{"id":79943,"date":"2024-05-31T16:07:17","date_gmt":"2024-05-31T16:07:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/31\/the-age-of-the-renewed-limited-series-is-network-execs-fear-of-commitment-bad-for-tv\/"},"modified":"2024-05-31T16:07:17","modified_gmt":"2024-05-31T16:07:17","slug":"the-age-of-the-renewed-limited-series-is-network-execs-fear-of-commitment-bad-for-tv","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/neclink.com\/index.php\/2024\/05\/31\/the-age-of-the-renewed-limited-series-is-network-execs-fear-of-commitment-bad-for-tv\/","title":{"rendered":"The Age of the Renewed Limited Series: Is Network Execs’ Fear of Commitment Bad For TV?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\n\tThe concept of the limited series swept the TV world recently, and it felt like it happened overnight.<\/p>\n


\n\tIt is not an entirely new idea, as miniseries have existed since the time of radio dramas.<\/p>\n


\n\tHowever, people lost interest in them at some point, and the era seemed to come to an end.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Lead<\/div>\n

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\n\tSo much so that in 1991, the Emmy Awards<\/a> merged Outstanding Miniseries with Outstanding TV Movie.<\/p>\n


\n\tAfter numerous name changes to the category, the concept suddenly resurged — the limited series was born.<\/p>\n


\n\tWith the popularity of American Horror Story<\/a>, in 2015 they changed the category to Outstanding Limited Series.<\/p>\n


\n\tTV Shows Should Make Stars, Not Depend On Them<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n


\n\tBut now, the idea carries almost no weight due to networks and streamers renewing the popular limited series and turning them into plain old series.<\/p>\n


\n\tHBO<\/a> is one of the biggest offenders of this, literally winning awards in the limited series category and then renewing the show that won.<\/p>\n


\n\tAnd while there is some good in this practice, there is more evil below the surface.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"The<\/div>\n

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\n\tWhen you see a ‘limited series,’ you expect one season and, at most, around ten episodes.<\/p>\n


\n\tHowever, audiences are puzzled when that announcement for a second season comes.<\/p>\n


\n\tWhy would they do that? Well, there are a couple of different speculative reasons.<\/p>\n


\n\tThe Reasoning Behind the Renewal<\/h4>\n


\n\tOne reason is that execs are scared that the show will be canceled<\/a>.<\/p>\n


\n\tReleasing it this way allows them to see how popular it is.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Sydney<\/div>\n

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\n\tIf it becomes a hit, they can make more seasons. If not, they don’t have to admit failure due to cancellation.<\/p>\n


\n\tAlong that same logic, it is a way to deal with viewers being unhappy when a show has a fan base but is still canceled.<\/p>\n


\n\tShogun and the Return of the Prestige Limited Series: Can FX Take Us Back to the Days of Roots and Lonesome Dove?<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n


\n\tNo one is disappointed when the show has no second season when it wasn’t expected in the first place.<\/p>\n


\n\tThat changes entirely when there is an expectation for a sophomore run.<\/p>\n


\n\tTwo, they are purposely duping viewers, hoping you will return for more despite the story being finite from the start.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Jharrel<\/div>\n

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\n\tIt’s exciting. Viewers tune in to see what is next. How will this plot be revived after it already came to a conclusion?<\/p>\n


\n\tThird, they do it so they could submit for awards in the Limited Series category instead of the more crowded fields.<\/p>\n


\n\tIt’s a Trick That Could Only Work In the Era of Binge-Watching<\/h4>\n


\n\tThis revolution has a lot going on. Since binge-watching has become all the rave, it makes sense since they can be finished in a night or two.<\/p>\n


\n\tBut what about long-running content?<\/p>\n


\n\tConsidering the success of long-running shows like Grey’s Anatomy<\/a>, SVU, and 9-1-1<\/a>, people still binge-watch those entire series.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Julia<\/div>\n

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\n\tAlso, what does it say about the industry in general?<\/p>\n


\n\tWell, we will get into all of it!<\/p>\n


\n\tWhen Going Off the Rails Makes Excellent TV<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n


\n\tThe Upside of Limited Series<\/h4>\n


\n\tWith a limited series, it can be easier to recruit the big names.<\/p>\n


\n\tFor example, Zoe Saldana in From Scratch, Steve Carrell in The Patient, Emma Stone and Jonah Hill in Maniac, and Kaley Cuoco in The Flight Attendant<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Dean<\/div>\n

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\n\tThen there’s the majority of actors on any White Lotus season, and, of course, Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey in True Detective<\/a>.<\/p>\n


\n\tThe list could go on. And yes, some the shows mentioned are not limited but were meant to be or considered so and later morphed into anthology series.<\/p>\n


\n\tGenerally, big-name actors are more willing to accept a role that does not require a long commitment period.<\/p>\n


\n\tIt’s not only actors, either. Networks and streamers are more likely to commit because they already know what they are getting into.<\/p>\n


\n\tWe also don’t have to deal with shows that go on for too long and suffer creatively.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Kaley<\/div>\n

