Beyond the Algorithm

Just curious: Are any television shows that you would consider worth watching currently being produced in old-fashioned US-network-sized seasons of 22-26 episodes, promoting long-running relationships between the audience and story? Or is everything being produced now in BBC-sized/streaming-sized seasons of 6-12 episodes, including not only dramas and comedies, but the kinds of cartoons that used to run on weekday afternoons?

I sometimes witness younger folks getting happily wrapped up in old shows -- from TOS to Murder She Wrote and beyond -- and find myself wondering if it's not only because they're good and of course everyone should watch and enjoy them them, but simply because there's enough there...

Just a thought. I hardly watch any new TV* anymore, I think? Likely largely because the seasons are so short and the wait between them so long. On the other hand, the best of the PBS/BBC collaborations, I still turn up for on Masterpiece every Sunday night through fall and winter, and they're still the 6-12 episodes they've always been. I have one episode of ST:SNW yet to watch before the series goes dark for me for who knows how long again (I have no interest in what looks like the Trek 90210 show they're teasing now).

I saw a thumbnail for a video, which I haven't watched but wholeheartedly agreed with the thumbnail, that said: "I'd rather have worse effects and longer seasons." The graphic was TNG Picard and STW Pike side by side.

* I do watch a lot of YouTube. It seems to be where all the fandom discussion went. Though I did discover an old-fashioned blog discussing TLOZ the other day; the authors call themselves "Zelders" (Zelda elders).

As this US Thanksgiving weekend draws to a close, I'd like to tell you, my Dreamwidth community, how very thankful I am for you. ♥

You are my fannish air and breath. You are a refuge. You are a delight. I look forward to what you share with me. I love what DW gives us, this text-driven, words-rich, open world of connections we choose.

I wish there were more of us. I wish we all had more time and spoons to play here with each other. I wish fandom still practiced certain customs that it doesn't seem to anymore.

But that's okay. I have you. And I'm truly grateful.

Happy Thanksgiving!