Summary of the Article:
This article argues that modern television is becoming increasingly “stupid” due too a combination of factors, primarily driven by the demands of streaming platforms and a perceived need to cater to a passive, distracted audience.
Here are the key points:
* Creative Interference: streaming services are imposing creative limitations on showrunners, leading to repetitive dialog, clumsy exposition, and a general dumbing down of content.
* Catering to Distraction: Shows are being written for viewers who aren’t fully engaged, requiring constant reiteration of plot points and character motivations. This is condescending to viewers who are actively watching.
* Past context: While TV has always needed to account for passive viewers (e.g., tuning in late, ad breaks), older shows found more elegant ways to handle this.
* Regression in Art Form: The author believes TV is generally regressing in complexity and sophistication.
* Lack of Influence from Groundbreaking Shows: Despite the critical acclaim of shows like The Wire, The Sopranos, Deadwood, and Mad Men, their innovative storytelling techniques haven’t been widely adopted by contemporary television.
* Even “Good” Shows are Simplified: Even critically lauded shows like Succession, while excellent, lack the narrative ingenuity and layered complexity of past “golden age” television.They are also consciously aware of social media trends.
In essence, the author laments a decline in ambitious, challenging television, replaced by content designed for easy consumption and constant re-explanation. They suggest that the focus has shifted from artistic merit to maximizing viewership thru simplification and catering to a distracted audience.
