Netflix’s two-part release schedule is sadly doing more damage than good, and if this is the route the streaming network chooses to take with every show, it won’t be shocking if there are more cancelations on the horizon. Just yesterday, they announced that one of their most popular shows, Bridgerton, would be released in two parts, with four episodes coming on May 16 and the remaining four on June 13.
If Netflix wants to create buzz around its shows and have people consistently talking about the content they’re putting out, then a weekly release would’ve been the better approach. Max, Hulu, Apple TV+, Disney—they all do it and have done it for years now. But that’s not what people come to Netflix for, is it? People come to Netflix because binging is part of a different media consumption format, and it works for most of its audience. The main reason the streaming network has seen an influx of cancelations in the last few years is that, along with the detail that they weren’t paying writers and actors, they’ve canceled the shows fans have cared deeply for without ever properly promoting them in the first place. And, of course, there’s the whole password-sharing debacle that came with inflating prices.
Ultimately, splitting a short season into two parts only adds more frustration than anything else. Sure, the eager fans will watch both repeatedly, but what about the casual viewers? They’ll either wait until the very end, or they’ll find another way to binge it. It also makes it incredibly weird when writing full-season reviews as critics because we’re left having to split our thoughts into two parts, which none of the accredited review sites do.
A show like Stranger Things might’ve done well with this format, but a show like Bridgerton is almost laughable. What are the stakes for a season like this that’ll get casual fans or viewers to care? Let’s not even get into how confusing something like this generally is for immigrant parents. The number of times I’ve already had to explain split seasons to my mom is more frustrating than Netflix would care about.
If the network wants buzz, it needs to do what other competitors are doing and go back to the basics with weekly releases. But if it wants to be unique, as it once was, it shouldn’t try to fix what isn’t broken and continue on the binging format while allowing more promo before to stir buzz instead of hiding everything until the day of release.
What are your thoughts on Netflix splitting seasons? Love it? Hate it? Let us know in the comments below.