Actually, I'd be rather disappointed if they didn't end every episode of the t.v. series with a cliffhanger. That's very much what I want it to be, and what I think will make the series most successful.
My mind goes back to nearly every other sci-fi t.v. series we've had, and the problems (IMO) with them. 'Battlestar Galactica' had some 'Parts I-II' and even 'I-IV' episodes, but they were rare. For the most part every episode had a single MAIN conflict that was resolved by the end.
The same was true for both the original 'Star Trek' and 'The Next Generation' (once again with the few exceptions). Every episode had one MAIN conflict that was resolved by the end. This, IMO, gave the story a lot less urgency, and left the viewer with the belief that they could not watch numerous episodes in a season and not miss very much in the overall story. That is bad for the series.
For further evidence of why a single, overall plot (a single, driving storyline that would create episodic cliffhangers) is good for a story just look at the success of, and furvor surrounding, the 'Star Wars' films when compared to other film series such as 'Star Trek' or 'James Bond' or the like. With 'Star Trek' or "James Bond' you can, once again, miss an entire movie and not be lost in the overall storyline of the series of films. A plotline doesn't carry over into the other films (with a few exceptions).
But with 'Star Wars' all six films are part of the overall story. Each film furthers the story, making each and every one essential for fully understanding the whole thing. It makes the overall story much more powerful (if done correctly) when you can see it unfold over such time.
Not only does this formula of storytelling give the viewer a sense of dramatic impact, but it also gives the story as a whole cohesiveness--which viewers really like (even if they aren't consciously aware of it).
The greatest suggestion I could give for the 'Star Wars' t.v. series (I know, I know--who asked me? ) would be to treat every season like one of the six films of the 'Star Wars' saga.
i.e.-- have something important, something significant, happen throughout the season that causes a noticable change at the end--something that furthers the overall plot of the series.
Some might say spreading the story for each season out over 22-24 hour-long episodes would make for very slow storytelling, but I don't think so. You can have sub-plots for each different episode that are "resolved" at the end as long as those sub-plots are used to further the overall story arc. It's a HUGE galaxy. Lots of mysteries, puzzles and dangers to be had.
My worst fear for the series, though, is that it will go the same way 'Alias', and so many other "good" series', did. 'Alias' started out great as a series. There was a very interesting overall plot involving SD-6 and a man named Rambaldi (sp?). It took a little while, but after a few episodes you discovered that SD-6 and Rambaldi were intimately linked in the story, and nearly every episode's subplot served to further the overall story of the Rambaldi mystery. The mystery became more and more compelling with every episode, building on itself and leaving the viewer screaming for more! ...But then, in the 3rd or 4th season, they lost that focus and, therefore, the series lost its magic. The story became one of personal revenge and tragedy, and the overall plot involving Rambaldi was lost.
This cannot happen with a 'Star Wars' t.v. series! Just like the films, they should decide on an overall storyline and map it out BEFORE they even start the first season. They should stick with that storyline and end it--and the series as a whole--once it is finished. Once the conflict of the entire series is resolved they should end the series--no matter how well the series is doing!!
If they try to continue to ride on the tail of the success of the series without the core storyline it will become a joke, and the series will fizzle out into obscurity. Another 'Star Wars' series with a different storyline and different characters in a completely different time can be made to keep the franchise going. But they MUST learn to stop once the story has been told. If they can do this, 'Star Wars' can keep its integrity and they will go much further, and make far more money, than they could otherwise.
Okay. Time for me to step down from my soap box. Sorry for the long post. I just have rather strong feelings about this whole thing.