all things fiction

Are 6-10 episode series the ideal visual storytelling device?

There's ample time to build character, have multiple plot twists, and have mini arcs within episodes.

I've more or less stopped watching new movies, except on airplanes. There's only so much you can do in 90 mins. I often find myself saying, "That would've been so much better as a series."

There is nothing more powerful in this world than words.

Hadn't thought of it that way. Makes total sense. Series run into trouble when they start going multiple seasons for no reason other than to make money. The story gets to convoluted and you end up needing filler.

Either we need to go back to the 4-hour movie epic format or start producing 4-part miniseries. 😂

There has also been a big shift in the way series are constructed. Pre-streaming, they were built for TV with ads and episodes once per week (at least in North America... the UK seemed to master the miniseries early). Fargo, breaking bad and the like fit that mold. The scarcity factor made filler acceptable, I think.

The Blacklist is a great example. So repetitive when you watch multiple episodes per day/week. Could've wrapped that show up in 2-3 seasons.

With streaming and binge watching, a good series has to feel more like a long movie.