There is something that streaming platforms have that makes them one of the most popular and most used entertainment platforms across the world, and that thing is convenience. By paying for a subscription to their services, you can get access to a massive catalog of movies and TV shows that you can watch from the comfort of your own home at your own pace and whenever you wish. Thanks to this, big streaming platforms like “Netflix” have become media giants that can afford to put hundreds of millions into the production of new shows.
These shows are typically marked by short seasons with long episodes, similar to the style of the TV show “Game of Thrones”. However, there has been a trend in newer releases that, while convenient for fans, has also changed the atmosphere around new seasons being released. That change is that now, entire seasons are released all at once instead of gradually.
It was common practice for shows to emulate the release schedules of more classical TV shows, releasing episodes weekly so that the viewer could grow to anticipate and look forward to the next episode being released. These weekly releases gave viewers time to fully process each episode, appreciate each scene in it, and theorize what could be next for the story.
With the new trend of releasing everything all at once, that anticipation is lost. Now, instead of reflecting on what you have just watched and letting it settle naturally, you have the option to watch the next episode immediately. This can lead to episodes blending together and encouraging viewers to binge-watch, so they do not get spoiled about already released episodes.
Spoilers could be the biggest downside of releasing all of the episodes at once. I hate spoilers; stories are meant to unfold in a certain way so that you can get the best experience with the narrative. Having parts of the story spoiled for you can take you out of the experience and make the story feel shallow. When a season is released all at once, it can lead to people who have less time to spend on watching shows falling behind and becoming victims of online spoilers that will inevitably flood their social media feeds.
Overall, I think releasing episodes weekly is a better experience for both viewers and producers.
