The Decline of Fantasy TV and Hollywood's Obsession with Ideology
The current state of Hollywood and the television industry reveals a troubling pattern: a tendency to destroy beloved genres and stories under the guise of progress, only to suffer their own decline. The cancellation of popular fantasy series like The Wheel of Time exemplifies this phenomenon, highlighting how ideological overreach and mismanagement are contributing to the genre's downfall.
Hollywood's Misguided Lessons and the Fantasy Genre's Demise
As The Wheel of Time was canceled, many observed that Hollywood would rather "burn the entire fantasy genre to the ground" than reflect on its own failures. Instead of addressing core issues like misguided ideology, corporate arrogance, or the neglect of storytelling fundamentals, industry insiders blame money or market forces. This delusional perspective ignores the fact that Wheel of Time was a relatively adaptable property, with chapters akin to episodes—an ideal setup for success.
The fundamental problem isn't necessarily the source material but how it has been mishandled. Hollywood’s obsession with ideological messaging leads to the distortion and betrayal of beloved narratives. This, combined with high production costs, has made fantasy shows seem financially unviable, even when they have an existing fanbase eager to watch well-crafted content.
The Role of Budget, Quality, and Storytelling in TV Success
Contrary to popular belief, fantasy projects do not inherently require enormous budgets. Classic shows like Hercules, Xena, or Legend of the Seeker thrived on modest budgets by focusing on storytelling, characters, and effective use of resources rather than cutting-edge CGI or sprawling special effects.
High budgets often come at the expense of storytelling quality—especially when money is spent on excessive CGI (e.g., Doctor Who's CGI Dinosaurs) instead of character development. Television historically has thrived on strong narratives and relatable characters, not visual spectacle. When creators abandon these principles for ideological messaging, the result alienates the audience, who see through the superficiality.
The Importance of Grounding Stories in Human Reality
A recurring theme is that stories, especially in television, must be rooted in human realism. Steven Moffat correctly points out that every story functions as a morality tale. It allows viewers to explore complex ideas or environments without facing real danger, learning moral lessons through characters' experiences.
For stories to resonate, characters must act authentically, reflecting genuine human behavior. This was evident in classics like Lord of the Rings and Wheel of Time, where gender roles and hierarchies mirrored real life. These elements are crucial for immersion and for imparting meaningful lessons.
When fantasy is distorted—by swapping roles, pushing ideologies, or presenting unrealistic portrayals—viewers become disengaged. They sense the story's disconnection from reality, which undermines its moral and entertainment value.
The Dangers of Ideological Subversion and Narrative Perversion
A significant pitfall of modern Hollywood is the perversion of intellectual property (IP) through ideological agendas. Showrunners and writers often replace authentic characterizations with tokenism or roles that serve a political narrative, stripping away core qualities that made these stories compelling.
For example, introducing characters acting out of character or fulfilling roles they have no genuine place in ruins the narrative's integrity. Such alterations turn viewers away, as immersion is broken when characters behave inconsistently with established traits or social realities.
This "ideological subversion" transforms stories into platforms for preachy messages rather than genuine entertainment. The audience, craving authentic storytelling, rejects this forced moralizing, which only further damages the industry's reputation.
The Collapse of Hollywood and the False Narrative of Financial Woes
The broader decline of Hollywood is exemplified by plummeting TV writing jobs, industry strikes, and the collapse of traditional storytelling models. Despite huge investments, many productions fail because they rely on ideology-driven content rather than quality craftsmanship.
Accusations that money is the root cause ignore the fact that well-funded shows can still succeed if they prioritize storytelling. The true issue is poor leadership—showrunners and creators more interested in pushing their personal agendas than engaging viewers.
The industry's obsession with long-term series—hoping for 17+ seasons—also backfires. Many productions receive only a few seasons before cancellation, often due to lack of storytelling talent, not because of limited budgets or initial success. Ironically, many of these shows are kept around long past their prime, simply because of union agreements or ideological loyalties, fostering a culture of mediocrity.
The Reality: Why Fantasy Was Once Popular and Why It's Disappearing
Before the recent decline, fantasy TV experienced a boom thanks to groundbreaking series like Game of Thrones, Shadow and Bone, and The Rings of Power. These shows attracted massive audiences because they delivered epic stories rooted in relatable human traits within sprawling worlds.
However, the genre's popularity has waned because of mismanagement, high production costs, and a preference for cheap, ideological content. Fantasy stories, though traditionally expensive, are not inherently so—costly effects aren't always necessary if the focus is on compelling storytelling.
