"To be continued..."
By cerium
@cerium (689)
March 4, 2007 5:38pm CST
Whether you like watching movies, sitcoms, TV shows, reading novels, comics, or even playing computer games, you must have seen this phrase many times. What is your reaction? Does it drive you crazy?
I really don't like waiting, that's why I prefer movies more than TV shows. That's why I prefer short stories than long novels too. But what if I took the courage to watch a long documentary, or to read a long novel, and at the end realize that it was only part 1? That would drive me crazy, for sure! But that's exactly what happened to me!
Three years ago, I was playing a computer game called XIII. It was a FPS (first person shooter). I rarely try to finish a game, but this one was quite interesting. It had a very good story, and brilliant graphics, that I was determined to finish it. It took me about a month to finish it (I used to play it whenever I had free time) and I was very excited, until this awful phrase came shining on the screen. And then the process of waiting (to finish the story of the game) had started. The bad news is that it is still going till this day since no sequel was ever released. What a waste of time :(
What about you? What's your experience with these words?
6 people like this
7 responses
@Transformed (1259)
• United States
6 Mar 07
To Be Continued should NEVER be used for something outside a half-hour sitcom because sequels sometimes can be terrible. If it's something like the Godfather, notice at the end of that movie, they didn't say "To Be Continued" but another one popped up two years later. Sometimes, continuations can be good, but only if the execution is flawless.
2 people like this
@cerium (689)
•
6 Mar 07
I couldn't agree more. Each ending of The Godfathers movies can be considered an end by itself. They didn't limit them selves with obligation to make a second movie (even if it was prepared), and that's why it was successful (in my opinion). Add to this that the sequels were continuos (logically) to the original story (unlike many sequels of other movies).
Thank you your the response.
1 person likes this
@emeraldisle (13139)
• United States
5 Mar 07
Oh I hate when things are to be continued but what I really hate is when you have no clue it's going to be. I read a series of books, the first being "The Call of Madness". The fourth one ended with a cliff hanger and I have never been able to find a fifth book, if one was even written. It really aggravates me since I have no clue on the ending. The third book did that as well but I finally did find the fourth book in some little second hand shop but no where else. It aggravates me to this day.
I've had a few shows over the years end a season on a cliff hanger and then the show isn't picked up in the fall. You are left wondering. It's bad enough waiting six months for it but then to find out you never will? That's even worse.
2 people like this
@cerium (689)
•
5 Mar 07
I know how you feel :) I sometimes wonder why they put this phrase when they are not sure about completing the story! Maybe if they just had left it there (like an open ending), it would have been much better for us. At least, we wouldn't have had to wait.
Thank you for the response.
1 person likes this
@sarahruthbeth22 (43143)
• United States
8 May 07
I am used to the " to be continued" of t.v. shows because I used to see soap operas. They are a never ending story.The first show I remembered waiting for is Dallas with the "Who shot J.R.?" cliffhanger. I waited all summer anf part of the fall to find out. It was worth it. But your video game would make me very mad. It you are going to sat "to be continued" then it Should continue.
1 person likes this
@randomosity_prevails (1110)
•
5 Mar 07
"To Be Continued..."; I hate that phrase. I'm the sort of person who hates to leave things unfinished. I like things neatly tied up. I don't mind so much when it's a TV programme, because it's only a week until the conclusion, but if it's something like a movie, where I'll have to wait months to find out what happened (and probably forget the first part of the story by then), I get annoyed.
@cerium (689)
•
5 Mar 07
I have the same problem even with TV shows. During the week, I forget everything about the show, so unless they remind us of what happened in part 1, I can get completely lost. Add to this that sometimes I don't get a chance to see part 2!
Thank you for your response.
1 person likes this
@smartie1685 (450)
• United States
5 Mar 07
It really depends on the situation. The only unfinished things that I read or watch are those that I find really interesting. If something ends suddenly and I didn't really find it that interesting than I find no need to wait in anticipation till another episode etc.
An experience I've had with this is that I read a lot of fanfiction. And a lot of it is never updated or finished. I've learned to make sure I find out whether its finished or not before I read it because I hate getting to the end and seeing to be continued. So in that way I know exactly what you mean!
2 people like this
@cerium (689)
•
5 Mar 07
That's exactly what happened to me with Star Wars Ep.1 and The Matrix. With Star Wars, I knew that there will be a sequel, but I didn't find it (Ep.1) interesting. As for The Matrix, I thought that the story should stop there. Till now, I havent watched any of there sequels (because of lack of interest); maybe I'll do one day.
Thank you for the response.
2 people like this
@natalie1981 (1995)
• Singapore
22 May 07
Oh, we're totally the same, I HATE "to be continued" on ANYTHING.
That's why I always watch series that are already released on video so that I won't be left hanging every end of the show.
Harry Potter is one book I'm reading that is sorta a continuing story. I mean, most of the issues started in the book do get resolved but there's always the one great enemy who always survives at the end of the book. Hopefully, book seven would put an end to all my waiting.
1 person likes this
@estherlou (5015)
• United States
8 Mar 07
When I am all engrossed in one of my favorite tv shows and not paying attention to the time, and then "to be continued" pops up...I get very irritated! I hate that! ARGH! LOL! It makes me crazy! I want to know NOW! LOL!
1 person likes this
