TV shows used to have multiple episodes in one season and they would last a long time. However, in recent years, shows have seen a decrease in episodes. You might be wondering “are TV seasons getting shorter?” We will answer that question right now!
Yes, TV seasons are getting shorter in terms of total episodes. This can be attributed to a number of reasons, mainly the production of the whole show and each episode.
We will discuss this in detail in the next section below. If you are curious to know about other reasons why TV seasons are getting shorter, continue reading to find out!
The Production Value is High
If you compare a modern TV season to an old one, you’ll clearly notice a massive difference in quality. Whether that is the overall performance of the actors, the camerawork, or the overall set itself. Nowadays, TV shows have an extremely high production value that was unheard of back in the day.
Most shows have more budget per episode than they had for the whole season before. This naturally means that it will take longer to produce and every episode will cost you that much. As such, shows have seen a decrease in the total number of episodes and they usually try to finish the season in 8-10 episodes.
More Star Power Means More Costs
TV shows have evolved over the years and now they are going head to head with top-tier movies. Just a few years ago, people were equally excited to witness Avengers Endgame and the episode of Game of Thornes season 8 on the same weekend. What’s impressive is that the episode had a high budget and it could pass for a short movie as well.
On top of that, there are tons of great actors in the TV industry now as well. Actors such as Peter Dinklage, Neil Patrick Harris, Viola Davis, and more can be quite expensive to get on the show. That is why the showrunners have to prioritize their budget and focus on telling a larger narrative in a short number of episodes.
Take a look at the season 3 trailer of Game of Thrones to see the sheer star power of the show:
The Narrative is More Focused
Another thing that you might have noticed is that the narrative of the show is quite focused now. Before, there were a lot of fillers in the season just because the budget allowed it. Plus, the fillers were there to make the show reach at least 20-25 episodes per season.
However, you will rarely find fillers in today’s shows. This leads to more focused and straight-to-the-point storytelling. Since you have to make the most out of the budget, there are fewer episodes.
Summary
TV seasons have seen a decrease in episodes due to the high production value, star power, and focused storytelling. Hopefully, this answers your question “are TV seasons getting shorter?” Share this knowledge with your friends and family to let them know as well!
