TV WandaVision (2 Viewers)

[Sun Wukong]

Speaking of the Covid, and by extension, time constraints, I wonder what the series looks like with 15-20 episodes instead of just 9. I mean, think about the Netflix Marvel shows which were not only 13 episodes, but also had longer run times. I think with longer run times and maybe a more relaxed completion date, we get a better developed show and a more complete finale.

To be sure, I'm still pretty happy with the show, but I feel like we could have gotten another 5 episodes without losing much in the way of quality. Either that or longer run times.

I feel the opposite. Felt like the perfect length. Feel the same way about the Mandalorian. Almost all Netflix shows are too long per episode and about one or two episodes too long per season and they hit a narrative slog because of it. The 8-9 episodes with 30 to 40 minute runtimes keeps thing lean and focused.

 

[DaveXA]

A big problem with the Netflix Marvel shows is that they often ran 55 minutes to an hour and went 13 episodes a season. WandaVision's 35-40 minute episodes/9-episode run is a better way to do it.

I dunno. My personal preference is the Netflix version. 55-60 minutes feels like a good run time for a series episode. WV's felt too short to me. Not to mention just 9 episodes. That said, with all of the other stuff coming out soon, the shorter season is fine.

 

[DaveXA]

I feel the opposite. Felt like the perfect length. Feel the same way about the Mandalorian. Almost all Netflix shows are too long per episode and about one or two episodes too long per season and they hit a narrative slog because of it. The 8-9 episodes with 30 to 40 minute runtimes keeps thing lean and focused.

I hear you on the narrative issues with some of the shows, but I dunno, I still really enjoyed them. That said, if the leaner more focused seasons maybe give us more content with a larger variety of shows, I'm good with that tradeoff.

What I hate are big gaps where we're not getting a lot of new content. Don't have to worry about that with Disney/Marvel. Star Wars is getting there.

 

[antipop]

spoilers ahead

 

[Eeyore]

It was Cliff.

I really think the "seeing things that aren't there" got wildly out of hand with this show, and this is a good example.

Why would Woo know Hawkeye?

Peed on his rug

 

[GrandAdmiral]

I was 100% convinced we would see Hawkeye based on that line. In fact, I was shocked when he did not show up in the theater at the end, to recruit Monica to join the Avengers. I mentioned this to my wife, who unmercilessly mocked me and reminded me that his name is CLINT, not "Cliff". Major nerdfail.

Good to know I wasn't the only one. My Marvel Comics friends ripped me a new one over it.

 

[GrandAdmiral]

I dunno. My personal preference is the Netflix version. 55-60 minutes feels like a good run time for a series episode. WV's felt too short to me. Not to mention just 9 episodes. That said, with all of the other stuff coming out soon, the shorter season is fine.

50-55 minutes for 9-10 episodes seems perfect to me whether it is WV or the Netflix shows. There is not a season in the Netflix shows where they could easily cut 2 or 3 episodes and still not have the same story by the end. Only exception was S1 of Luke Cage, which went completely downhill after killing off Cottonmouth.

 

[DaveXA]

50-55 minutes for 9-10 episodes seems perfect to me whether it is WV or the Netflix shows. There is not a season in the Netflix shows where they could easily cut 2 or 3 episodes and still not have the same story by the end. Only exception was S1 of Luke Cage, which went completely downhill after killing off Cottonmouth.

Well, killing off Cottonmouth was just a bad move to begin with. Or at least wait until last episode or 2.

I do think 10 episodes would have been better for most of the shows though. Keep the length 50-60 minutes and do the 10 episode series.

I remember those 20 episode seasons, lol. Not the Defenders shows, but other shows predating those.

 

[SaintsBrazil]

I don't know ... why would Woo know Hawkeye?

He doesn't really know him, that's why he called him Cliff.

 

[tenordas]

50-55 minutes for 9-10 episodes seems perfect to me whether it is WV or the Netflix shows. There is not a season in the Netflix shows where they could easily cut 2 or 3 episodes and still not have the same story by the end. Only exception was S1 of Luke Cage, which went completely downhill after killing off Cottonmouth.

It depends on the series. I don't feel like there was even a minute wasted in any of the three seasons of Daredevil. To me, it stayed focused every moment and had my full attention the whole time. I didn't feel there was any filler or wasted time. I thought The Punisher seasons wasted very little time, though they weren't quite as efficient as DD. Defenders was a lot of fun, IMHO, and also had very little down time "filler".

On the other hand, Iron Fist season 1 was a disaster of non-editing. Every episode dragged on endlessly as did the season, running down rabbit hole after rabbit hole and drawn out pointless scene after drawn out pointless scene. All three seasons of Jessica Jones also wasted OCEANS of time, especially all the stuff about Hogarth, all of which had absolutely nothing to do with the story in any season.

