What TV/Streaming Shows Are Better Binged? Which Are Better Weekly?

[Reynard]

Upon catching up to A Knight of Seven kingdom with Episode 5, I am angry at myself for not waiting until all the episodes were out. This show is definitely better as a binge. it feels like a long movie, rather than a series.

This got me wondering what shows people felt were better binged versus weekly watch?
For Example, Lost was a great weekly show because there was a constant conversation around it. That conversation would have been both muddled and muted had the show dropped a season at a time.

So, what do you think? What shows are better in a whole drop, versus better episode by episode? Why?

 

[jian]

Pretty much all Korean dramas are better as a binge. That’s a massive generalisation but most of the ones on Netflix (for instance) are written with complex plots with a lot of cliffhangers, and so benefit from being watched close together rather than once a week while you try to remember who that guy was and why he’s doing this now.

More sedate shows like Ted Lasso are probably better watched regularly.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Fallout was better by far when it was dropped as a season rather than released episode by episode, as S2 ably illustrated.

It was genuinely less fun to watch when you had to wait a week between episodes. It didn't seem to have been written/shot as if it was anticipating a wait either.

In general I think any show with:

A) Fewer than like, 10 episodes.

B) A relatively complex continuing plot, especially if flashbacks/flashforwards, fake-outs, multiple characters in different locations with different goals, and the like are involved.

C) A relatively high energy level (so like, most thrillers or cop shows, but not say slow-paced character-driven work like Mad Men).

Is better off being dropped as a block for "binge-ing"

That conversation would have been both muddled and muted had the show dropped a season at a time.

Sure, but that was then, and this is now, and TV is balkanized for that to be a thing anymore with any show apart from like maybe absolute #1 smash hits. Even those it usually doesn't apply to. I can't think of any show since the pandemic which "everyone was talking about". Can you?

Sometimes there's one where you'll get a few episodes worth of discussion, but rarely more than that. A 20+ episode weekly show now? People just wouldn't keep up. They barely keep up when it's 6-8 episodes.

I'd say easily 90% of shows which drop as weekly episodes now are just effectively trying to "make fetch happen".

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Weekly: The thing they don't make any more - shows where each episode is a self contained story, and there are 20+ episodes per season. And continuous soap operas.

 

[aco175]

I'm not sure the last show that we sat around each week and talked about. I think most should be whole season drops.

We are watching The Pitt now and the first season we binged and this season is not as good since trying to remember how the person sitting in the lobby is now important is too much over from remembering two hours ago. I'm sitting on 7 Kingdoms now until all the episodes are out. The Night Agent comes out with season 3 in the next few days and I'll binge it over waiting each week.

 

[payn]

I could list out shows but I think it’s easier to point out networks that work generally one way or the other.

Best weekly release is generally HBO. I think this was bore out in their long tradition of premium television. They have the brand, the creative freedom, seems generally the best writers desire to work there.

The full drop has become Netflix method generally (though they have been playing the half season drop game lately). The best track record with writing in a style that is suited to binge watching. Not just a long movie but a long movie you want to finish.

Then, Amazon which is the worst of the weekly. Typically Amazon pays a production company for the rights of a season(s) for a show. When it hits they take it in house. This is when the Amazon template is applied. Start with a really good opening arc, spin wheels for weeks, try and wrap up too many lines and reset fir the next season in one final episode. Too many shoes to count can demonstrate this.

I’d guess Amazon is based more on a format around advertising, podcast, keeping subs up then creating quality content. Having a general store and shipping business allows this sort of secondary nature to happen.

I’d rate Apple and/or Disney but don’t have enough experience with their products.

The TL: DR is both formats can be excellent if the writing is executed well and with intent first and foremost to tell a great story and not sell a simple product service.

 

[Parmandur]

All TV sho s are better binged. Weekly viewing is barbaric savagery that is best left on the trash heap of history.

 

[Umbran]

I only binge-watch when my wife is away and I am using the time to watch stuff she isn't interested in.

I generally find binging means I don't appreciate each episode for what it is as much.

 

[payn]

All TV sho s are better binged. Weekly viewing is barbaric savagery that is best left on the trash heap of history.

I have the same opinion even though im not quite so scortched earth with it. Though, yeah I think folks think about the long episodic format with rose colored glasses. I have tried to revisit some shows of yesteryear and the format isnt a strength at all. I can count on one hand the number of 24 weekly episodic shows that can compete with the serial age of the last 25 years.

I did try Person of Interest and bombed out of it. To be fair to episodic fans, ive never really been all that enthralled with the format. Though, POI seemed to me to be the last prime time show of the format. I was told it was really really good and to try again. It really really wasnt. The 20+ episode format specifically made it a weak show.

I only binge-watch when my wife is away and I am using the time to watch stuff she isn't interested in.

I generally find binging means I don't appreciate each episode for what it is as much.

I think a well written and executed binge show is like folks say, "a really long movie." The limited series is probably the best format for it.

 

[Umbran]

I think a well written and executed binge show is like folks say, "a really long movie." The limited series is probably the best format for it.

To each their own I find that is the TV media equivalent to the run-on sentence with no pause to consider or breath or process the information that is given to you so that the possible consequences in terms of plot and character emotional development are left behind in the needlessly relentless need to move forward that seems more an artifact of the modern streaming service business model than anything to do with making good fiction which leads to works that are effectively more about inducing the audience to turn the metaphorical page than actually absorb the work