3 ms·

There is a danger to this. While Netflix is producing more and more shows, I find them to be more and more "samey". It's as if their algorithm decided there are

There is a danger to this. While Netflix is producing more and more shows, I find them to be more and more "samey". It's as if their algorithm decided there are only X number of categories for shows and they're trying to make everything the most SOMETHING of its category. Good shows have that (call it originality), but great shows also have nuance, and I can't recall the last Netflix show I've seen that had anything resembling that.

always_good 8y ago
Well, sounds like movies and TV in general, though.
2bitencryption 8y ago
That one netflix show, Ozark, with Jason Bateman, is just like that. "Samey". It's like the show was written by a robot trained on Breaking Bad and The Wire. It has all the building blocks of a hit show, but it totally lacks any personality or inspiration. Don't get me wrong, Bateman's performance is just great, but the material is so blah. You can tell the show thinks it's much smarter than it really is. I think we'll start seeing more of those shows on Netflix. People binge the hell out of Breaking Bad, so we got Ozark. I'm sure we'll eventually see their own "The Office", because people binge the hell out of that, too.
natecavanaugh 8y ago
I agree with you as I've binged many a TV show, but Netflix's algorithm doesn't feel right, just yet, though from the article, it seems like overall the data isn't the driver, just a guide, and it definitely helps put me on the right direction to look. They seem to be focusing on the personal side of viewing, instead of just broad assumptions. And they even seem to be aware of the fact that we're often different personas depending on the day of the week or time of day (example: I've been watching the Andy Griffith Show at night to wind down for bed, and after a certain time at night, my Continue Watching list places Andy Griffith first ahead of the last TV show I watched), so while I think it could lead to a lot of tropes and send ups of the same basic show, at least according to the article and my own anecdota, they do seem to culturally realize that the data should lead to better personal viewing preferences.

always_good 8y ago

Well, sounds like movies and TV in general, though.

2bitencryption 8y ago

That one netflix show, Ozark, with Jason Bateman, is just like that. "Samey". It's like the show was written by a robot trained on Breaking Bad and The Wire. It has all the building blocks of a hit show, but it totally lacks any personality or inspiration. Don't get me wrong, Bateman's performance is just great, but the material is so blah. You can tell the show thinks it's much smarter than it really is. I think we'll start seeing more of those shows on Netflix. People binge the hell out of Breaking Bad, so we got Ozark. I'm sure we'll eventually see their own "The Office", because people binge the hell out of that, too.

natecavanaugh 8y ago

I agree with you as I've binged many a TV show, but Netflix's algorithm doesn't feel right, just yet, though from the article, it seems like overall the data isn't the driver, just a guide, and it definitely helps put me on the right direction to look. They seem to be focusing on the personal side of viewing, instead of just broad assumptions. And they even seem to be aware of the fact that we're often different personas depending on the day of the week or time of day (example: I've been watching the Andy Griffith Show at night to wind down for bed, and after a certain time at night, my Continue Watching list places Andy Griffith first ahead of the last TV show I watched), so while I think it could lead to a lot of tropes and send ups of the same basic show, at least according to the article and my own anecdota, they do seem to culturally realize that the data should lead to better personal viewing preferences.