3 ms·

I feel like streaming services and premium cable have really nailed down the long form narrative on screen. I don't really want an 8+ season show anymore. That

by duped 4y ago

I feel like streaming services and premium cable have really nailed down the long form narrative on screen. I don't really want an 8+ season show anymore. That's a recipe for dragging things out that distract from the narrative. A show that hits you with 5 minutes of story, 30 minutes of monster-of-the-week, and 5 minutes of story + a cliffhanger isn't nearly as good as a 8-10 episode season of pure narrative. If it lasts only 3 seasons it's still better, and leaves more room on the proverbial marquee for the next story.

santiagobasulto 4y ago
I think the huge masterpieces of cinema were told in only ~180 minutes (give or take). If you’re creating a more than 8 episode production you’re either: a) not good enough to condense and keep only the best, the most important pieces. b) your story is VERY unique and it does require 8 episodes. It’s highly unlikely that b) happens. For example, the Lord of the Rings only took 3 really good movies. So that leaves me with a). A bunch of the modern productions are just filling the show with low-relevance stuff just to keep people plugged at their TV. There are exceptions to this, of course. Friends was very good in 10 seasons, but it’s just a sitcom. A documentary can be longer. Again, the bulk of productions, IMHO, should be less than 5 episodes (Chernobyl for example).
Anthony-G 4y ago
Very much agree. Lately, I’ve been watching The X-Files as back in the nineties, I’d only ever seen the odd episode here and there and never saw them in order. It turns out that many of the monster-of-the-week episodes are quite superfluous and not really worth watching – though you don’t know until after you’ve watched it). Likewise, I’d be reluctant to (re)watch old Star Trek, Stargate or other shows that don’t focus on a well-developed story arc. Some of my favourite shows of recent years have been stories that get wrapped up in one season: True Detective, The Terror, Shining Girls.

by duped 4y ago

santiagobasulto 4y ago

I think the huge masterpieces of cinema were told in only ~180 minutes (give or take). If you’re creating a more than 8 episode production you’re either: a) not good enough to condense and keep only the best, the most important pieces. b) your story is VERY unique and it does require 8 episodes. It’s highly unlikely that b) happens. For example, the Lord of the Rings only took 3 really good movies. So that leaves me with a). A bunch of the modern productions are just filling the show with low-relevance stuff just to keep people plugged at their TV. There are exceptions to this, of course. Friends was very good in 10 seasons, but it’s just a sitcom. A documentary can be longer. Again, the bulk of productions, IMHO, should be less than 5 episodes (Chernobyl for example).

Anthony-G 4y ago

Very much agree. Lately, I’ve been watching The X-Files as back in the nineties, I’d only ever seen the odd episode here and there and never saw them in order. It turns out that many of the monster-of-the-week episodes are quite superfluous and not really worth watching – though you don’t know until after you’ve watched it). Likewise, I’d be reluctant to (re)watch old Star Trek, Stargate or other shows that don’t focus on a well-developed story arc. Some of my favourite shows of recent years have been stories that get wrapped up in one season: True Detective, The Terror, Shining Girls.