Invader Zim

OK, I know I'm impending a huge backlash on how completely wrong I am or how misinformed my opinion is, but please let me explain myself. First, I am a HUGE Invader Zim fan. I love everything about the show from the hypocritical high brow and low brow humor, the gorey dark and twisted animation style, the Loads And Loads Of Characters, and of course that Nightmare Fuel inducing story lines that only Jhonen Vasquez can deliver. And yes, I am definitely disappointed that we did not get to see many of the fantastic amazing episodes that Invader Zim was almost going to air (particularly Nubs of Doom, The Trial and the episodic Invader Dib).

However, let me offer this scenario as well. Had Invader Zim continued until today to air on Nickelodeon, I'm almost positive that due to excessive Executive Meddling from Viacom, the show would have experienced extreme amounts of Character Derailment and horrendous They Changed It, Now It Sucks!. I mean, just listening to every audio commentary on my Invader Zim Collection DVDs I know that Nickelodeon disliked where the show was going and, had they gotten the chance, probably definitely would have eventually toned down the show's iconic darkness just to make the show for their younger demographic. And then since Jhonen would refused, they probably would have just kicked him off the show entirely and continued on anyway, allowing all of their extreme meddling to take over until you get another teen-angst animated series. I mean, just look at how well they "handled" some of their other classic works: Spongebob is now a completely annoying Jerkass, and they're making a Live Action The Fairly Odd Parents Movie about Timmy Growing Up. What?

Well, at least with the show being canceled today, and the series still deemed "too dark for kids" Invader Zim will hopefully experience none of this. Am I disappointed that Zim didn't have just more than 27 episodes, or that Jhonen wasn't given more time? Of course! But at the same time, I'm also glad that because of it's early death, the show can at least remain perfectly intact and safe from Nick Execs with each of its characters and series untouched and perfect.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to rewatch The Nightmare Begins on my plasma TV.

edited 25th Jul '10 2:31:30 AM by Mattonymy

There's definitely something to be said for going out on top. But I wish they'd at least gotten a chance to finish the second season. The Season Finale sounded great.

It really did. The Trial sounded so epically awesome! But, like I said, it's better that the series died with Jhonen quitting than have it fall into the wrong hands.

I'm glad it was cancelled too. The show was pretty terrible honestly.

The show's cancellation was necessary for it to remain remotely watchable. For me, Spongebob started annoying, and from what I heard the creator has been trying to pull a Jhonen and get it cancelled. Since I'm going by rumor it could be wrong, but if it's true... it's a sad state of affairs.

Invader Zim was no Avatar TLA, but it was, at the time, the best thing they had on air.

... You've got a pretty good point. As a Zim (but not ZADR) fan, I got to say I would rather jump off a cliff than watch Invader Zim meddled with the way Spongebob Squarepants turned out after The Movie.

I was always hoping Adult Swim or CN would pick up the show... Oh well....

edited 25th Jul '10 1:20:10 PM by shadowgirl_13_chaos

Even trying to imagine what Nick today would do to Invader Zim makes me retch...

Dib being like spongebob... just... ''*Bleeeachhh*''

And we all know what happened to GIR...

For me, Spongebob started annoying, and from what I heard the creator has been trying to pull a Jhonen and get it cancelled. Since I'm going by rumor it could be wrong

It is.

@ Shadowgirl: Las i heard, Nick has the rights to the show, so i don't think other channels could pick it up.

When you put it that way I have to agree.

Maybe Jhonen could do an online series...

I still agree with the OP though

I'd much rather have a series end earlier, so the whole thing is pretty memorable, than have it drag into the dust until you say ENOUGH, this was unfunny five seasons ago.

@boobustuber Yeah, I kind of wish Big O ended as well the same way instead of opening for a third season which never got picked up.

Invader Zim is my second favorite show ever to air on Nickelodeon, and yet I too am glad it was canceled. Why? Bryan Konietzko was working on the series, and if it had kept going he wouldn't have been able to make Avatar, which as you've probably guessed is my favorite Nick show. So it all worked out in the end.

All I can say is that I really really hope that Invader Zim eventually gets a Blu-Ray release, with new bonus features, concept art and interviews with Jhonen Vasquez. Otherwise, I'm just glad that I have the complete collection on dvd.

I still kinda wish they could of finished the story, I mean, Invader Zim was a really interesting plot, full of creative aliens with a highly detailed life. They're almost real, they're so detailed in life and society.

I like to think that no show can be ruined retroactively. So I'm perfectly fine with their being a chance of a show being ground into the dust, if there's also a chance that it could receive a proper finale. Or at least an epic jump-the-shark point instead of just going out on a routine episode.

I know, Invader Zim really had potential and I am deeply disappointed that many of their upcoming episodes (especially Nubs Of Doom) weren't able to be aired. However, Jhonen Vasquez did say that IZ is a show he wouldn't want to return to , so in that sense I wouldn't want to see Zim come back by anyone else (hell, I wouldn't even consider it canon).

My best hope is that Jhonen Vasquez gets a contract with Comedy Central or maybe Cartoon Network, and is given full creative control to create a brand new show. That would be awesome.

"I WANT TO IMMORTALIZE THE MOMENT!" lol I might have gotten the quote a bit wrong but you know what I'm talking about

amirite?

Mattonymy, that's a good idea!

Matt: . . . Maybe. As long as it doesn't end up being a 12 Ounce Mouse type affair.

^ yes, that would be very sad...

It would probably have ended up with Dib and Zim in a space apartment trying to make sure their space landlord didn't work out they weren't actually space gay.

^ hehehe, well I laughed.

I always thought Zim would realize the tallest hate him, after Dib finding out and telling him so.