crees!
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Season 1 took two attempts to fully finish watching (didn’t like it, then enjoyed it after getting 5 episodes in). Season 2 was the same story. Only got through a couple episodes then switched to something different.
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Apple Takes Full Control of 'Severance' in Surprise Deal
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Apple acquire the ip to the metro exodus series and bring the games to iPad and iOS and create a live action show
Not much value in merchandise or video game rights, either.
This price is about 1% of the Lucasfilm or Marvel acquisition with all their IP. Sounds like a fair price, if you ask me.
Still a smart move, as the show is very connected to Apple TV in the public view. They probably wouldn't want to see it in a Netflix ad some day. If they want to become the modern version of what HBO used to be, having permanent ownership and association seems to be important.
techfreak23
macrumors 6502a
I was going ask how season 2 cost $200 million. I like the show but that still seems incredibly excessive for a relatively effects light show.
Obviously it was sarcasm🙂
My point is that that they need to start using some of that cash to bump up their own AI, as recent reports show that it’s still a mess - even with a sprinkling of Gemini.
I enjoy many Apple TV shows. I like Apple fitness+!
But… It does all feel a little last decade, when the smartphone was ascendant & there was no new meaningful other tech advances and so companies were looking for incremental revenue. Google did it too - Google+ and then Stadia (RIP).
Now AI is the thing and Apple is still spending money and resources on trying to be a media player - why ?
wanha
macrumors 68030
I agree with much of what you say, but the other side is that the AI bubble is likely to pop and valuations are going to come crashing down.
No one is running away with the farm on AI at this point (no one is able to make money on it, as foundational as it is as a technology). As long as iPhone, iPad and Mac sales hold, Apple can afford to wait to acquire companies at a much more reasonable price.
Probably a safe bet that Apple is not using their software developers to create TV shows. I could be wrong I guess, but I have a feeling that no matter what they spend on TV has zero impact on what they do on with their software.
+100
A good story has a beginning and an ending. I like you lose interest in a show that has no ending. I have heard good things about the show but have not watched it and now I probably will just skip it. Much more appealing to know they have 4 or 5 solid seasons that tell a story and finish well.
Sounds like financial issues could have led to the collapse of the production company anyway, which would have had a negative impact on show quality as well, if not an outright cancellation.
Severance is starting to remind me of “Lost.” They built this mysterious world piece by piece but now I’m wondering if they were prepared to flesh it out to this extent and can maintain quality by doing so. It already slipped in season 2 and now the marketing train will be even more in full force.
Was not a fan of Ted Lasso, only watched the first 2 episodes I think and just did not resonate with me. Love the guy who plays Ted, think he is super funny and one of the last funny guys that was left on SNL. But from friends who like the show they are certainly critical of Apple bringing it back.
This - it's been great, but it needs a conclusion. That needn't rule out spinoffs, sequels etc. but the original story needs an end.
Otherwise, it's pretty obvious what will happen - viewership will fall off over time (either because the writing falls off, or because it's not something you can pick up mid-story, so it will be hard to attract new viewers) until it gets cancelled and left hanging. If a show like this returns after 2-3 years you pretty much need to re-watch the previous season before starting on the new one - and some people won't get around to it.
The multi-year hiatus between seasons on this type of show is a huge problem... Yes, I get that they're more like extra-long movies in budget and complexity than old-school TV series, but writers ought to be able to complete a satisfying story in 8 hours of screen-time - especially for the first season of a show where it's more likely than not that they won't get a second.
Somehow they manage to make Slow Horses back-to-back - OK, it's clearly a simpler production than something like Severance or Pluribus - but all those location shots, foot chases, explosions and shoot-outs don't exactly look cheap/quick. Maybe the other shows could, you know, spend a little less on production and still tell a good story?
I wouldn't know, but maybe there's more opportunity to waste time faffing around if you're filming a single actor running down an empty white corridor on a permanent set rather than when you've got a limited timeslot to film a chase at a major London location & signed up a large crowd of extras...?
Octavius8
macrumors 65816
Expect Dumbification of a decent show…
90% of Appletv shows have dialogs incredibly dumb and characters have unrealistic reactions to the circumstances in the shows.
I only buy appletv for 3 months a year.
90% of Appletv shows have dialogs incredibly dumb and characters have unrealistic reactions to the circumstances in the shows.
I only buy appletv for 3 months a year.
b.inazawa-fan
macrumors member
$20m / episode seems insane considering how little happened in the second half of season 2... maybe they spent it all on renting a whole town for Cobel's solo episode.
The original company (Fifth Season) is brought on as Executive Producer, so it's really just a formality. It sounds like this is basically a financial stability move.
EDIT: I mean, obviously they want to hold the IP in some form, so it's a business move... but it's also to help stabilize the production after a rough/expensive season 2, which wasn't exactly avoidable but is much easier to weather when you have the support of a trillion-dollar company.
I know people who work on Apple Productions. They say it's like heaven for creatives. They give them a lot of control and a Lot of money for the productions. I've also heard this from tech podcasters who know people. I am not worried.
They realized it's enormously popular and a huge draw to Apple TV, and having the next season be multiple years later is harmful to keeping customers engaged long term.
tomtad
macrumors 68040
It certainly takes up time and focus in the board room, and it shows
klasma
macrumors G4
The issue is that this isn’t the kind of show that was written with a satisfying conclusion and sensical world-building in mind. It’s more along the lines of Lost.
Agent007
macrumors 6502
100% agree with the Lost analogy. "plot started dragging while sinking deeper into weirdness"
The problem with shows is that the writers are making it up as they go. It's like trying to build a house without blueprints. How many films enter production without a finished script? I know it's been done but it's not the norm. This is why so many series end like crap, even great shows like The Sopranos.