What does a satisfactory ending look like?

Or like Brexit, is this the beginning of the end?

The end of the year is approaching, and this gives one the opportunity to reflect on what has been particularly enjoyable over the last twelve months.

Two TV shows immediately come to mind. Both handle totally different subject matter. Both (for the moment at least) have a couple of important things in common.

Firstly, being be able to watch events unfold without constantly thinking <insert character name here> would never behave like that. Investing in the behaviour of the character helps amplify the feeling toward them when they suffer adversity. If you actually like them or not. All the better when you actually feel as if you know them. Believable people in believable situations.

Secondly the length. For one of the shows, this is a bit unfair because it is British, and normally they are limited to six episodes per series (or season if you prefer). I remember Lost, waiting for that all important answer to all of those important questions. What is the island? What was the island? What does the mist represent? Why can it alter the fabric of time? What of the numbers? And the polar bears? Six series of twenty-four episodes. That's a lot of TV. Ok, so I watched it over a period of six years, but I just couldn't imagine even thinking about binge-watching it.

And, as it proved (to me at least), it was too much. It only delivered disappointment. I can only reach out the warm hand-shake of thanks to those who realise the pace of a story and can judge the right number of episodes that should involve. Those who can judge the right time to end it for good certainly deserve a warm embrace.

Last but not least, the ending. One of the things I find disappointing in the internet age is the ability of people to sway those in control to potentially change it. A perfect example was Peter Kay's Car Share in the UK. Over a couple of series the relationship between the two main characters grew and flourished. It was going to end one way or another. But my point is that the way it did end was fine. It ended in a way that one could expect the characters to behave. It was ok. It was satisfactory.

But no.

There was a clamour. People weren't satisfied with the ending. They wanted to see the next part. And so the paymasters caved in. We will find out in the new year. It's a shame. I was happy to imagine how it all might've turned out. Now, that imagination will disappear in a puff of regret as I am told.

So anyway, to the shows in question. First, Halt and Catch Fire, which aired its fourth and final series. It tells the story of five people, whose lives always seem to find some way of catching up with one another over the time-frame of the show. It follows the birth and eventually explosion of the digital world into the mainstream. From the world of IBM and the big suits all the way through social, anti-virus and ending with search.

What I particularly like about the programme is that each individual series has its own confined interval. Each with its own beginning and end. Yes, the characters remain constant, but they react in a way that you would expect when faced with the challenges that each time period pose. So much so, that I believe you could watch any of the series in isolation and still come away content.

In my view, the show is perfectly paced and of perfect length. Tied up in time-honoured Let's take you right back to the start fashion. Those who have seen the whole show will know what I mean of one event during the last series that absolutely left an emotional mark on me for days.

The show was aired on AMC, and is available on Amazon Prime Video.

Now to the second. The a-word. It has just completed the second series. I was pleased to see it return, but also entered into it with a sense of trepidation. The first series had been excellent, and (unsurprisingly) ended in a satisfactory way. Enough to come to the conclusion that further exploration of the story was not completely necessary. Hence my apprehension.

But I'm so glad they did. The show tells the story of how a Cumbrian family copes with the fact that their son is autistic. It explores the subject from both the point of view of outsiders with their prejudice toward the condition, and those that deal with it on a day to day basis.

It is wonderfully weaved and acted in equal measure. The show was almost gut-wrenching in parts as you could see what direction various relationships were heading. I vary rarely find myself talking out loud at the TV, but couldn't help it at times. WHAT are you doing? Why would you say that, you idiot?

Most importantly, when watching, when you did see a particular actor that happened to be Down's syndrome for example you simply thought what a good actor, not awww, wasn't that actor nice?

Once again, the ending was perfect. It left enough to enable those imaginative enough to plot a future path for the characters involved. I don't know if it will continue, but I am content enough if it doesn't - much like after the first series.

This show was aired on the BBC. I do hope you get chance to see it.

And finally, this got me thinking about the best ending to a TV show ever in the world ever. Well for me there is only one. Six Feet Under. Perfectly in tune with the nature of the show, although the downsides for me was that I felt it went on for too long and the characters were just a little bit too "complicated"!

So there you have it. Two thoroughly enjoyable shows that have not outstayed their welcome.

I just wish that many of the modern day shows would do the same. That they would not rely on so much sexual and violent "filler" to try to pull in the audience. To not play it safe and re-fund something that is popular rather than invest in some new ideas.

And definitely not to pander to the fans that demand further exploration of an ending that, put simply, was good enough.

Similarly with a good book.

But that's a story for another day!