I've noticed recently that I'll pick up a new series, say Marcella, on Netflix and I'll be engrossed while watching it the first session of maybe 3 or 4 episodes. Then subsequently I'll be much less motivated to pick it back up again. My list of series started but then dropped has become really long at this point. Why am I having difficulty maintaining interest in some fairly good productions? First, I think predictability and cross-meta writing have become legion at this point. It's almost like I don't have to finish up because the first session gave me like 60% of the overall story and the last 40% has become very predictable. Picking up the next series is more likely to give me satisfaction for my viewing time as opposed to continuing with earlier ones. This suggests to me that the market is over-saturated at this point and the collective writer base are becoming challenged in terms of coming up with sustainable content. A fresh idea creates a lot of opportunity however there are only so many ways you can go with it after you start. Odds are pretty good you are verging on another properties territory after a few episodes and at that point the attraction rate goes down. Another factor is Netflix policy of cancelling shows not based on viewer interest level but on what types of viewers the show is drawing to the platform. Some very good shows, like Marco Polo, had very short runs because they weren't attracting the demographic that Netflix had targeted with the production. Marco Polo did very well in terms of overall viewers but it was not attracting the 29-39 demographic, despite having a young star in the primary role. So Netflix killed it. Over time as they have done this with several series I found interesting they have changed my commitment level to anything they put out. I'm still entertained but I have to be absolutely overawed by a series to really follow it these days. I'm aware now that my interest in their shows may actually not count for much in the big picture and I'm unlikely to commit to watching something unless it really knocks my socks off. Just curious how people find themselves relating to streaming content as we enter the 3rd year of the pandemic. I'd have thought my interest would be peaking now and instead it is waning.
It’s not just Netflix, I’ve found all of the streaming services cancel shows very quickly for a wide variety of reasons. Amazon canceled Counterpart because they didn’t hit a “diverse” demographic. That show was awesome. I know within about three episodes if I’m going to keep watching a show or not. Very rarely do I get much deeper if I’m not going to keep going.
Some shows keep my interest for seasons, new and old. However there are so many shows right now where the net effect of the writing is cliff-hanger after cliff-hanger and I think I have maxed my threshold for cliff-hangers at this point. I've noticed that if a show keeps it's episodes inclusive and ties up the story at the end of each episode I am much more likely to keep watching or pick it up again. The shows that end each episode on a cliff-hanger have become too much trouble to watch, particularly if the cliff-hanger is always resolved in favor of the characters on the show. The Walking Dead kept my attention the way it did because you never knew who was going to be dead at the end of a cliff-hanger.
they kept green lighting "Stranger Things" though... there was nothing memorable about it. Generic X-files, generic ET
I thought the X-files was awesome and Stranger Things has won 7 Emmys so far. It may not be your thing but it's a good show.
Stranger Things is the type of show that was awesome for the first season, still entertaining for the second season and now they’re just exploiting it’s popularity to suck as much money out of the franchise by continuing on with seasons three and four and possibly beyond. Not sure why you didn’t like the first season or two though. It was pretty good.
It had D&D in it and it was successful. That had to blow all the algorithms. Also the 80's vibe was strong in it so it had a strong mixed audience from teens to codgers.
I liked season 3. They expanded the D&D vibe to include Steven King level horror. I hope season 4 is not all about the Russkies. Will make it a much worse show if so.
With all the different streaming services we have, I sometimes forget what series I started. I'm getting old.
Meh. Stranger Things is the Applebees of TV shows. Capital Grille puts out an Au Poivre Steak dinner so Applebees puts out a shittier version "Steak with black peppercorn sauce", inspired by Capital Grille so they know people will see it and buy it. sometimes you get a decent meal at Applebees but most of the time you aren't really paying any attention to it. (just like Stranger Things) And no one would ever say "yo- that meal last night at Applebees was incredible" .. just like no one would say "yo that episode of Stranger Things was incredible" The real thing is always better than the imitation knock offs, in my opinion anyway
X files is my all time favorite show. I loved stranger things due to its connection to montauk. But also agree with Vilma. 1 and 2 were great, 3 was way over done .
Lots of people thought Stranger Things was great. Not sure who you’re talking to, but it’s not the Applebees of shows by any stretch.
What always gets me is that I'll see commercials that say things like season 6 of such and such begins on . . . Season 6?! And I never even heard of it! Here's something I don't get at all. Why do competing streaming services advertise and push each other's product? It's weird. A parent company thing in some instances I'm sure, but it's kind of bizarre. Also, so many services have the same shows when it comes to standards, so there's a lot of overlap.
Applebee's, huh? Applebee's! Haha, of all the references in the world you had to pick that one. I'm waiting for someone to challenge you to a fight in an Applebee's parking lot in NJ. ; ) I never really cared for the show, btw. First season was OK, but devolved into complete stupidity so I stopped watching after the 2nd season.
One thing about Netflix shows, they have a monopoly on god awful music that they play to drive a particular emotion or feeling during a scene. You can make a drinking game out of it. That alone writes off about 90 percent of their shows for me.