The Wheel of Time's failure highlights this: it had the potential to be an accessible adaptation but was hampered by poor writing and ideological distortions. The same pattern threatens The Rings of Power, which suffers from similar issues, despite its sizable budget.
Media companies increasingly cut projects short, giving shows only a few seasons to prove themselves. This approach neglects the importance of consistent storytelling, which builds deep viewer investment over time. As a result, many promising series are canceled prematurely, throwing away long-term potential.
Furthermore, there's an industry tendency to keep underperforming or ideologically driven creators employed, regardless of quality, creating a cycle of mediocrity. These creators often prioritize pushing narratives over engaging storytelling, alienating audiences who seek authentic experiences.
The core issue isn't the complexity or cost of fantasy; rather, it's the degeneration of the industry's leadership—showrunners, writers, and executives—who prioritize ideological purity over storytelling quality.
The cancellation of Wheel of Time and similar series isn't accidental but a consequence of ideological distortions that betray the source material, alienate fans, and ultimately destroy the viewer's trust. Hollywood, consumed by activism and political correctness, refuses to recognize that genuine storytelling, grounded in human nature and morality, remains the key to success.
Conclusion: Facing Reality and Rebuilding the Industry
The future of fantasy television and Hollywood as a whole depends on honest reflection. The industry must acknowledge that its problems stem from the values and decisions of its creators. Instead of blaming external factors—money, markets, or audience tastes—it should examine the quality of its storytelling and respect for source material.
Authentic stories rooted in human morality, believable characters, and respect for reality are what draw viewers and leave lasting impressions. Shortchanging these elements for ideological messaging only leads to decline and disillusionment.
As the genre wanes, the hope must be that talented, dedicated creators will rise to restore it—focusing on core storytelling principles rather than ideological agendas. Only then can fantasy regain its rightful place as a powerful, meaningful part of entertainment that not only entertains but also teaches and endures.
What are your thoughts on the state of fantasy TV and Hollywood's direction? Share your opinions below.
Part 1/14:
The Decline of Fantasy TV and Hollywood's Obsession with Ideology
The current state of Hollywood and the television industry reveals a troubling pattern: a tendency to destroy beloved genres and stories under the guise of progress, only to suffer their own decline. The cancellation of popular fantasy series like The Wheel of Time exemplifies this phenomenon, highlighting how ideological overreach and mismanagement are contributing to the genre's downfall.
Hollywood's Misguided Lessons and the Fantasy Genre's Demise
Part 2/14:
As The Wheel of Time was canceled, many observed that Hollywood would rather "burn the entire fantasy genre to the ground" than reflect on its own failures. Instead of addressing core issues like misguided ideology, corporate arrogance, or the neglect of storytelling fundamentals, industry insiders blame money or market forces. This delusional perspective ignores the fact that Wheel of Time was a relatively adaptable property, with chapters akin to episodes—an ideal setup for success.
Part 3/14:
The fundamental problem isn't necessarily the source material but how it has been mishandled. Hollywood’s obsession with ideological messaging leads to the distortion and betrayal of beloved narratives. This, combined with high production costs, has made fantasy shows seem financially unviable, even when they have an existing fanbase eager to watch well-crafted content.
The Role of Budget, Quality, and Storytelling in TV Success
Contrary to popular belief, fantasy projects do not inherently require enormous budgets. Classic shows like Hercules, Xena, or Legend of the Seeker thrived on modest budgets by focusing on storytelling, characters, and effective use of resources rather than cutting-edge CGI or sprawling special effects.
Part 4/14:
High budgets often come at the expense of storytelling quality—especially when money is spent on excessive CGI (e.g., Doctor Who's CGI Dinosaurs) instead of character development. Television historically has thrived on strong narratives and relatable characters, not visual spectacle. When creators abandon these principles for ideological messaging, the result alienates the audience, who see through the superficiality.
The Importance of Grounding Stories in Human Reality
Part 5/14:
A recurring theme is that stories, especially in television, must be rooted in human realism. Steven Moffat correctly points out that every story functions as a morality tale. It allows viewers to explore complex ideas or environments without facing real danger, learning moral lessons through characters' experiences.
For stories to resonate, characters must act authentically, reflecting genuine human behavior. This was evident in classics like Lord of the Rings and Wheel of Time, where gender roles and hierarchies mirrored real life. These elements are crucial for immersion and for imparting meaningful lessons.
