Image: Stock.xchng

My dear faithful readers since I have not posted last week we didn’t have a chat about season finales. So what did you think? Amidst the big reveals, shocking endings and other whatnots I think I have the formula for a successful season finale down to a pat.

• One major character has to die. Simply has to. Which brings me to point number 2

• If you can put two major characters in mortal danger (be it illness/accident/Lucifer coming from hell) even better. Which brings me to point number 3.

• If you can possibly end with a cliffhanger and not reveal which of the two major characters actually dies even better.

• Blowing things up is ok. In fact it is expected. Blowing up a car is good. Blowing up a building is better. Blowing up a building with one of your major characters in it should work the best.

• Tear jerker is a must. Lump-in-their-throats is ok, but reaching for Kleenex is even better. Don’t feel bad about manipulating your viewers. It will take them a season or two to cotton on.

• No matter how outlandish your storyline might seem just throw it in there.
  I see dead people? For medical shows you can always explain it with delusions/hallucinations/cancers.
  Major character gets thrown to the pits of hell? Send an angel to get him out. And if you can add some time travel – even better. Which brings me to point number, what is it?, 7.

• No matter how outlandish your storyline might be you will have plenty of time to come up with something and explain it away. Which brings me to point number 8.

• At the beginning of season it is best to pretend it is business as usual and like nothing happened.

See? It’s all pretty simple. Mix them up, rinse and repeat.