Episode 19: What makes a good ending – or not!
This episode is all about endings and finishing moves. What makes a good ending – or not! We contemplate what makes good endings, and why are so many ending so very bad.
We discuss our favourite endings, and why they work for us. And then look at the bad – and the terrible – to work out why they fail to engage with audiences.
You can listen to this episode on our website, or you can subscribe on Apple Podcast, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
“The very best endings only partially offer closure and leave you with a lingering desire to remain in the world of the story, but no ability to do so.”
Timestamps:
0:00 – Introduction
0:41 – Start at the End
3:28 – What makes a good ending?
36:08 – Every bad ending is bad in it’s own way
54:35 – Sequels and serials
1:17:06 – Final thoughts
1:25:03 – Wrap up & Outro
Books we discuss:
Cixin, Liu. The Three Body Problem
Cixin, Liu. The Dark Forest
Cixin, Liu. Death’s End
Haldeman, Joe. Forever Free
Heyer, Georgette. Envious Casca
Heyer, Georgette. Behold Here’s Poison
Heyer, Georgette. Unknown Ajax
Heyer, Georgette. Venetia
Hughart, Barry. The Bridge of Birds
Rothfuss, Patrick. The Kingkiller Chronicles.
Stephenson, Neil. Snowcrash
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit
Tolkien, J.R.R. The Lord of the Rings
Movies & TV shows we discuss:
Alien
Aliens
Battlestar Galactica
The Big Sleep
Breaking Bad
Casablanca
Dallas
The Empire Strikes Back
Enemy
Evangelion
Fight Club
Game of Thrones (tv)
Hero
Inception
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
Jessica Jones
The Last Jedi
Mad Men
The Maltese Falcon
No Country for Old Men
Orphan Black
Revenge of the Sith
Rogue One
Schitt’s Creek
Star Wars
The Usual Suspects
Games we discuss:
Knights of the Old Republic
Knights of the Old Republic 2
Jade Empire
Mass Effect
Monkey Island 2
