Shows such as Stranger Things and Yellowjackets have become bloated. I’m all for the one-and-done series | Priya Elan

TV Shows Are Getting Bloated: Why "One-and-Done" Series Are a Brighter Idea

The latest season of your favorite show has just dropped, but instead of excitement and hope, you're met with disappointment and frustration. The second series feels like a rehashing of the same old storylines, with the writers' room seemingly firing on all cylinders - but in the wrong direction.

Season two's premiere is a damp squib, feeling like the entire show has lost its way. Your favorite cast members do things that are out of character, and by episode five, it's clear that the showrunners have collectively amnesia around the storylines that were so expertly set up in season one. The show's protagonist has been killed off, only to be brought back to life a few episodes later - a move that feels like a cynical attempt to milk more drama from the narrative.

The same feeling of frustration and disappointment is echoed by fans of shows like Stranger Things and Yellowjackets. These popular series have become bloated, with too much repetition and not enough surprises. The horror-mystery aspect of Yellowjackets, in particular, has lost its edge, with new characters being introduced that serve no purpose other than to pad out the episode count.

The problem is that shows like Big Little Lies and Emily in Paris are getting away with it - they're becoming bloated themselves, but still managing to garner critical acclaim. It's time for TV creators to remember that some shows just don't need a second season (or even more). A "one-and-done" approach can be beneficial, allowing the show to live on in your imagination and leaving you wanting more.

Take My So-Called Life as an example. This 90s teen dramedy was perfect in its one-season run - its characters were complex and multifaceted, the cinematography was stunning, and the dialogue was authentic. Its final episode was heart-wrenching, but also strangely cathartic. And that's exactly what makes a limited series so special - it knows when to stop, leaving viewers with just enough to keep them hooked.

If TV creators can learn from shows like My So-Called Life and Adolescence, they might just remember the magic of a well-crafted narrative. By knowing when to quit, they can leave their audience wanting more - but not at the expense of quality. As Priya Elan so eloquently puts it, "sometimes shows need to quit when they're ahead."

honestly i feel like most tv shows are just copying each other these days and its like they forgot how to create a decent story the whole 'one-and-done' thing is where its at tbh - it keeps you guessing and leaves you wanting more without being all repetitive and formulaic take my so called life for example, that show was perfection in 1 season

I'm totally with this one I mean, have you seen how long some TV shows are these days? Like, what's up with that? Shows like Big Little Lies and Emily in Paris get away with it just because they've got big names attached and people keep watching, but honestly, it feels like they're just trying to milk the money out of us . I'm all for a good finale, but sometimes less is more, you know? It's like My So-Called Life - that one was perfect in its one season run . The writers knew when to stop and leave you with something real and meaningful. Let's bring back the magic of limited series and focus on quality over quantity .

I'm totally with this bloated TV show rant ! I mean, who needs 8 seasons of the same old storylines? Can't we just have a sweet, satisfying conclusion instead of a drawn-out mess? I've been feeling so meh about my fave shows lately - they're just not living up to their promise anymore . And don't even get me started on those annoying character reboots . Like, can't we just stick with the original story and characters? It's so much easier that way! I love how My So-Called Life was all about self-contained episodes - it felt like a perfectly imperfect ending to the show. We need more shows like that!

I'm so tired of these long TV show seasons . It's like, I get it, some stories need time to unfold, but when do we stop? I just binged an entire season of my favorite show and by the 10th episode, I was like "wait, what's happening?" . The writers just keep rehashing the same stuff and introducing new characters that don't even make sense. And don't even get me started on when they kill off a main character only to bring them back later... it's just so weird .

I think some shows are getting away with being too long because they're popular, but honestly, I'd rather have a show that ends after 8 episodes than one that's just stretching it out for the sake of more cash . It's like, when do we get to say goodbye? A "one-and-done" approach is the way to go, trust me . Just think about how much better My So-Called Life would've been if it had ended after one season... magic, right?

