Turn the TV off? Nah, turn that TV on! In past years, it felt impossible to find a new show to watch, and if there were one, it would be limited to one season with only 10 episodes. But recently, every time I turn on my TV, my “to watch” list seems to grow larger and larger.
Before we get into the triumphant good, let’s look back on the bad. A main reason why there have been many poorly produced TV shows is because of cash-grabbing companies. Streaming services are consistently making money, not just from their streams but also in putting out show after show at ridiculous rates. The timing between when they’re advertised and when they’re finally aired is either too short or too long. This is solely because they don’t want to risk any chances of losing money from the failure of half of those shows.
So, can we trust that good quality television is back now? Well, in the entirety of quarantine, from 2020-2023, we’ve seen an improvement in popular shows airing at this time. Streaming was at an all-time high since we had to stay home, and those companies took advantage of this. During this time, shows like “Stranger Things,” “Bridgerton,” “The Bear,” and many other fan favorites came out. Either you found a new hobby, or, if you were like me at the time, rewatched “New Girl” for the fifth time.
But why and even how do we know that quality TV is back? Well, we can look at fan bases for proof. Anyone familiar with Netflix knows that they like to cancel shows, usually after one season, no matter the popularity. Shows that got a lot of talk like “I am Not Ok With This” (2020) and “Lockwood & Co.” (2023) took not even a year to announce cancellation.
After cancellation announcements, fans become outraged, looking to social media to voice their argument. Although a cancellation has never been “taken back” per se, I do believe that because of the reaction it sparks, there is going to be a rise in how long a show runs. We can see this with shows like “Yellowjackets,” “The Bear,” and “Severance,” which all have a promised renewal and growing fan bases.
Not only are shows running longer, but their plots are truly interesting. Unlike some of the movies we see being released right now, TV shows are getting creative and captivating in a way that is really connecting them to audiences. We also need to give credit to the actors and actresses right now. With celebrities on the rise like Ayo Edebiri, Ella Purnell, Kit Connor, and so many others, audiences are sure to be captivated by whatever show they’re watching (I mean, just look at Sophie Nélisse in “Yellowjackets”).
All in all, I am hopeful for the future of television. With growing run times, original plots, and amazing acting, there is no doubt that I will be dedicating my summer to binge-watching.