Watch week after week or all at once?

[Joined: Jan 1st, 1970 Topics: 1 Posts: 37 View Predictions]

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[Tyler Joined: Jan 9th, 2018 Topics: 9 Posts: 1438 View Predictions]

#1203554601

I seriously think the binge model, regardless of the way it has redefined television consumption, is Netflix’s biggest obstacle in winning a series race. Compare GOT and Stranger Things’s last seasons. Yes, GOT is obviously bigger and it was the final season, but still, the once a week method kept that conversation going for months, Stranger Things was out of steam by week 3. The same can almost be said for The Crown too. The reason Succession was the buzziest show of the fall was because week by week fans of the show were reporting back with “holy shit that episode” then a week later “holy shit THAT episode” and so forth.

I know Maisel and Fleabag have won series awards with the binge model, but neither of those (for their winning seasons) were phenomenons upon drop, there was a word of mouth and sense of discovery over the months that kept them going, which isn’t really the case for any of Netflix major players (either because of names attached or already proven clout). I mean regardless of bad reviews, Space Force should’ve stayed in the conversation longer.

Point being, I think binge vs. week to week has an affect on the way it sticks in the memory as well. If you watched week to week over months, you may keep it in your memory for months to come, where as I think if you binge you binge, then you obsess over articles/cast interviews/ analysis for about four days, and then you move on. If anything is capable of breaking this pattern, it is Ozark, but nonetheless, do the days of the Ozark binge and it ruling the Netflix top 10 not feel like months ago?

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[Dan Backslide Joined: Apr 24th, 2016 Topics: 45 Posts: 3250 View Predictions]

#1203554621

For me, releasing all at once is often too overwhelming to stay on track finishing them all.

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[forwardswill Joined: Apr 9th, 2013 Topics: 26 Posts: 3858 View Predictions]

#1203554629

I actually quite like the Hulu model of 3 episodes first and then weekly. Allows you to get properly invested (and figure out whether you actually like the show) before having the thrill of waiting each week to find out what happens next.

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[Vice Wicked Joined: May 20th, 2013 Topics: 2 Posts: 153 View Predictions]

#1203554659

It depends on the series really. If it’s something like say Mad Men or The Leftovers where you need to savor every shot, writing, direction, performances, and every aspect of making it that all comes together to produce a beautiful piece of television, then the pleasure comes by watching it week by week. If it’s something like Game of Thrones or House of Cards where it’s really plot-driven then I would prefer to watch it all at once. That’s how I watched these series save for the fourth season of GoT. And to be perfectly honest, we are blessed to have watched Mad Men week after week since Matthew Weiner has written it that way and binge-watching TV has curtailed that rights today. Even though, I actually prefer watching The Crown week after week even if all its episodes are out.

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