Netflix Shows Are Suffering Because It Takes Too Long For Them To Return
Netflix Shows Are Suffering Because It Takes Too Long For Them To Return
Last week, FUBAR returned after a 25-month wait since its initial launch on Netflix, and it bombed. Hard. By our count, it has lost 80% of its
Isn't the problem with Netflix that nobody can count on a second season no matter how well the first season does? So many good shows have been cancelled after the first season because Netflix doesn't collect data correctly. And it's now a self-repeating cycle:
- everybody knows Netflix will cancel great shows
- people choose not get invested in shows
- shows don't do as well as they could
- Netflix cancels the show
- rinse, repeat
I didn't notice I was doing it too until an article popped up (Forbes wasn't the first) and it clicked: I wait for at least 2 seasons and an announcement of a third before watching a Netflix series, otherwise it's just a waste of time. Evidently, others do it too.
Even shows that do get more seasons often see their budgets slashed. It's similar to blockbuster movies that get cheap direct-to-tv or direct-to-home video sequels.
The Witcher comes to mind. I know a lot of hardcore GAMER fans had complaints about them deviating from the games, but even worse imo was the budget. The lighting, the CGI, the makeup. The acting even seems worse (maybe fewer takes, less editing budget?). The first season looked like it was trying to compete with Game of Thrones and other HBO shows. The second season was a step back, but still looked good. The 3rd season looked like a soap opera.
- The rights they got were for the books only, so it makes sense that they wouldn't adapt things from the sequel video games
- The games changed things from the books too, so they're consistent in that at least
I'm not excusing garbage, mind, but some people draw the line in odd places
It wasn't hardcore gamer fans, at least the ones I knew were hardcore book fans who hated how they destroyed some of their favorite characters and moments.
Shows need to be greenlit and funded for at least three seasons after the decision is made to film it in my opinion.
Just trying out one seasons to see if it sticks is not the way to go.
That's exactly what I do. Unless it's something I'm really excited about like black summer, I just don't start.
IMO it wouldn't be as bad if they released one episode a week across a year instead of dropping a scant 10 episode season at once for people to binge and forget
And if season two weren’t the same thing, just 28 months after anybody stopped paying attention.
Many shows would do well with a weekly release and don’t get it. Then there are other shows where the episode breaks are narratively arbitrary, so not being able to binge leaves the audience with a bad taste in their mouths. Different shows can benefit from different strategies, but the streamers mostly mismanage things.
I hate when they do that though, it feels like they do it to make it so you have to pay more months of subscription to watch the same content.
To me the issue is they need to either schedule limited series or multiple seasons up front. The two plus year lead times are just too long.
I hate getting invested in a show like Kai’s just to find out a copies weeks later they mismarketed it and now it’s gone forever.
I get that if they ran it weekly it had more time to generate buzz, but really by the time I watched the first episode they cancelled it a week later. That window is way too quick, especially because buzz is a very bursty thing to happen.
Also when watching The Last Of Us S2 I found I stopped watching when it got frustrating and forgot to come back after, whereas with a binge I’d push through.
Disney+ learned this lesson, and for the Marvel shows at least, they're going back to yearly releases. Daredevil Born Again season 2 is well into production right now and will come out again next March, for example.
I am 100% out on Netflix shows for this reason. It's been how many years since One Piece live action came out? It's been how long since the last season of Stranger Things? No one gives a shit anymore.
Most Netflix produced stuff is garbage on top of that. They have a couple quality things but most of it is completely unwatchable. I'll take less content, for higher quality content. I don't use it for constant background noise.
Same. It's just been Netflix's MO since they came into being.
They have never been able to develop a decent idea into a good one. Triple Frontier, a movie about former special forces dudes stealing from a cartel. Great idea, horrible 3rd act when they forgot how to all green beret at the same time.
Good idea, needed a few rewrites. Old Guard, 6 Underground, the list goes on and on. Movie after movie is just mid.
Apple TV+ has it figured out with Slow Horses. The last episode of the season always ends with preview scenes from the next season, which means it has (at the very least) already been filmed by the time the current season has aired.
PS: Cancelling 'The Recruit' is bullshit and why I avoid Netflix series unless they have very self contained seasons like 'Sherlock & Daughter', or have been renewed with a final season commitment. Again, Apple TV+ does well here with Silo.
The solution is to stop giving Netflix money. They greenlight new IP and tell everyone "just be glad you've got a speaking role. Here's SAG minimum." Then when the contract comes up again after season 2 for renewal they say "fuck no you're not getting a raise - we'd rather cancel the show after a cliffhanger than actually pay our talent. Btw your royalties contract isn't good for streaming revenue LOL getfuked"
This is only tangentially related, but it touches on why I barely trust new shows anymore.
I kept hearing praise for a show called Severance (not on Netflix, though) and it sounded like it was something I'd like. Still I resisted the urge to watch it. It wasn't until several fucking years later, they released a second season.
So, after the second season came out, I figured I'd give it a go. The firs season left me irritated because the season finale resolved almost nothing, left everything open. I'm pissed just knowing how betrayed I'd have felt if I had watched the show when the first season came out and then just got left hanging for years.
Then I watched the first episode of the second season, which fortunately provided some answers, and decided, fuck everybody involved with this project. I'm not getting invested because the potential for them to do another non-answer cliffhanger and just leave fans/viewers without any type of closure is just too much.
But back on topic, yes, I agree, Netflix quite often takes too long to release follow-up seasons on a lot of shows I watched and liked. I know some of it is outside of their control, but it seems to happen quite a bit to the point where I do wonder how much of it is actually out of their control.
As the other comment said, Severance is going to get truckloads of money for the foreseeable future, it's one of Apple's biggest hits. And the delay for the second season wasn't intended; it sounds like they weren't happy with much of the second half and had to go back to redo it. That being said, I won't spoil it too much but
Tap for spoiler of... tone I guess
the second season does also end on a kind of "wow, what's the fallout from this going to be" note, so if you were bothered by the season 1 ending it might hit the same nerve.
I appreciate the warning, it lets me know I made the right choice to stop watching. Perhaps, when the series is concluded and I can be confident that there's at least some resolution to be had, I'll feel more confident and return to finish watching.
your Netflix shows return?
This is not a problem unique to Netflix. It’s an issue with every streaming service that I’m aware of.
Radar Love - Golden Earing
Did you mean to post this somewhere else?
No, this song is meant to evoke the feeling of liking a Netflix show and having to wait an excruciating amount of time for the next season to come out.
I mean it's a banger but what?
nah, it is about like... how WE feel in our relationship with Netflix mannnnn
I mean one they're usually so short so as to be disappointing. Then they take a long time to return. More than anything no one knows if they're going to return.
Happy cake day !