Why Love My Way 4 never happened
EXCLUSIVE: Why, oh, why, was there no 4th season of Love My Way? Producer John Edwards talks to TV Tonight.
- Published by David Knox
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If there has ever been one burning question that is continually asked by readers of this site it is this: Why, oh why, did Love My Way not continue into a fourth season?
“I’ve just finished watching series 3 in one marathon sitting and can’t believe there’s no more to come,” says Miss Jude.
“I am an American working in Japan and I have a lot of Aussie friends who turned me on to LMW. I am shocked that they would just stop after Season 3!” -Hoeydancer
“I have just finished watching all 3 seasons of Love My Way in a 3 week period. I am absolutely hooked and very disappointed to read that there will be no more future seasons.” -Georgina.
“I am so shattered there wont be a season 4, my husband & I have just got hooked on showtime” -Ang.
“Why why why no series 4? Am completely hooked and wonder why this superb series has never seen the light of day in the UK.” -Lucy.
“I’m so disappointed there wont be a season 4! We have just watched all three seasons and we want more!” -Angela.
The list goes on…. TV Tonight heard your plea and went straight to the source for an explanation. Producer John Edwards, who produced the series with Claudia Karvan, was heartened by the response, and said work on a fourth series had actually begun.
“Claudia and I wanted to (do it),” he said.
“At first Claudia was just tired and we thought we had said all we had to say. And then we thought we’d have a look at doing it again, and we were trying to figure out a way that we could wrestle it onto Free to Air as well.
“The whole show was designed so that if it was successful it would go from Pay to Free to Air. Nobody was expecting it to be so successful that they wouldn’t let it go to Free to Air,” he said.
From 2004 to 2007 Love My Way attracted such acclaim and picked up a swag of awards that it became the darling of the Pay TV industry. As arguably the industry’s first big original drama hit, there were behind the scenes manoeuvres to keep the property as a Pay exclusive. So hot was the property, it was even bumped from FOX8 to W to the top tier Showtime channel.
“Even though it’s sold very well, the deals had all been structured on the wrong kind of premises,” said Edwards. “We haven’t made any money out of it. Everybody else has. We’ve made nothing out of it.”
Edwards says there were some discussions with Free to Air broadcasters regarding a fourth series but they fell through.
“We were trying to make Series 4 as a way of wrestling control of it back. We got halfway down the track and then got a bit of a surprise. Basically the ABC didn’t want it, which surprised us. They wanted to buy the reruns, cheaply. They had their own shows.”
However, rights to the first series will become free in around six to twelve months which will mean it can be re-sold to another broadcaster. That’s good news for those who want to see the show on Free to Air.
“As soon as it becomes free it will be out there and I think there will be plenty of buyers.”
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38 Responses
I loved Series 1, 2 & 3. I actually could relate to some of the experiences that they shared and their personalities. I totally loved this series and I can’t believe that a free to air channel didn’t pick this up. Claudia Karvan was absolutely brilliant! Very sad that the series has ended!
I have just watched Seasons 1, 2 and 3 in a period of a week and a half, having previously never seen an episode. I am absolutely hooked and would love to see a season 4 made. Hands down the best script, acting and production of any Australian drama to date, no doubt about it. Finally a show that doesn’t have perfect people with perfect lives in perfect relationships, the characters are just so ‘real’. The rawness, grit and emotion this show portrays stands it head and shoulders above the rest. I think there is still definately more to tell of this story.
I agree with Bernie (below) I think they have to address the fact that Clive, Lewis’ father, told Franky that he was also her father as he was dying (making Lewis and Franky half brother and sister). I watched Season 3 first then went and borrowed Season 1 and 2, so when this comment was made by Clive I was absolutely shocked and yelled “What?! OMG!” at the television. There’s a big storyline there in itself.
Show is over but look out for Tangle….
I personally loved the series, having lost a daughter around the same age that episode hit hard and all the grief came flooding back, which only goes to show just how beautifully acted that scene was.
so who was her husbands father? was it the old guy that died in the big house..cant remenber their names now….which would have made her(the mother of the little giel) and her husband half brother and sister…maybe thats why she miscarried….am I making sence?….
