Limited series are keeping Netflix subscribers glued to the screens
Once upon a streaming time, long-form releases served as the only entertainment escape for viewers. But with the world sprinting at lightning speed and lives getting busier than ever, Netflix has long adjusted its ways. Now, the streaming giant caters as much to the shrinking digital attention spans as it does to any other aspect. But most recently, the frenzy surrounding Netflix’s collection of limited series has reached sky-high.
In the week dated July 21st to July 27th, Netflix’s top ten non-English language shows chart was globally led by not one or two, but four limited series. Out of ten overall slots, the limited series format occupies four, including the recently released South Korean crime drama Trigger, the highly anticipated Letters from the Past, the Spanish thriller Ángela, and the Colombian psychological drama Delirium.
By the looks of it, 40% of global Netflix subscribers are caught up in the frenzy of limited series. And this makes one curious if the chart performance has only to do with standout releases or the short format they adhere to?
Well, for one, a limited series doesn’t ask for heavy commitment. It’s designed to fulfil viewers’ binge-worthy cravings. They are typically concise in nature, making them easy to watch on the go or even when there’s a proper time crunch. Furthermore, with the uptick of limited series releases on Netflix, fans no longer have to journey seven seas to stumble on the climax.
While they are structurally compact, a limited series has no shortcomings in high-quality production. If anything, Netflix ensures they produce a work of art, irrespective of the episode count. But the inclination also stems from the fact that this format keeps filler episodes at bay. With a limited number of episodes and a lot to cover in them, every episode becomes crucial to the story.
But why now? It turns out that all these mini-series/limited series were dropped in July, which explains the global attention around the shows. The anticipation surrounding this format is not exactly novel. However, it’s clear that it’s growing on people day by day.
And in turn, Netflix is busy, making the most of the momentum, rolling out back-to-back releases on the streamer. Although it remains to be seen whether the frenzy sustains in the weeks to come, given this is not a one-off phenomenon, the chances are rather likely that the limited series format will change the streaming landscape once and for all.