Alice might want to pack an extra bag before going down the rabbit hole this fall.
ABC’s Once Upon a Time in Wonderland is going to be more than 13 episodes. In fact, it’s not really a limited series at all.
Here’s the scoop. Depending on what you’ve previously read, some of this may sound familiar and some will be new. The model that’s being formed behind the scenes for Wonderland is really unique and there’s been some understandable confusion out there as the plan has come together.
When Wonderland was announced as a limited series in May, it received 13 episodes — the standard order for a new drama. But ABC is about to add some additional episodes to that order (we can’t tell you how many, but the total is not 13 episodes and it’s not 22).
Source: EW
ABC’s Once Upon a Time in Wonderland is going to be more than 13 episodes. In fact, it’s not really a limited series at all.
Here’s the scoop. Depending on what you’ve previously read, some of this may sound familiar and some will be new. The model that’s being formed behind the scenes for Wonderland is really unique and there’s been some understandable confusion out there as the plan has come together.
When Wonderland was announced as a limited series in May, it received 13 episodes — the standard order for a new drama. But ABC is about to add some additional episodes to that order (we can’t tell you how many, but the total is not 13 episodes and it’s not 22).
Source: EW
Huh. Interesting and weird. And I wonder why EW can't say how many additional episodes they've ordered. Total of 18 maybe? Or less?
ReplyDeleteI don't think they know :) I don't think ABC have decided yet how many more will be ordered :)
ReplyDeleteABC doing grabby hands at potential money? I cannot believe it!
ReplyDeleteLOL, got it! Awesome.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading the article, that doesn't seem to be the case.
ReplyDeleteWhy not? That's exactly what a spin-off is in general and more so in this case. And considering the article talks about how much they've already backtracked in regards to what they've said, sounds very cash grabby.
ReplyDeleteI really like the idea of a limited series. It's like a long miniseries, or one of those asian short series, or telenovellas. It gives me confidence as a viewer that I'll get to see a complete story, with a beginning, middle, and end. After reading the article, I am more confident that these creators have a clear idea of the story they want to tell, and that makes me even more excited to see this series.
ReplyDeleteYes, that is the general nature of spinoffs but that's not the topic here. The topic is the episode order and the order is based on what the show needs to tell its story as opposed to being something the network is pushing onto the series.
ReplyDeleteConsidering how badly the original manages episodes and how they're already promising another season, I highly doubt it's based on "needed to tell the story". Especially since episodes haven't even been written nor has a single episode even aired.
ReplyDelete"That means there will be no additional episodes ordered for the season
ReplyDeletebeyond the first order, so the showrunners can break down the entire
story before the first episode ever airs. That’s why there are more
episodes being ordered now-ish, because the writers have figured out how
many hours they need."
It boils down to that you either take them at their word or you don't. You obviously fall into the latter category. I get that.
Well, I'm basing it on how they run Once Upon a Time and how they did exactly the opposite of what they're saying there.
ReplyDeletesaw the traiiler...it didn't grab my interest..
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing 15, ala The Following.
ReplyDeleteThis shows ABC really trusts the show, it may be what finally works in the death slot
I like this compromise a lot. i hope it works out!
ReplyDeleteDon't know how I feel about that....can they really span Wonderland into more than a season or two?? -I wouldn't mind if some of the characters role over in other lands and we would then get Once in Oz or something like that, but unless their going to put current OUAT characters into Wonderland and visa versa, I'm not sure how well this will work down the line.
ReplyDeleteLooks better than the original OUAT, the end of season 2 was my jumping off point. The second half of that season sucked.
ReplyDeleteIf the same writers are doing both shows then I don't have much faith in it.
17 like the following i guess, i hope the show perform good on the nigth is on!
ReplyDeleteIMO not a good move.
ReplyDeleteThe show should prove itself with the 13 episode constrain, to see how TPTB handle the story (and judging how they handle Once I don't have high hopes) before they're given more.
Also this won't help the flagship either if Kitsis and Horowitz spread themselves too thin.