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\n\tThey allow for an entire story arch without the pressure to make it go on for multiple seasons.<\/p>\n


\n\tHowever, some forget that point because we have seen some horrible<\/em> sophomore seasons<\/a>. More on that later.<\/p>\n


\n\tWhy We Need More Mockumentary-Style Shows Like The Office & Modern Family<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n


\n\tFans have become weary of falling in love with a show and seeing it canceled.<\/p>\n


\n\tLimited series ensure that neither fan nor platforms are wasting their time.<\/p>\n


\n\tThe official meaning of a limited series is that it includes shows with different stories each season, like American Horror Story<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Murray<\/div>\n

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\n\tThe concept allows networks and writers to push the script and dip their toes in before jumping in, cannonball-style.<\/p>\n


\n\tMore outlandish narratives can be explored without fear of ruins.<\/p>\n


\n\tPlus, they tend to be filmed more like movies, which brings in a more aesthetically pleasing experience.<\/p>\n


\n\tAlso, there are stories meant just to be limited series, like Inventing Anna, Griselda, and The Dropout. Some stories are short.<\/p>\n


\n\tAmazing content like Devil in Ohio, The Haunting of Hill House<\/a>, The Watcher, Maid, Painkiller, and any Harland Coben adaptation.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Rosie<\/div>\n

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\n\tThen there is The Flight Attendant, Big Little Lies, The White Lotus<\/a>, The Queen Gambit, When They See Us, and From Scratch.<\/p>\n


\n\tHowever, with popularity comes the risk of gold turning to dust.<\/p>\n


\n\t10 Shows to Watch if You Loved Griselda<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n


\n\tThe Negatives That Come From Limited Series<\/h4>\n


\n\tWhen shows that were conceptualized as limited series are renewed due to popularity, it can make for some of the worst second seasons made.<\/p>\n


\n\tBig Little Lies Season 2 was a complete flop compared to the first, even with the addition of Meryl Streep.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Sof\u00eda<\/div>\n

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\n\tThe Flight Attendant’s sophomore season also paled in comparison, and the idea was even shocking to fans of the hit.<\/p>\n


\n\tThe White Lotus is an exception, although it is more like American Horror Story, where there are fresh characters and plots each season.\u00a0<\/p>\n


\n\tAnd then there’s 13 Reasons Why<\/a>, a controversial series that, without a doubt, should’ve been one-season show.<\/p>\n


\n\tNow The Watcher has been renewed for a second season<\/a> in 2022. As a fan, it’s worrying development because the story was already told.<\/p>\n


\n\tThose are not the only examples either.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Asante<\/div>\n

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\n\tAnother downsider of limited series is that they tend to siphon funds, audiences, and talent from the film industry.<\/p>\n


\n\tNot to mention, they are taking movies and remaking them into dreadful adaptations.<\/p>\n


\n\tTake One Day, for example. It couldn’t compete with the 2011 film starring Anne Hathaway, which was based on David Nicholls’ book of the same name.<\/p>\n


\n\tClassic TV Is the Perfect Binge Watch For So Many Reasons<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n


\n\tIt is a way to lure film stars into the TV world, taking their time away from making films.<\/p>\n


\n\tI mean, Anne Hathaway was in the limited series We Crashed. I never thought that day would come, but here we are.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Jennifer<\/div>\n

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\n\tThe thought of a 20-season TV show or a four-hour movie has become less exhausting than the oversaturated world of limited series.<\/p>\n


\n\tLimited series have officially become tiresome, and Netflix<\/a> making this an industry standard is borderline repulsive.<\/p>\n


\n\tThis is the TV world. It was never meant to provide immediate closure.<\/p>\n


\n\tIt was built to cultivate attachment, character growth, and plot depth, to form a routine, a pattern, an obsession.<\/p>\n


\n\tWhat does this say about the industry? A lot.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Alexandra<\/div>\n

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\n\tThere are tremendous attributes that separate TV from even franchise film giants — commitment and the ability to live in a different world.<\/p>\n


\n\tScared of commitment? It sounds like a more profound issue. After all, that’s showbiz, baby!<\/p>\n


\n\tThe Ethics of True Crime: Are Viewers Complicit In an Exploitative Enterprise?<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n


\n\tSure, there are cases where a limited series construct is needed.<\/p>\n


\n\tAny crime-related retelling of a true story <\/a>should be done that way.<\/p>\n


\n\tThe point of those is to show how riveting past events happened that we already know the ending to. The model was not meant to conclude in a definitive way.<\/p>\n

\n\t<\/p>\n
\"Connie<\/div>\n

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\n\tBut this over-infiltrated sector is too much, and the hope is that it will just be a fad and that the concept will self-implode from overcrowding.<\/p>\n


\n\tAlso, isn’t it a tad frustrating when the realization hits that you have been deceived and that limited series isn’t even limited? Not a great feeling.<\/p>\n


\n\tYes, astounding miniseries have been released, but beyond that and avoiding that fear of commitment, what are the long-lasting pros?<\/p>\n


\n\tIn the comments below, let us know your opinion on limited series, whether they are here to last, and what it means for the future of TV!<\/p>\n