Search - Kyle XY: The Complete Third And Final Season on DVD

K. K. (GAMER)
Reviewed on 4/18/2021...

Interesting but not a sci-fi keeper!

2 of 2 member(s) found this review helpful.

Yet another reprehensible cancellation by our friends at ABC

Robert Moore | Chicago, IL USA | 10/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"TV fans frequently castigate FOX for the long string of premature cancellations of potentially (or actually) great shows over the past fifteen years. They have built up a great deal of ill will with fans, with many people refusing to give FOX series tries because of a lack of confidence that they will stick with the shows. The damage done to FOX by their quick trigger finger is difficult to calculate. Until recently, I was loathe to watch any show on the network, so intense was my anger at them. Thankfully, things seem to have changed somewhat. New FOX head of programming Kevin Reilly -- who built a reputation at NBC for his patience with critically acclaimed shows with weak ratings, shows like FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, 30 ROCK, and THE OFFICE -- seems to have brought a similar patience with him. While shows like the marvelous TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES have been cancelled, he can't be accused of any silly cancellations that we saw with he predecessors.

But just as things have been improving at FOX, so things have been worsening at ABC. In fact, ABC seems to be determined to become the new FOX. The most shocking cancellation was unquestionably PUSHING DAISIES, which was not only one of the most critically acclaimed shows on TV, but led all shows for most nominations at the 2008 Emmys. They cancelled at the same time the delightful ELI STONE and later managed to cancel a substantial portion of its entire schedule. Now ABC Family has joined the party, cancelling network mainstay KYLE XY.

KYLE XY was not one of the best shows on TV. The writing was not as sharp as it could have been and the overall story arc seemed to drift at times. Nonetheless, KYLE XY was for three years a series I watched with ongoing interest and enjoyment. I loved the Trager family and was increasingly enjoying the surprising love triangle between Kyle, Amanda, and Jesse. I've also had an ongoing interest in shows featuring technologically altered people, such as Max in DARK ANGEL (a character Kyle resembles in some ways) or Jake in JAKE 2.0 or River Tam in FIREFLY.

I didn't care for Jesse much in Season 2, but I not only came to like her character in the current season, but actually enjoyed the complexity of the surprising love triangle that resulted as Kyle came to recognize her romantically. I have no idea how that would have ended, but it would have been delightful to find out. Another romance on the show seemed more likely to remain ended, as Joss's girlfriend Andy moved with her mothers to Cleveland. Magda Apanowicz, who played Andy, got a role on the BSG prequel CAPRICA, a much higher profile series. But the whole question of Amanda versus Jesse was left completely in the air.

I think all the television networks should commit themselves to a pact with their audiences. Over the years dozens and dozens of shows have been cancelled in midstory. When most shows were episodic rather than serial in format, this didn't matter. But virtually all shows worth watching -- and all of the shows I watch, without exception -- are serials. They tell an ongoing story. PUSHING DAISIES will end (as of this date the final three episodes have not been broadcast) with a host of story arcs dangling. The same is true of ELI STONE and KYLE XY. I think television would improve, ratings would improve, and attitudes towards networks would improve if all the networks would vow to allow all television series to have a proper conclusion. This could be done either by allowing a series an extra 2 or 3 episodes to wrap up the story or a mini-series or made for TV movie (or even a direct-to-TV movie) to do the same. As it is, I have immense anger towards FOX (though that has been dissipating somewhat the past couple of years) and a growing anger at ABC and ABC Family for scores of irritating cancellations. Let the series finish what they started!!!! In addition to all the other advantages, it would increase DVD sales. One of the reasons why WONDERFALLS is so satisfying on DVD is that while it was cancelled by FOX after four episodes, 13 were filmed and appear on DVD, the final episode providing a very satisfying ending to the short series. Right now when networks cancel a series, they just leave things in a mess.

But I also think that executive producers need to stop ending each season with a big cliffhanger. If you know a show is safe and that it has been renewed, a cliffhanger is not irresponsible. But I think it is stupid to write a cliffhanger for a show that is on the fence or in signficant danger of cancellation. I loved VERONICA MARS, but Rob Thomas knew the show was at risk of ending. He should have ended the show with something that could have served as a series ender in case it was cancelled. There is an important precedent for what I am suggesting. Even though BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER was able to end on its own terms, Joss Whedon felt that there was always a possibility of cancellation. So each season of BUFFY (and most seasons of ANGEL) end in a way so that it could have stood as a series finale.

Still, when networks cancel shows after work on the current season has ended, then they ought to allow some sort of ending. This is certainly the case with KYLE XY. There was simply no opportunity for the writers to provide anything like a series ending. At the very least ABC Family should have ordered three more episodes with the understanding that they would be the last.

I hope that whoever does the hiring and firing replaces the programming people at ABC and ABC Family. It isn't just that the networks have a string of bad shows; they are cancelling the best shows simply because the ratings are weak. If you have a critically acclaimed show, you always have the potential to build an audience. But if you replace it with crap, you have neither critical acclaim nor potential. As things stand, once LOST is finished, I may be finished with ABC as well, with the lone caveat that I'm anxious to see what they do with the pilot that they are developing for FABLES, based on the extraordinary comics by Bill Willingham. But apart from that, ABC has become the network from which I have the least expectations."

No Satisfying Closure...

T. Adlam | South Florida, USA | 12/24/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I discovered Kyle XY via Hulu recommendation and from the pilot episode, I was hooked. Kyle XY is a love first, sci-fi second series. And by love, I mean all facets of it from familial and neighborly love to romantic love. It delivered well-balanced messages of respect and caring without being preachy. The sci-fi element that was woven into the story added a touch of excitement and kept the viewer on edge. It reminded me of Dawson's Creek meets Seventh Heaven meets Smallville. It wasn't perfect, but I soaked in every episode and after the shocking season three conclusion, I needed to know what happened.

Although I'd already seen all the episodes in the third season, I got the DVDs because I read in a producer's interview that there would be a special bonus feature wrapping up the show's loose ends. One hour long show meant to wrap up everything wouldn't be what I'd hoped for, but it would be better than nothing. Right? Unfortunately, that wasn't the case.

The season three DVD set includes 3 discs with each episode from the final season. The third disc also has some bonus features. One of the features is "Kyle XY: Future Revealed." As I anxiously awaited the final world-altering episode, my hopes were dashed when it turned out to be a fifteen minute interview with the producers explaining how the story's various threads would have been tied up had the show continued for another season. In fact, all the information they shared was already provided through various written and video interviews posted online and broadcast on TV. Basically, we're told what would have happened, with a few episodic clips thrown in for good measure, but it's still rather unsatisfying.

Also on the DVD are some deleted scenes spanning a few seconds to a couple of minutes each and don't get fooled by the "Sneak Peeks"--they are previews for upcoming programs and not sneak peeks for any future episodes of Kyle XY.

It would be lovely if the writers and producers could collaborate on a book which wraps up the Kyle XY storyline or even a full-length made for TV conclusion to the series, but I'm not holding my breath. To sum up, if you're looking for closure to the Kyle XY series, you probably won't get it on these DVDs."

Kyle xy the third season

Sheila I. Monell | ORLANDO, FL, US | 02/02/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"it sayd that this title have the last new episode but it does no have it is just the production people talking of what was going to happen in the next season."