I don't think "Why doesn't Netflix pick a successful show?" quite captures what I'm getting at. If you want to boil it down to a simple question like that, a be

I don't think "Why doesn't Netflix pick a successful show?" quite captures what I'm getting at. If you want to boil it down to a simple question like that, a better one would be: "Given that network-making shows are almost invariably quirky series with clear hooks, why would Netflix choose to base its brand on a more reserved series without a clear hook?" Yes, splashy shows sometimes bomb and more traditional series do often work. But my observation has been that shows that put networks on the map are almost always in the former category. I can't think of any network in the past three decades that has established itself without any splashy "hook" shows. House of Cards is not that kind of show; it presents itself in a much more subtle way than that. So I find it curious that Netflix, in trying to attract attention, would bet the farm on something that is possibly quite good but not at all flashy.