(And I know these guys. Wonderland is their new shinny toy. They will totally diss, dismiss and put the original Once in the backburner as an afterthought. And seeing as the show struggling creative and quality wise that is a very bad thing. )
Not gonna speak for stormqueen, but I definitely don't trust them, which is why I thin it's a bad move to begin with.
ReplyDeleteThey are the typical "I have a good idea but I am a VERY bad storyteller in how I follow through on the consept" type showrunners.
Writers like these need constant monitoring and giving them more playground is not the way to monitor.
No to jump in, but I'm kinda in agreement with Folie-lex here. They designed the story for 13 episodes, now they need more? Why? Because they never thought through their story in the first place? With some showrunners that's pretty cynical, but for these guys: Yeah, probably. These guys can't begin, develop, and conclude one story to save their careers. All they can do is begin, so they multiply and multiply and multiply and call it development. When all they are really doing is starting over--opening the can of worms and staring at it until the worms dry out and die while they ponder what to do with them.
ReplyDeleteMaybe they'll hand it over to Espenson and let her fix it for 22 episodes.
ReplyDeleteI'm quite a big fan of Jane's, but even her overall work on this show hasn't been that great, especially this season.
ReplyDelete(Granted for the standards of an average writer she's still better than most, but I've learned to expect more from her and I have found myself disappointed in her this year quite a bit.)
AWESOME news!!!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you read that the producers set the show up specifically for 13 episodes? I've only read that they envisioned the show as a limited, self-contained series. I haven't seen anything more specific than that.
ReplyDelete"Writers like these need constant monitoring and giving them more playground is not the way to monitor."
ReplyDeleteI get that there are a contingent of OUAT viewers who aren't happy with the Horowitz / Kitsis brand of storytelling as of late but I feel this comment is an exaggeration.
Networks give producers the hook relatively often these days and they're definitely not shy about doing so for even the smallest of reasons. I have no doubt that if a network, any network, thought that the people in charge of one of their programs was damaging their brand or running a profitable program into the ground that they wouldn't hesitate to pull the trigger and get them out of there.
These two (Horowitz / Kitsis) have been running shows and producing since The WB's Felicity. If they were really in need of consistent monitoring after all this time, I doubt any network would take a chance on them with a high profile, high concept, high price tag series in the first place.
Let me be clear, I'm not surprised they're being given a vote of confidence. After all this is ABC, the network that has let Shonda go crazy feeding into her ego that she's this amazing storyteller, when in reality her stories are a great big mess...
ReplyDeleteI'm in no way expecting these guys to eventually be "monitored" in any way. My argument was regardless of them getting it or not (and they won't), they need it, because they are the type of writers who can't write consistently well and can't plan long term.
They're doing fine by the network. They're bringing in the money and that's all the ABC execs care about.
However money is not the point of my argument. I'm not bringing the business part into this. I'm just referring to the creative aspect.
If any of the ABC execs cared about the quality of the show they would probably veto this whole Wonderland thing, or they would suggest someone stepping in to help over at Once.
The business and the creative kind of overlap here. I don't think any network is going to knowingly sign-on with showrunners who they feel can't handle the planning and oversight of the writing on their own series. It's not good business.
ReplyDeleteIf the show brings in the money the network doesn't care either way.
ReplyDeleteAnd if they delivered a good second pilot all the network can see is more dollar signs. That is what they care about.
Allow me to reinstate something we all know all too well: a good pilot does not a good show make, so that Wonderland got picked up doesn't mean much. That is a gable all networks take with any show they pick up, so that doesn't say much
Now if you take a step back you'd see Once has struggled creatively this season, and that is a consensus. Some are more diplomatic and tolerant in that feeling than others but I think most people would agree the show absolutely suffered a sophomore slump.
Also, just because they delivered a good second pilot for a show doesn't mean they can handle two shows.
IMO, how they handled their second season of Once doesn't give me a lick of confidence these guys can do right by two shows. You might argue and one would think that execs might take that into consideration but as I said, since they made the money, execs are happy, so... *shrugs*
My predictions are:
They'll either both suck creatively
or
Wonderland will be of S1 Once quality (good not great) while Once will fall on the wayside.
And still the numbers might be enough for the network to keep both shows, because numbers are all networks (especially ABC) care about.