Part 6/14:
When fantasy is distorted—by swapping roles, pushing ideologies, or presenting unrealistic portrayals—viewers become disengaged. They sense the story's disconnection from reality, which undermines its moral and entertainment value.
The Dangers of Ideological Subversion and Narrative Perversion
A significant pitfall of modern Hollywood is the perversion of intellectual property (IP) through ideological agendas. Showrunners and writers often replace authentic characterizations with tokenism or roles that serve a political narrative, stripping away core qualities that made these stories compelling.
Part 7/14:
For example, introducing characters acting out of character or fulfilling roles they have no genuine place in ruins the narrative's integrity. Such alterations turn viewers away, as immersion is broken when characters behave inconsistently with established traits or social realities.
This "ideological subversion" transforms stories into platforms for preachy messages rather than genuine entertainment. The audience, craving authentic storytelling, rejects this forced moralizing, which only further damages the industry's reputation.
The Collapse of Hollywood and the False Narrative of Financial Woes
Part 8/14:
The broader decline of Hollywood is exemplified by plummeting TV writing jobs, industry strikes, and the collapse of traditional storytelling models. Despite huge investments, many productions fail because they rely on ideology-driven content rather than quality craftsmanship.
Accusations that money is the root cause ignore the fact that well-funded shows can still succeed if they prioritize storytelling. The true issue is poor leadership—showrunners and creators more interested in pushing their personal agendas than engaging viewers.
Part 9/14:
The industry's obsession with long-term series—hoping for 17+ seasons—also backfires. Many productions receive only a few seasons before cancellation, often due to lack of storytelling talent, not because of limited budgets or initial success. Ironically, many of these shows are kept around long past their prime, simply because of union agreements or ideological loyalties, fostering a culture of mediocrity.
The Reality: Why Fantasy Was Once Popular and Why It's Disappearing
Before the recent decline, fantasy TV experienced a boom thanks to groundbreaking series like Game of Thrones, Shadow and Bone, and The Rings of Power. These shows attracted massive audiences because they delivered epic stories rooted in relatable human traits within sprawling worlds.
Part 10/14:
However, the genre's popularity has waned because of mismanagement, high production costs, and a preference for cheap, ideological content. Fantasy stories, though traditionally expensive, are not inherently so—costly effects aren't always necessary if the focus is on compelling storytelling.
The Wheel of Time's failure highlights this: it had the potential to be an accessible adaptation but was hampered by poor writing and ideological distortions. The same pattern threatens The Rings of Power, which suffers from similar issues, despite its sizable budget.
Short-Term Success, Long-Term Failure
Part 11/14:
Media companies increasingly cut projects short, giving shows only a few seasons to prove themselves. This approach neglects the importance of consistent storytelling, which builds deep viewer investment over time. As a result, many promising series are canceled prematurely, throwing away long-term potential.
Furthermore, there's an industry tendency to keep underperforming or ideologically driven creators employed, regardless of quality, creating a cycle of mediocrity. These creators often prioritize pushing narratives over engaging storytelling, alienating audiences who seek authentic experiences.
The True Causes of the Genre's Decline
Part 12/14:
The core issue isn't the complexity or cost of fantasy; rather, it's the degeneration of the industry's leadership—showrunners, writers, and executives—who prioritize ideological purity over storytelling quality.
The cancellation of Wheel of Time and similar series isn't accidental but a consequence of ideological distortions that betray the source material, alienate fans, and ultimately destroy the viewer's trust. Hollywood, consumed by activism and political correctness, refuses to recognize that genuine storytelling, grounded in human nature and morality, remains the key to success.
Conclusion: Facing Reality and Rebuilding the Industry
Part 13/14:
The future of fantasy television and Hollywood as a whole depends on honest reflection. The industry must acknowledge that its problems stem from the values and decisions of its creators. Instead of blaming external factors—money, markets, or audience tastes—it should examine the quality of its storytelling and respect for source material.
Authentic stories rooted in human morality, believable characters, and respect for reality are what draw viewers and leave lasting impressions. Shortchanging these elements for ideological messaging only leads to decline and disillusionment.
Part 14/14:
As the genre wanes, the hope must be that talented, dedicated creators will rise to restore it—focusing on core storytelling principles rather than ideological agendas. Only then can fantasy regain its rightful place as a powerful, meaningful part of entertainment that not only entertains but also teaches and endures.
What are your thoughts on the state of fantasy TV and Hollywood's direction? Share your opinions below.