Shows like Poker Face (Peacock) and the return of True Detective (HBO) are ditching the ten-hour movie model. They are returning to the "case of the week" structure, but with high-budget cinematic flair. Why? Because it respects your time.
The reboot era is dying. Long live the original idea. What are you watching right now that feels fresh? Are you still keeping up with the Marvel universe, or have you jumped ship to the world of prestige horror? Sound off in the comments below.
The most successful media of 2023 (and early 2024) proves the opposite. Look at The Last of Us . Yes, it was based on a game, but you didn’t need to play it. Look at Succession . Look at Past Lives . These stories don’t require a pre-existing emotional investment. They earn it. While the movie theaters are struggling to sell tickets to The Marvels , something interesting is happening on the small screen. The hottest new genre isn't sci-fi or fantasy. It’s the prestige procedural .