The Death of the 22-Episode season: What Modern Dramas Have Lost to Streaming

In the early 2000's, the teen drama was the undisputed king of television culture. Shows like The O.C., One Tree Hill, and Gilmore Girls weren't just television programs, they were outlets that reinforced real teen issues...for the most part. Through numerous seasons spanning 22-24 episodes, we watched characters develop which allowed for attachments to form and emotional responses were warranted. Today, we live an era of 8-episode season that take at least two years to produce, leaving fans feeling forgetful about the shows they love.

The transition to streaming has officially killed the 22-episode season, and in doing so, it has altered the way we relate to the characters on our screens.

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The Loss of the Filler Episode

In season with an extensive number of episodes, there was room to for. Not every episode focused on a mystery or the development of a single story line; we had great filler episodes. In these episodes, the characters did some of the most random things like sitting in detention or attended the school dance or even the infamous black and white episode. While there wasn't much added to the plot during these episodes, they were fun to watch and isn't that the reason we watch TV.

The Slow-Burn Romance vs. The Fast-Foward

The "Will They/Won't They" trope was the pinnacle of early CW/WB television. Through these long seasons, writers were able to take their time to develop honest, real, and emotional connections between characters. We had multiple seasons of yearning between couples like Clark and Lois from Smallville, Luke and Lorelai from Gilmore Girls, and Pacey and Joey from Dawson's Creek. Viewers spent years watching two people fall in love realistically through small moments: a shared look during a biology project, a reluctant dance at a wedding. All things that made the eventual first kiss feel like a tectonic shift in the show's universe.

Now, in a world of single digit episode seasons, that kind of patience and writing is a luxury that modern dramas can't afford. The binging trend of today's society demands instant gratification to keep viewers from clicking away which robs some couples of having chemistry that extends more than three episodes. We get heat, but no history.

The Bottom Line

In short, we've come to a point where fleshed out storylines are packed into at least 8-episode seasons and there's no room for the series to take the time to have fun with side quests or quirky musical episodes that make no sense. Ultimately, the 2000's era of The O.C., One Tree Hill, and Gossip Girl succeeded because they understood that investment takes time. By the time the series finale came around, viewers felt like they grew with the characters.

There's no denying that there are incredible shows today like The Bear, Stranger Things, or Outer Banks which all pack drama into intense scenes which make for great watches. However, in today's age, we binge a season in a single weekend, and then the characters vanish from our lives for two years while we wait for the next drop. While we may never return to 22-episode seasons for good, we can revel in the new stories we getting to know and find comfort in the old ones we love.