes in which they scrouge for survival, gather up allies, and plan their counter-attacks is all squeezed into a two part finale.
** Seriously, of the thirteen episodes, all you have to watch are the first two, the fifth and the final two. You'd skip a couple of new characters (Gwain, Elyan) and a few [[Plot Coupons]] (the vial of Avalon water), but you honestly wouldn't feel that you'd missed anything drastically important. It was the season of the pointless filler.
** Seriously, of the thirteen episodes, all you have to watch are the first two, the fifth and the final two. You'd skip a couple of new characters (Gwain, Elyan) and a few [[Plot Coupons]] (the vial of Avalon water), but you honestly wouldn't feel that you'd missed anything drastically important. It was the season of the pointless filler.
* ''[[Little House On the Prairie (TV)|Little House On the Prairie]]'' had an episode that dealt with the birth and death of Charles Ingalls Jr., an event that actually happened. Instead of giving the story the proper attention it deserved, the plot lasted one episode, compressing the story from pregnancy to several months after the birth (over a year) to a single episode.
* ''[[Little House On the Prairie (TV)|Little House On the Prairie]]'' had an episode that dealt with the birth and death of Charles Ingalls Jr., an event that actually happened. Instead of giving the story the proper attention it deserved, the plot lasted one episode, compressing the story from pregnancy to several months after the birth (over a year) to a single episode.
* In the fifth and final season of ''[[Ally McBeal]]'', Ally suddenly finds herself the guardian of a 10-year-old girl. This storyline could have taken the series to new places while fitting perfectly with the premise of the show - a lawyer balances her career with her search for love. Instead, the daughter character quickly devolved into nothing more than a roommate for Ally, hardly appearing in most episodes and having little impact on Ally's life.
* In the fifth and final season of ''[[Ally McBeal]]'', Ally suddenly finds herself the guardian of a 10-year-old girl. This storyline could have taken the series to new places while fitting perfectly with the premise of the show - a lawyer balances her career with her search for love. Instead, the daughter character quickly devolved into nothing more than a roommate for Ally, hardly appearing in most episodes and having little impact on Ally's life.
** Given that Miss McBeal is the Poster Child for [[Its All About Me]], what did you expect?
** Given that Miss McBeal is the Poster Child for [[It's All About Me]], what did you expect?
* ''[[New Amsterdam]]'' tells the story of a 400-and-counting-year-old "young man" who has been living in New York since it was, well, New Amsterdam. In his long lifetime he has picked up all sorts of skills, has the ultimate inside knowledge of the city, has started (and abandoned) dozens of families, and has scores of descendents running around. From the title and the premise (and credits sequence), you'd think this was a show about New York and its history and the advantages (and disadvantages) of the main character having been around for so much (read: ''all'') of it. ...Instead, it's on the whole a bog-standard [[Cop Show]], [[Vampire Detective Series|except with flashbacks]] to explain how each episode's plot emotionally resonates with the main character.
* ''[[New Amsterdam]]'' tells the story of a 400-and-counting-year-old "young man" who has been living in New York since it was, well, New Amsterdam. In his long lifetime he has picked up all sorts of skills, has the ultimate inside knowledge of the city, has started (and abandoned) dozens of families, and has scores of descendents running around. From the title and the premise (and credits sequence), you'd think this was a show about New York and its history and the advantages (and disadvantages) of the main character having been around for so much (read: ''all'') of it. ...Instead, it's on the whole a bog-standard [[Cop Show]], [[Vampire Detective Series|except with flashbacks]] to explain how each episode's plot emotionally resonates with the main character.
* ''[[The Man From UNCLE]]'', "The Double Affair". THRUSH plans to kidnap Napoleon Solo and replace him with an exact double via [[Magic Plastic Surgery]] and voice training. They also attempt to assassinate Illya Kuryakin, since Napoleon's partner and best friend will be able to see through the impersonation, but he survives and goes on the mission with the fake Napoleon. Cool, so we're going to get an episode with Illya as the hero. He'll see through the phony easily and rescue Napoleon, and there will probably be a dramatic [[Spot the Imposter]] scene. ...Instead, Illya does nothing except occasionally look suspicious at Napoleon's odd behavior. [[Idiot Ball|He even lets the double get away with killing an UNCLE agent.]] Napoleon escapes on his own. Apparently THRUSH overestimated [[The Power of Friendship]]. <ref> It should be noted that Illya does take centre stage in some episodes, like "The Bow-Wow Affair," "The Yo-Ho-Ho And A Bottle Of Rum Affair" and "The Survival School Affair."</ref>
* ''[[The Man From UNCLE]]'', "The Double Affair". THRUSH plans to kidnap Napoleon Solo and replace him with an exact double via [[Magic Plastic Surgery]] and voice training. They also attempt to assassinate Illya Kuryakin, since Napoleon's partner and best friend will be able to see through the impersonation, but he survives and goes on the mission with the fake Napoleon. Cool, so we're going to get an episode with Illya as the hero. He'll see through the phony easily and rescue Napoleon, and there will probably be a dramatic [[Spot the Imposter]] scene. ...Instead, Illya does nothing except occasionally look suspicious at Napoleon's odd behavior. [[Idiot Ball|He even lets the double get away with killing an UNCLE agent.]] Napoleon escapes on his own. Apparently THRUSH overestimated [[The Power of Friendship]]. <ref> It should be noted that Illya does take centre stage in some episodes, like "The Bow-Wow Affair," "The Yo-Ho-Ho And A Bottle Of Rum Affair" and "The Survival School Affair."</ref>
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