When did 3 part cliffhangers come into popularity??

[yoda313]

I remember the first time really paying attention to one was the Circle Trilogy in Deep Space Nine. Now that I'm watching a lot of Xfiles again I can't believe how many 3 parters they had.

Most often it seemed 2 parters were the norm for the big dramatic season ending cliffhangers. Even shows that had a true continuing story they would be definite story closure for that particular story arc. But these 3 parters are different. They aren't as compressed as some 2 parters feel but they can also drag a bit - as if trying to justifty the extra time given. Is it partly for budgetary purposes??? Would they do a 3 parter to add more money for the big effects/location shooting they wouldn't be able to do on a 1 or 2 part episode???

[guns1inger]

With the X-files these were only done for mythology stories, whereas there were a couple of two-part stories done for non-mythology episodes. Usually, the three parters were done because a) Chris Carter's mythology stories were bigger than 1 or 2 episodes, b) one of the goals was to bring in film like output on a TV budget, and these longer stories gave them scope to do this (the movie is really a 3 part, big budget episode), and c) most of them were done before Harsh Realm and The Lone Gunmen, when Chris Carter was still feted as some sort of TV god.

[Faustus]

3 parts are actually pretty uncommon IMO. I know Farscape did them with quite good effect now and again. I think most writers of normally non connected content have problems with filling a plot up big enough to use 3 episodes.

But yeah a few other shows have done them now and again also.

[Doramius]

3 parters are pretty rare. Usually you go off and make a mini-series spin-off rather than do a 3 parter. Of course X-files was always tied to each episode in one way or another, but the plot lines would only span 3 episodes. but that is weird to see a mid-season 3 parter.

[guns1inger]

We have finally got a new season of Enterprise over here (we get ST sproradically, and only in the middle of the night on FTA here). There is a three parter only a few episodes into the season. Something to do with Augments. It isn't just a continuing story line, but actually ends with a "To Be Continued" at the end of each part. I know this because my wife hates those three words at the end of anything (and she says I'm impatient).

They aren't the norm, but X-Files had them more often than anyone else.

[yoda313]

There is a three parter only a few episodes into the season. Something to do with Augments

Thats the Brent Spiner episode I won't say anymore than that

[guns1inger]

I have watched the first two parts, but now it's been interrupted by the bloody tennis, so the third episode airs this week.