I personally believe that if they were to make a fourth season they should portray their lives from before season one! Wouldn’t you like to know how it all started, how they all met, etc?
I agree with the majority of comments, despite being totally hooked on the show I am not sure that season 4 could add anything. Seasons 1 and 2 were fantastic, but season 3 didn’t quite cut it. I would rather love it for what it was than be disappointed with another season.
All the way from The Netherlands a dutch comment:…. Shame shame that TVpolitics and a mediocre last series stopped a brilliant set. I loved love my way.
hey guys….i just bought all of love my way and i was hooked the frist time i saw it a few years back,,just amazing.
beyond the wanting-needing more…..i mean there could be much more..a baby may come for frankie.dylan finds love and moves out.??????anyhoo who did the art in it???someone tell me soon
I have just finished watching Love My Way and became totally hooked from the get go. I had no idea that the show had ended and was so disappointed when it found out that there would be no more! The best drama I have ever seen and would plan my day not to miss it. :o(
The best Australian TV drama hands down. It captures at moments life’s sad beauty: a height which Australian drama usually can’t reach.
Why would you want to watch this great series with ad breaks? Besides it has been repeated to death on pay, plus the dvd’s have been out for a while now(where alot of people would of seen it, if not on foxtel).
Network Ten could use ‘Love My Way’ after seeing their 2009 line up.
Fantastic show. Its not often we mourn the loss of an Aussie drama….
I’m always surprised that LMW was as popular as it was considering it didn’t have a single likable character in it.
Sad to hear that it won’t be continuing, becuase it was a real delight to watch (on DVD, since I don’t have Pay!). I still haven’t seen Season 3 though, so hopefully one of the free-to-air networks pick it up soon…
The hospital scene in series one with both parents and the child (trying not to give away spoilers to those few who haven’t seen it) would have to be the most powerful, emotive and sheer brilliant piece of acting i have ever seen, ever. I cry every time i watch it.
I agree with others, Series 3 was a tad dull…..
But cheers to the best Australian drama of our generation. No question.
Ryan,
Not sure if you read te whole article, but the gist of it, there WON’T be any further series of Love My Way(i.e NO 4th season).
For the fans who haven’t bought the DVDs yet, there’s a new set out called “Love My Way – Everything” which is 11 discs long and works out being cheaper than the individual seasons. I’m buying it for my best friend for Christmas as she’s never seen it and would definitely love it!
When I have the money I will purchase Season 2 and 3, I have had Season 1 on DVD for about 10 months now, and absolutely loved it, I laughed and cried it was a real drama experience. I am looking forward to watching Season 2 and 3 shortly, and I do hope more is produced because it is actual quality.
Love My Way for me is the best Australian Tv show ever but luckily Showtime have given me Satisfaction in LMW’s place…….so it ain’t all bad….. it’s an awesome trade
I’d have to agree, 1&2 were great but 3 let down the show, 4 might have been better but I guess we’ll never know now.
I am glad season 4 never happened, season 3 was average, at best. Sometimes shows, no matter how good they are, can out-stay there welcome, and it would of been the case for LmW if season 4 happened.
Love My Way was one of the most emotive shows to ever hit the airwaves! I bought each season as soon as it was released on DVD and never even knew there were plans to do a 4th season. As much as a fourth season would probably one of the best gifts I could ever impersonally receive, I’m happy with the conclusion of season 3.
It didn’t end with a horrible cliffhanger, nor did it end with a complete tie-up. It ended with the message of “life goes on…” which is pretty much what the entire theme of the show had been from day dot; Life brings every single emotion to every single person, and it never slows down to let you catch your breath.
Thank you for that one, David. That answers a lot of questions about the show – I’d been really, really puzzled why it hadn’t made it to FTA.
As a side note, Edwards’ comments reinforce the importance of free-to-air in this country over Foxtel. And this man is the savviest producer currently working in TV drama.
mmm, Series 1 & 2 (one in particular) was possibly the best Australian drama ive ever seen, I acutally thought series 3 was a bit lame and was actually really glad they didnt continue on and tranish what I remember as a brilliant show!