The End Of A TV Series And Feelings Of Emptiness

It ‘s not always easy to endure the end of a TV series. After all, we have followed it for many years and sometimes even passionately. Still, it doesn’t just mean you have to say goodbye to the characters and their story.

There is another interesting factor that makes you grieve and be sad: the ending may not have been what you wanted or expected. These are many results that are increasingly occurring in our daily lives. They are of great importance to psychologists.

Stephen King recently said that we are rarely completely satisfied with the end of a book or series if we are very passionate about it. The reason is that people have a very hard time giving up something every time there is a certain emotional connection attached to it.

The feeling of loss is therefore real. The same goes for the frustration that comes with it. Psychology assumes that the world of pop culture directly affects human beings (pop culture is understood here as a set of artistic and cultural expressions that surround us).

The universe that television creates is powerful. We are dealing with media that we let into the private environment of our home. TV series and their ending are thus a social phenomenon. It is something that can easily replace interest in other social, political or economic events, even if only for a few days.

Many people find this fact very worrying. For others, it’s a simple reflection of a society portraying a different part of their lives in a TV series.

The end of a TV series and the emotions we experience

There is the phenomenon of the end of a TV series and the confusing emotions people can feel when the series ends. However, this is nothing new.

One example of this is the experience of Arthur Conan Doyle. The writer was successful thanks to many of his adventures. They appeared weekly in The Strand Magazine. These adventures befell a charismatic character who captivated thousands of people: Sherlock Holmes.

Doyle, however, never felt any special appreciation for this character. He did feel the need to devote himself to other things: writing a completely different kind of literature.

For that reason, he decided to kill Sherlock Holmes in the Reichenbach Falls. It was then that he was confronted with something unexpected. The magazine’s readers threatened him. On more than one occasion he feared for his life. It was so bad that he had no choice but to resurrect the Baker Street resident some time later.

Sherlock Holmes readers were the first fans to experience the kind of double suffering that is so common today:

• First, they have to say goodbye to the characters.
• Second, they just have to learn to deal with an unexpected ending.

TV series, more than entertainment

Doctor Who  is one of the longest running TV series in history. With over 50 years on screen, multiple generations grew up on the adventures of the famous lord of the time. The series is a monument to British television.

The Simpsons, for example, have been in our living room since 1989. In addition, series such as CSI, Gray’s Anatomy  or  Supernatural  each have about 300 episodes.

During these weekly broadcasts on television and on other devices, many viewers grow up. They mature, make changes and suffer losses and successes. We are together with those parallel stories that take place behind our screen. So the bond we develop with that universe is inevitable.

• TV series provide many people with more than entertainment. People are given hobbies, jobs to devote themselves to, countries to travel to, subjects for novels, actors, directors and screenwriters to follow as well.
• On the other hand, it is also a way to temporarily withdraw from reality. Connecting with other stories and other characters creates relief and helps us to reduce stress.
• We should also not forget the social element associated with these media. Watching the last episode of a certain series is almost a ritual. Thanks to this fact, we have topics of conversation at work. In fact, being part of a group on social networks related to a television series is now also a way of getting to know people.

Sadness at the end of a TV series

Today marks about nine years since the last episode of Lost.  Many people still keep coming up with theories about the end. If it’s hard to accept the ending of a TV series, it’s even harder to do so without understanding its solution.

In the wake of contentious endings, we can add the recent ending (by popular opinion) of  Game of Thrones, How I Met Your Mother, Dexter, House of Cards  and  Breaking Bad.  All the great series that surprised us because of their characters have disappointed many of us because of their ending.

How can you accept the end of a TV series if you are not happy with the ending? Obviously you shouldn’t do the same with the writers as the character Annie Wilkes did with her favorite writer in  Misery. 

Even if we develop an emotional connection to these television shows, it’s still just that: a great story with a beginning and an end.

We can grieve with other fans, friends, companions and relatives. We share the sensations. And we especially recall the good moments that were experienced in those series. After all, the good thing about this television universe is that the series never ends.

Before you even know it, find yourself immersed in a new TV series. However, that series will inevitably come to an end one day.