Fans of Netflix andThe Officewere dealt a blow this week with the news that the most-watched show on the streaming servicewill be leaving Netflix in 2021. We’ve been through drills like this before—Friendsnearly left Netflix this year, until the streaming service and Warner Bros. strucka new dealto keep the series on Netflix through 2019. But these “scares” of potentially losing Netflix’s most-watched programming highlight another major problem: with various studios launching streaming platforms of their own and taking their content off of Netflix, the streaming service lacks anything substantial to replace it. Despite the success of shows likeStranger ThingsorMindhunterorNarcos, Netflix original series are created specifically to be binged. But in creating episodes that lack conclusions in favor of cliffhangers, Netflix’s original series fail to serve the same “comfort viewing” purpose as classic sitcoms likeThe Office. And that’s a problem.
As Netflix became a go-to destination for streaming, studios began either re-negotiating the licenses for its content for higher fees (meaning Netflix now had to pay more to host, say,30 Rockon its streaming service) or pulling it off altogether. The latter was more prominent with feature films, as the dwindling DVD and Blu-ray market was being done no favors by putting those same films available to stream on a third-party service. It must be noted here, too, that if you love a show likeThe Officeenough, the physical DVDs are still available to purchase.Then you own it!
While Netflix has certainly had success with original programming, by and large the most-watched content has been older, existing TV shows that Netflix does not own. Why? Because it’s comforting. Shows likeThe Office,Parks and Recreation, andFriendsare watched over and over and over again because they provide comfort. They’re the perfect bite-sized snack to consume just before bedtime, or to enjoy on a lunch break at work. Episodes run 22 to 23 minutes in length, and since these shows were created for network television—and in the case ofFriendslong before DVR or VOD delayed viewing—most episodes offer up a satisfying, conclusive story. This gives the viewer a sense of satisfaction at the end of an episode. You don’thaveto watch the next one. Michael and Stanley buried the hatchet and all is (relatively) well in the offices of Dunder Mifflin. Chandler and Rachel’s cheesecake-eating ruse has come to an end. Leslie successfully got her bill passed in city council.
But Netflix’s original content model is antithetical to conclusive storytelling. The entire idea behind Netflix’s original shows is bingeworthiness, and almost every episode ends with a cliffhanger that urges you to keep watching. While this results in entire weekends spent watching a whole season of a show likeChilling Adventures of SabrinaorHouse of Cards, it’s a completely different type of viewing experience than watching a couple episodes ofThe Office. And frankly, watching just a single episode ofOzarkisn’tsupersatisfying.
Even Netflix’s half-hour comedies are built this way. Episodes of shows likeAmerican VandalorUnbreakable Kimmy Schmidtend on cliffhangers, spurring the viewer to keep going. Now this isn’t to say Netflix original series are bad. Quite the opposite.GLOWandRussian Dollare two of the most critically acclaimed series Netflix has ever produced, and they both push the boundaries of what’s possible in television storytelling. They’re incredible, and I’m glad they exist. But they’re not exactly the kinds of shows you want to watch over and over again.
Netflix has certainly tried to create shows akin toThe OfficeorParks and Rec, like the multicam sitcomsThe Ranch,Fuller House, and the cancelledOne Day at a Time. But none of these shows have hit quite the way that those other iconic sitcoms did. And while Netflix has scored megadeals with veteran TV producers likeRyan MurphyandShonda Rhimes, who are no doubt in the midst of creating bingeworthy content of their own, the smartest thing they could’ve done was lock in someone likeParks and RecreationandThe Good Placeco-creatorMichael Schurfor a deal to create new content. Alas,he re-upped with Universal TVto stick (mostly) with network television for now.
And it’s not like Netflix doesn’t understand comfort viewing. They’ve done remarkably well in that arena with their reality programming, fromQueer EyetoThe Great British Baking Show. But in the scripted arena, they’re severely lacking.
