Why Gen Z is Rediscovering 90s and Early 2000s Shows Amidst Low-Quality Writing and Shorter Series Today
As a millennial, let me preface this by saying, “You’re doing great, sweetie.”
Lately, we’ve seen an uptick in Gen Z sparking conversations surrounding the low-quality writing and shorter series episodes in TV shows today. Examples include “Insecure”—where this conversation really began—to “Stranger Things” and “Euphoria,” the two shows that simply blew the lid wide open on this topic of concern. So what is it? Why are shows shorter, canceled, or just low quality overall? The answer is simple: streaming.
Unlike traditional cable, which could afford to keep shows running longer for years at a time, streaming seems to be running into one common issue: money. In the early 2000s, actors and actresses could expect smaller payments up front with royalties on the backend. Now, since royalties are pretty much nonexistent in the streaming world, larger payments are demanded up front, and these payments only increase each season.
For example, if an actress starts season one earning $100 per episode and the show is a hit, she will now expect a significant increase to return for subsequent seasons. By season 3 or 4, this actress could be earning well over $100,000 per season. This is a problem for streaming platforms because they do not have ad support. Ads are the backbone of cable TV and now streaming. Ad revenue means platforms can successfully pay their talent more for longer seasons, but the customers get the short end of the stick because they feel lied to and duped.
If more people continue to opt for ad-free streaming, the platforms are going to continue to raise prices in hopes of getting more people on the ad-supported plan. Ad support means contracts with advertisers that span upwards of 5-10 years of guaranteed revenue. When you see ads, the companies pay more, and thus you’ll get longer shows with better-quality writing. But the problem is people are now experiencing ad fatigue, so they’re more likely to cough up the extra money for no ads.
Now you may be wondering, “Well, Riley, now that I’m paying more for no ads, why am I still seeing all of these low-quality shows?” The truth is the company has to keep in mind that they can be here today and gone tomorrow—your dollars as a viewer are not guaranteed income. Depending on their goals at the time, they can take your money and either apply it to new shows for the platform, UI, UX, or just toss it into reserves. Each quarter these companies have to decide on a goal.
If the goal is to get more users to downgrade to their ad tier to appeal to advertisers, you’ll notice changes on the platform that tell you, the viewer, that prices for other plans will increase. On the flip side, if their plan is to produce more content to continue having the largest library of content, they may tell users that in order for them to have the best viewing experience, they must pay more to access 4K streaming and multiple screens. All in all, there’s always a plan, and you, the consumer, will shift where they need you to go to keep their investors happy.
Shows like Grey’s Anatomy and Desperate Housewives saw much success during their heyday because people were ready and willing to sit and pay attention. These shows aired once a week, giving viewers time to appreciate each episode, discuss it with friends and family, and bond over it. During commercial breaks, people could get things done around the house, take a bathroom break, or grab a snack.
But what’s the driving force behind this? If our attention spans have indeed shortened, why are Gen Z’ers interested in revisiting 45-minute shows with 23-episode seasons and 10-12 seasons long? Burnout. Have you ever had so much to do that you resorted to doing nothing at all? There’s too much going on—going to the gym, doing your skincare, doing your hair, binge-watching your favorite show, catching up on your favorite podcast, watching ads, going to work, scrolling TikTok for hot takes—and it’s causing cognitive overload.
Many people are ready to slow down, and part of taking things slow is predictability and reliability, which is what these older shows offer. They are reliable; you know you’re going to get a full 15 seasons' worth of quality episodes and storytelling without fearing cancellation mid-story. These shows are also predictable because you know who the main characters are and can expect to see them repeatedly when you tune in for a new season.
IT'S ALL AN ILLUSION
Have you ever been on your phone scrolling for hours and suddenly felt lightheaded or nauseous? This is called cybersickness, akin to motion sickness, but it happens while using electronic screens instead of actual movement. You’ll also notice a decrease in productivity because when you’re on social media all day consuming the lives of others, you really don’t have time for yourself or to make yourself a priority. We all need to slow down and realize what’s happening to us. This type of overexposure, FOMO, multi-tasking, and binge-watching culture is far more dangerous to our health than the chemicals they put in our food—one of which we can control.
Instead of subscribing to a platform like Netflix, consider opting for a platform like Apple TV. Here’s why: Netflix gives you an illusion of choice. It has always been their marketing model—to pack the platform with content so that consumers feel like they’re getting a deal. But the truth is, there are only a handful of quality movies and shows on Netflix, which is comparable to the number of good shows and movies available on platforms like HBO Max and Apple TV.
Quality over quantity will help manage burnout in entertainment consumption. Additionally, it's cheaper, allowing you to spend more time doing what you love while you wait for your show to return. If platforms don’t feel pressured to churn out new shows every 2-3 months, they can invest in better writers and productions. It all starts with you, the consumer.
What we’re seeing now is an increase in demand for entertainment since COVID, coupled with a decrease in disposable income for the average consumer. People want more for less, and the "less" still needs to be of good quality. In other words, people don’t mind paying $23 per month for ad-free streaming, but that price should ideally get them a plethora of great shows, high production values, longer episodes, and extended seasons. However, we all know that’s just not feasible.
So, what’s the solution? Well, everyone needs to go outside and touch grass. We need more people in the workforce—particularly in trades and home health care. Jobs that haven’t been romanticized by content creators and influencers. Blue-collar workers are needed, as are lawyers, doctors, and most importantly, people to enlist in the military. Disconnect so you can slow down, and with the rise of older shows regaining popularity, we see mindful consumption making a steady comeback.
by Riley Cook