I agree with the general consensus on Luke Cage. Season 1 was absolutely "can't take my eyes off the screen" until the episode following Cottonmouth's death. That episode and all that followed simply didn't have the edge and interest of the first half. I understood the homage to the late 60s/0s blaxpoitation films that inspired Marvel to create Luke in the first place, but they could have toned that down to keep the characters less cartoony. Season 2 was a great improvement, but could have used a little judicious editing. While it kept depth and interest in its characters, there were some episodes that had needless filler.

WV definitely didn't wander at all. It was uber-focused from beginning to end, with nearly every little detail having some meaning to the overall arc..

The running time of a show doesn't really matter. I've seen short things that didn't go anywhere, and I've seen long things that held my attention every second. It all comes down to good writing and a good director who isn't afraid to cut something that doesn't fit the tempo and sweep.

 

[Arathrael]

I dunno. My personal preference is the Netflix version. 55-60 minutes feels like a good run time for a series episode. WV's felt too short to me. Not to mention just 9 episodes. That said, with all of the other stuff coming out soon, the shorter season is fine.

I really liked the shorter episodes. I think they lend themselves to having more of the punchy feel of a typical 20-page comic book. Same with the number of episodes, it's enough to form a solid story arc without filler.

I'm fine with the more typical longer running times for a series like this as well when there's enough material for it, but I think there's definitely a place for the shorter format.

 

[Bronson]

and look, if i had the power to save my family in exchange of making the EE a 24/7 modern dance troupe - y'all better start picking out your tights

 

[DaveXA]

It depends on the series. I don't feel like there was even a minute wasted in any of the three seasons of Daredevil. To me, it stayed focused every moment and had my full attention the whole time. I didn't feel there was any filler or wasted time. I thought The Punisher seasons wasted very little time, though they weren't quite as efficient as DD. Defenders was a lot of fun, IMHO, and also had very little down time "filler".

On the other hand, Iron Fist season 1 was a disaster of non-editing. Every episode dragged on endlessly as did the season, running down rabbit hole after rabbit hole and drawn out pointless scene after drawn out pointless scene. All three seasons of Jessica Jones also wasted OCEANS of time, especially all the stuff about Hogarth, all of which had absolutely nothing to do with the story in any season.

I agree with the general consensus on Luke Cage. Season 1 was absolutely "can't take my eyes off the screen" until the episode following Cottonmouth's death. That episode and all that followed simply didn't have the edge and interest of the first half. I understood the homage to the late 60s/0s blaxpoitation films that inspired Marvel to create Luke in the first place, but they could have toned that down to keep the characters less cartoony. Season 2 was a great improvement, but could have used a little judicious editing. While it kept depth and interest in its characters, there were some episodes that had needless filler.

WV definitely didn't wander at all. It was uber-focused from beginning to end, with nearly every little detail having some meaning to the overall arc..

The running time of a show doesn't really matter. I've seen short things that didn't go anywhere, and I've seen long things that held my attention every second. It all comes down to good writing and a good director who isn't afraid to cut something that doesn't fit the tempo and sweep.

Agreed. I thought DD and Punisher were miles ahead of the others. I was ok with Defenders but I thought it didn't come near it's potential. I enjoyed a lot of Luke Cage, but the first half of the first season was fantastic. Just fell off a cliff after that. And honestly, while losing Cottonmouth was a big part of that, it just was a different show. I was just disappointed all we got were 3 seasons of DD and 2 for each of the others.

I think all of the Marvel shows should have made more of an effort to tie into the MCU. I realize that those were never part of Feige's vision and he already had his hands full with the movie side, but having some cameos from Hell's Kitchen and some appearances from characters in TV get some love on the movie side would be a lot of fun and add more to the overall MCU experience.

 

[SebaSaint]

Diablos in musica...

 

[Scorpius the Allfather]

Agreed. I thought DD and Punisher were miles ahead of the others. I was ok with Defenders but I thought it didn't come near it's potential. I enjoyed a lot of Luke Cage, but the first half of the first season was fantastic. Just fell off a cliff after that. And honestly, while losing Cottonmouth was a big part of that, it just was a different show. I was just disappointed all we got were 3 seasons of DD and 2 for each of the others.

I think all of the Marvel shows should have made more of an effort to tie into the MCU. I realize that those were never part of Feige's vision and he already had his hands full with the movie side, but having some cameos from Hell's Kitchen and some appearances from characters in TV get some love on the movie side would be a lot of fun and add more to the overall MCU experience.

Jessica Jones had 3 seasons as well.