"And one of the things that kind of got neglected was, for lack of a better word, broadcast-style shows… so more than seven or eight episodes – in the case of The Pitt, 15 episodes – and really the ability to return on an annual basis, which is somewhat of a lost art.
I mean obviously broadcast TV still does this, but glad to see streaming services finally picking up on it.
Some series are still best told in 8ish episodes, but some need more room, so hopefully we see more of this.
And hopefully, we see the exact right amount of this. I would love to rewatch Lost, but no way am I watching 25 episode seasons.
You can skip most of season 2. Seasons 4 through 6 had 15, 9, and 10 episodes, respectively.
Exactly. The balance is key. But it is a difficult problem.
Especially because I assume certain details are decided before they are written. The Pitt could be 8 episodes, or it could be 25 episodes. The story they are telling is flexible.
But that isn’t true for every show.
I also miss the low stakes episode which fleshes out characters and the bottle episode (when well written). You can keep the clip show though ( with the exception of “☝️Supreme Commander” (SG1), but I usually skip to the end for that bit).
Thor, his finger extended
I even like the musical episodes.
Generally no for me, The Magicians ? Hell yes ! Four. Octave. Range. Bitch.
But variety is good.
There’s nothing I hate more than a bottle episode.
I can’t watch them, they feel like a total waste of time.
A well-written, directed, acted, etc and so on “bottle” episode; you will not recognize as a “bottle”. Can I name any episode, in any show/series that fits this? Nope, but I know it’s happened, and I’ve been entertained and more. It’s one of those “intangible/ineffable” things.
I want a show that’s just bottle episodes. Just all filler.
This is a bad idea, but I want it!
Just make a TV series of adaptions of Pinter plays.
They’re basically all bottles, with a heavy sense of meance and "off"ness.
Oh, and Inside No. 9, which finished last year is all self contained stories with tight cast in often a single set. And it is one of the best pieces of TV ever.
