As widely derided as the “Breaking Bad” finale was praised, Showtime‘s “Dexter” serial killer drama also came to an end recently, and many fans were not happy. While we’re still a season behind, even someone not following the show only had to turn to social media over the run of its final episodes, to see the criticism flying left and right, and producer John Goldwyn puts the blame squarely on the network.
“They won’t let us kill him,” he told Vulture. “Showtime was very clear about that. When we told them the arc for the last season, they just said, ‘Just to be clear, he’s going to live.’ There were a lot of endings discussed because it was a very interesting problem to solve, to bring it to a close. People have a relationship with ‘Dexter,’ even if it doesn’t have the size and the ferocity of the fan base for ‘Breaking Bad.’ But it has a very core loyal following.” And certainly that group will be wondering what could have been if the writers were given a bit more freedom.
Lena Dunham is hard at work on the third season of “Girls,” and the roster of players has grown slightly, with “Nebraska” and “About Schmidt” star June Squibb set to play Hannah’s grandmother. Showbiz 411 broke the announcement but no word on how large or small her appearance will be. In related news, Christopher Abbott aka Charlie has broken the silence on his abrupt departure from the show. “The world that Lena wrote was very real, especially in New York. But it wasn’t as relatable for me on a personal level,” he recently told The New York Times. “It’s not that I only like to play roles I know to a T, but there’s something satisfying about playing parts where you really relate to the characters.” Okay, then.
Meanwhile, The Weinstein Company are dabbling in television, teaming with Look Out Point and BBC Worldwide for a six-part miniseries adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s “War And Peace,” reports Deadline. Veteran Andrew Davies (“Pride And Prejudice,” “Sense & Sensibility,” “Brideshead Revisited“) is penning the series that is being pegged as the most “ambitious” undertaking ever by the BBC. Though, don’t they churn out period dramas every other week? Anyway, plans are to have it ready to air in 2015.
Lastly, TV Fanatic has the rather grisly teaser trailer for the second season of A&E‘s surprise hit “Bates Motel,” and it looks like Norman is tapping into his psycho side… No premiere date yet but perhaps we’ll know more soon. Watch below.