I remeber a D&D cartoon where the characters had names like Ranger (it was sooo bad). A TV show could only be bad. No good can come of this whole idea.
This sounds like it's working out nicely. There is something realistic about missing the plot entirely and being confronted by something you didn't expect. Do not railroad them. But feel free to kick them in the rear with what they missed. They'll have just as much fun unravelling what they...