Previously on ‘Severance’: Who can remember?
the quit page on Apple TV+ contains a variety of trailers and other promotional fare. But is there an important clip labeled “What happened in the quit season one”? No, there isn’t. Say what you want about the need, or lack thereof, of a second season Squid game: At least a three-minute summary of the first round of the deadly game can be found on the show’s Netflix homepage.
But most of the time, streaming platforms — which often spend large sums of money on these shows — don’t provide useful, high-quality, easy-to-locate up-to-date content. I avoid trailers because I don’t like spoilers. And me will shout if you say “previously” opening the first episode of the new season is enough. Are not. Maybe for a light comedy without much sequence. But most of the time, a short, tight “before” sentence isn’t appropriate, mainly because so much time has passed. If the writers and creative team had difficulty coming up with a complex, interesting, or thoughtful storyline last season, reminds me of that. Don’t just drive through the biggest turns: Tell me the story again elegantly, attractively and concisely!
We make time for these shows in the first place because we want to go on an emotional journey with their characters. What was their relationship like last season? What is going on in their minds, their hearts, their souls? Who would you want to stab/sleep with/kidnap and why? Psychological reinvestment in me all about that, not just the plot! Reminds me why I care about people Who did the plot happen to?and in doing so, help me start caring again.
This is not something that in the history of TV has ever happened automatically. It takes a lot to get audiences involved in a new series and then re-engaged for subsequent installments. I cannot say this clearly enough: Especially in an era where shows generally seem light, boring, and disposable, and in which long breaks have become the norm, “before That” 30 seconds won’t make me do that. care about about the characters, their desires, their world or the stakes again. And I want to care!
The lack of clips clearly labeled “What happened before because who can remember all that” – those clips very basic sales tool – too rarely discovered in the wild. This tends to confirm a sneaking suspicion that many of us have: that many of the programs that major corporations implement semi-haphazardly are, to the corporate mind, an afterthought. membrane. Content. Something needs to be in the background while people do other things.
still So many excellent TV shows are being madeOf course. Some things are truly unforgettable. But in general, a shorter runtime means that any given show will often have less meaningful world-building or compelling motivation. Shows with shorter seasons are ultimately driven by plot plot plot plotwith character development being pushed into the corners (if at all). These trends—favored by algorithms and some executives, unpopular with many viewers and creators—more or less ensure that people don’t invest in as many shows as they did when the Seasons are 13, 16 or 22 episodes long. I don’t think I’m alone in feeling more ambivalent about many TV shows these days—which, if they’re not canceled too soon, come back whenever they feel like it. None of this inspires loyalty.
With the additional demands on our attention, today’s viewers need to than pull back skillfully and enthusiastically. Not ignored, not taken for granted, not asked to do homework on one’s own time. So for the love of god, if your mega-corporation spends billions of dollars on a TV season, spend a few more cents to entice me back to it. Or when it comes to paying a monthly streaming fee, I can just say, “Forget it.”
