6 episodes is not enough time. Not just for character development but also for plot, foreshadowing, and themes to be developed fully. It's so sad. I miss 12-26 episode shows.
The Japanese TV series model (especially anime), where a show does 20-24 episodes, but each season of a series is capable of fully standing on its own, has a lot going for it in terms of forced character development.
Sherlock is ironically a prime example of what happens when you take tight storylines and give them too much time, they didn’t use that extra time for characterization but to add absurd MCU style mytharc plots
It’s the shrink-flation of entertainment.
Overall, we basically have to pay more in order to purchase subscriptions for an equivalent number of programs that old cable was providing “bundled”.
But now, every show is shorter and shorter with fewer episodes and less renewals
I was dismayed to see that Somebody Somewhere only has seven episodes this season. It's a terrific show where you just want to spend time with the characters as they have 'tinis and play catch, and it was a bummer to see that we're not even getting 10 episodes this season with them!
I've often thought of this. However with streaming not having to conform with network scheduling with no ad breaks, you should be able to develop a character(s) within 7hrs of viewing surely?
You’re making assumptions about episode length. But it’s also most of those 7 hours gotta go to advancing the actual plot and narrative not necessarily developing the characters
We're clearly not going to agree on this but my final rebuttal would be that most beautifully crafted films do all that within a running time of 150mins maximum.
Yeah and a 6 episodes story with the same amount of screentime (6 hour episodes vs 12 half hour episodes) is not the same cause it doesn't have the same amount of story beats.
Depends on the format. Many British shows have as few as 2 episodes per season (Inspector George Gently comes to mind), but they're as long as feature films. And the longer episode length allows the episodes to do more than merely service the plot.
Hmmm, I see like Twitter I have to clarify myself, haha. I'm not saying it's impossible to be done, but it does not suit every type of story and more time = more character building possibilities. 🤷♀️
I haven't watched a movie in the last few years where I haven't left saying (to everyone's annoyance): "That needed to be a series".
I think the great/long television show runs have ruined me.
Heyy, 🤍 I really like your picture on your page and love to use it as an inspiration muse for an art work I’ll be working on for a client, you’ll be getting paid and credit.
It's another kind of economy now. Shows with just around 6 episodes per season were a typical example of UK-broadcast productions for a while. I guess the eraticness of viewing habbits on streaming platforms make it harder to justify long seasons, even though that would be cheaper in the long term.
Idk if I have ever watched a show with that little episodes. I couldn't handle it. I'm currently rewatching ER and love the 20+ episodes. I do agree about not being enough time for character build...that's what making tv shows great, relating to one or two of the characters. Also, not liking some.
Heyy, 🤍 I really like your picture on your page and love to use it as an inspiration muse for an art work I’ll be working on for a client, you’ll be getting paid and credit.
Shows like that now wouldn’t have been 21/22 minute shows anyway. Stuff like House or Breaking Bad for example were still 42-45 minutes plus ads. Now those equivalent shows are just 45ish minutes on streamers. Most shows still adhere to tough network tv timetables because that’s what people expect.
I am rewatching LOST. (Could be better streamed bc so much happens and you can forget week to week)
First season is 25 episodes! I gorgon what that is like.
Well wendy, shows actually had 20+ episodes per season. And it was all fine. And not only that, it wasnt an hour of empty time, it was 45mins of a single episode whole brand new thing dragged concurrently to a longer timeline whole season and series story.There was just so much more of everything.
It’s more to do with optimizing the writers cost with revenue. They have to pay writers more for more episodes which only makes sense if they’re advertising but the model works of subscriptions now so no (or less) incentive to pay writers to churn out additional episodes.
This is my biggest complaint with modern tv shows. Everything is only 6-8 episodes now. Its not even a season if it can be binged faster then a work day,
Just a reminder that it is not the anime creator’s fault for some anime being 6 episodes. It’s a big money issue, if they don’t know how well an anime will do they will spend the least amount of money to kinda test the waters (depending on the anime and studio of course)
Back in the OLDEN days, you got one a week, with time off for "summer replacement shows" in JUL-AUG. They might skip one at Thanksgiving, Xmas and Easter, but you could count on 30 or more episodes of your favorite tv show every year--unless they were ... CANCELLED!!!
Totally agree. Like if it was gonna be a movie and they fleshed it out to a 6 part series... sure. But if it's something that needs developing tofeel for the characters and understand them and build relationships then nah we need 12 minimum.
Shows feel more like super long disconnected movies now and has suffered immensely for it. What Netflix and Amazon and to a lesser extent HBO did to TV is such a shame.
Heyy, 🤍 I really like your picture on your page and love to use it as an inspiration muse for an art work I’ll be working on for a client, you’ll be getting paid and credit.
Yes, though I think many of these “shows” should really be viewed as long-form movies instead of as short-form shows. I think that’s more the space they’re filling
I miss when shows were 20-25 episodes long per season! I guess it stopped at the end of the 2000’s. Ridiculous. Also, I miss the season coming back every September! Not every 3-4 years!
I completely agree. We get through an entire season in two sittings, then have to wait a year or more for the next season. By that time, I forgot what happened in the first season.
12 episodes? I can remember when a show was approximately 36 episodes if it was on weekly, because it premiered usually in September and it wouldn't stop until May of the following year. You're right, we're lucky if we get six episodes of a new series.
Comments
And yep, that show was brilliant all around - brilliantly written, produced, directed, acted, and edited.
I myself enjoyed most all of it...though the last 'season' was "less so"
Overall, we basically have to pay more in order to purchase subscriptions for an equivalent number of programs that old cable was providing “bundled”.
But now, every show is shorter and shorter with fewer episodes and less renewals
I'd rather have quality than quantity
We're clearly not going to agree on this but my final rebuttal would be that most beautifully crafted films do all that within a running time of 150mins maximum.
I too enjoy a long season, thought out, calculated, sprawling. Let’s the development of characters occur fully
I think the great/long television show runs have ruined me.
The efficiency first mindset is a poison to the creative industry.
(I'm sure someone else will bring up 'Casualty')
Awful stuff.
Anyone still tuning in to this dreck needs to figure out some things.
First season is 25 episodes! I gorgon what that is like.
The fact that most seasons aren't long enough to include fluff episodes anymore is a serious detriment.
So streaming is far less than that.
It seems to depend on the show.
September to December week before Christmas take out a week for thanksgiving.
They release the entire series on streaming sites... That's it.. I am quiting cable