Streaming services have undeniably altered the way TV shows and films are released and viewed by the masses. The allure is plain: viewers can cherry-pick from hundreds of shows of all genres, all in one place, on demand. We’re all so used to instant gratification by now, it’s hard to imagine ever going back to the days of following the schedules of network TV. But with so many platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ and Hulu competing for our attention, it feels like there’s a never-ending stream of “must-watch” shows to keep up with. In short, it’s overwhelming.
Shows that have seasons with twenty-plus episodes (such as Gilmore Girls, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Supernatural) seem to have been left in the early 2000s. Today, popular series like Bridgerton or House of the Dragon are confined to between eight and ten episodes per season. The reduced episode count isn’t inherently problematic. What makes for a frustrating and fragmented viewing experience is the long gaps between seasons which can sometimes last years. Frankly, I gave up watching the latest season of The Umbrella Academy because I hadn’t the faintest memory of what happened previously and rewatching the whole thing felt like a chore. The sense of continuity just isn’t there anymore.
Sometimes the gap between seasons is simply…forever. Like me, you’re probably a victim of Netflix’s premature show cancellations that seemingly ignore high ratings and growing fanbases. The truth is streaming services only care about how many hours of content you watch, not whether you complete a series, and shiny new shows draw new subscribers in. Many of the cheaply-licensed shows are just there to give the illusion that the platform has loads to offer, but this oversaturation of mediocre shows just leads to choice paralysis – my dinner will inevitably get cold before I ever find anything good to watch on Netflix. The second we actually finish a show, the credits barely have a chance to roll before you’re ushered to the next one automatically with no time to digest what you just watched.
With everyone on different platforms at different points in different shows among all this variety, the trade-off seems to be our sense of community and connection. What started as a convenient alternative now leaves us asking: is it worth it anymore?
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