Cross the Rubicon

AMC has canceled my favorite new show in quite a while, Rubicon.  But, here’s the thing -  you should follow this link and buy it in iTunes anyway.  It’s 13 solid episodes about interesting characters, that actually tells an interesting story arc.  It doesn’t resolve everything at the end, but it resolves enough to feel relatively complete.

I was seriously bummed about AMC not picking up Rubicon for a second season.  I liked that there was a show about terrorism and spies that didn’t involve Kiefer Sutherland managing to single handedly save the world, while computer nerds constantly ‘released information to other people’s screens’ ( WTF does that even MEAN?? ), all while driving back and forth across major metropolises in four minutes and never once in 24 hours eating or taking a shit.  It was smart.  It was about building tension and never really releasing it.  It never, ever talked down at the audience.  A hard sell to the American audience.

But then I got to thinking.  What if AMC started a new model of American television, closer to the way a lot of UK shows work.  Give a brilliant team a finite 13 episodes ( 10 hours with commercials ) to tell one story.  And that’s it.   It’s not a new concept, actually.  We used to have mini-series, like ‘V’ and ‘North & South’.  THey were events, saved up for sweeps where they would play out over five nights, two hours a night.  But rather than making it an ‘event’ ( Not ‘The Event’ - we are talking about GOOD television here ) just make one good season of TV.

AMC makes many of my favorite shows - and all of it’s shows are among my favorites.  I would love to see them make more, even if it means making only one season.

Comments

[rich]

Since they did cancel Rubicon, they should stop saying they're "TV’s best and ballsiest network." But maybe they are taking too big a hit on Mad Men. At least they put some serious thought behind the Shock Doctrine idea. I'd also like to see things wrapped up better on TV.

[Hendrik]

I followed your advice and saw rubicon. I really liked, that it was relatively quiet. It first built up the characters and got denser and denser in the end. It's a shame, that it won't have a second season. Btw: Did you see the bbc miniseries sherlock? Nice modern adaption with a great cast. They shoot a second season next summer.

[smann]

I loved Rubicon, I followed it closely and felt like I was the only one watching it. It was superbly well done.

[garage equipment]

I guess we are all hoping for a new season.Very exciting story with a touch of history.