The unwanted binge break: raising hype or revenue?
You are sitting in front of your television with half-eaten popcorn, fully immersed in binge-watching, when suddenly the screen fades to black. The show is not over, but the rest is “coming soon”. The throne of binge-watching is gradually giving way to a rising phenomenon known as “split seasons”, in which episodes are released in two or more volumes, reshaping the overall viewing experience.
Undoubtedly, streaming platforms have amplified the habit of binge-watching with a plethora of shows in one place, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, when Netflix’s original series Stranger Things season 3 was released all at once in 2019, millions tuned in, creating a sensation known as “Stranger Things Summer” for people to reminisce about. However, things took an interesting turn when Netflix started splitting seasons of major shows into two parts, mirroring how film franchises have done it for years. Fan favourites like Wednesday, Stranger Things and Bridgerton followed this strategy that ended the first part on a dramatic high and paved the road for sustained hype and anticipation till the release of the second part. Conversations regarding theories, edits and fanfics that could have very well subsided after a binge watch stretched on for a longer while, keeping the fans on their toes and generating more revenue for the streaming sites.
A fellow binge watcher, Sadika Islam Sara (Junior, ESS), remarked, “In my opinion, split seasons generate more hype, which also paves the way to more disappointments.” While some shows might benefit from a breather as fans process the overwhelming plot twists, most people are disheartened when a more immersive second half is not delivered. In a way, splitting seasons is just a scheme of keeping fans subscribed to the sites longer, even if the quality of their favourite shows is compromised. Binge watching is still a thing, but sometimes it comes with a compelled intermission.
