I want to know what happened to good TV shows that had eight-plus seasons with 45-minute episodes.
Wouldn’t it be great if you didn’t have to wait two years to see your favorite characters and stories again?
I love shows like Gilmore Girls, One Tree Hill, The O.C., Gossip Girl, Friends, and Supernatural, which had milennials and early-age Gen Z in a chokehold because of the dramatic, fast-paced cultural relevance.
Shows from the “Y2K” era were built for broadcast networks like CW, FOX, and WB. They were perfect to fill 24 hours of constant prime-time from September to May.
People waited every week for a new episode of “their show.” It gave everyone something to look forward to without making them wait for years.
These series featured extensive character development, complex romantic entanglements, comedic filler episodes, and realistic aesthetics that built entire fandoms.
And what do we have now?
A “cult of eight episodes every other year,” a cycle that dominates the screen whether we like it or not.
We end up waiting forever for a show that was clearly shot like a movie sequence but chopped into episodes. It’s a letdown.
Most of the time, finishing a show in a day causes post-series depression (PSD) by abruptly losing a source of comfort and entertainment, and waiting a year for a series that is over within four to eight hours is not gonna cut it.
Unfortunately, shorter seasons and higher costs are forcing streaming platforms to end shows early, driven by skyrocketing actor salaries, contract re-negotiations, and a minimal writing staff.
While one-and-done seasons are better for the creators, they can be fleeting for the audience.
Although binge access to shows is more popular, some streaming platforms, such as HBO and Disney+, are trying to bring back weekly releases to keep a show’s relevance and build anticipation again.
I am praying for this trend to make a comeback. I miss the nostalgia of a slow, detailed plot that I just can’t get enough of.
I’d love to look forward to a series like that again.