I'm low-key annoyed with how some TV shows are becoming too bloated . I mean, I love a good series, but if the second season is just rehashing the same old stuff, what's the point? Can't we have a one-and-done approach like My So-Called Life did back in the day? It was perfect in its one-season run - all that drama and emotional depth was so satisfying . Now it feels like some shows are just milking it for more ratings and critical acclaim, but at what cost to the actual quality of the show? Stranger Things and Yellowjackets have become too repetitive for me, and I'm over it . It's time for TV creators to know when to wrap up a story and leave us wanting more, not just padding out the episode count for the sake of it

Ugh, can't believe how bloated some TV shows have gotten . Season 2 of my fave show is like a rehashing of the same old storylines. They brought back a character that got killed off and it's just weird. And don't even get me started on Stranger Things... it's like they're repeating themselves. I know some shows like Big Little Lies can get away with it, but honestly, I think they're also starting to feel bloated . What's the point of having a talented cast if you're just gonna repeat the same old drama? Can't we have more surprises and less repetition? It feels like some shows are just milking their narratives for all they're worth ...

TV shows have become a total mess ! I mean, I love a good show, but some series just don't know when to stop themselves from getting all bloated and repetitive. It's like, okay, the first season was great, but do we really need another 10 episodes of the same stuff?

And don't even get me started on those shows that think they can milk drama out of everything . Like, I get it, death is sad, but bringing someone back from the dead just to shake things up? It's like, hello, you lost your best friend and now you're trying to make us feel bad for you again? Give me a break!

I've got so much respect for shows like My So-Called Life, though . That show was literally perfect in its one-season run. The characters were real, the cinematography was stunning, and it just... stopped when it needed to .

It's time for TV creators to learn from their mistakes and remember that sometimes less is more . A "one-and-done" approach can be so refreshing, you know? It leaves you wanting more, but without feeling like the show has lost its way .

I feel me too about TV shows getting all bloated. Like, what's the point of season 2 if it's just gonna be a repeat of everything that already happened in season 1? Can't they just leave some things unsaid and let our imagination fill in the blanks? And I hate when characters do stuff outta nowhere, like that one show where the main guy comes back from the dead... what's up with that?! My So-Called Life is a great example of a limited series doing it right - you leave us wanting more without feeling like we're getting all the info at once.

I mean, I know some people love this new trend of bloated TV shows but honestly, I'm over it . It's like they just keep adding more and more filler episodes without any real purpose or direction. And don't even get me started on the plot holes and inconsistencies - it's so frustrating when you're invested in a show, only to have all that momentum taken away by some lazy writing choice.

I think the thing is, with streaming services being so accessible now, people are just expecting too much content. They want everything to be perfect, like their favorite books or movies. But TV shows are different - they can't be perfect, and sometimes they need to be stripped down to focus on the good stuff.

Limited series are the way forward imo . Shows like My So-Called Life were masterclasses in storytelling, knowing exactly when to wrap things up without leaving anything hanging. It's time for TV creators to take note of what works and just cut it dead .

I'm so sick of these bloated TV shows that just keep churning out episode after episode without any real purpose. Like, can't we just have a satisfying finale already? Season two of my fave show was like watching paint dry - nothing new or interesting happened, it was all just rehashed from the first season. And don't even get me started on the "death" and "resurrection" plot twists... who thought that was a good idea?

And I'm not the only one feeling this way - fans of shows like Stranger Things and Yellowjackets are equally frustrated with the repetition and lack of surprises. It's like the writers have lost their touch or something! Can't they just leave well enough alone? And what's up with all these "limited series" that are basically just extended seasons... like, I get it, sometimes a show really needs to be wrapped up, but can't we have some quality over quantity for once?

Anyway, if TV creators would just take a cue from shows like My So-Called Life and Adolescence, maybe we'd actually start seeing some good limited series again.

I'm feeling kinda meh about this whole bloated TV show thing . I think it's a great point that some shows just don't need an extra season. I mean, have you seen My So-Called Life? It was like, the ultimate one-season wonder, and that's what made it so special . It knew exactly when to wrap things up, leaving us with this haunting sense of closure.

But at the same time, I think there's something beautiful about a show being able to tell more stories within its universe . Shows like Stranger Things have become so beloved because they can keep revisiting these characters and worlds in new and exciting ways. It's all about balance, you know? . Some shows need to be edited down to their essence, while others need a bit of extra room to breathe.

I'm also curious, what do we mean by "quality" when it comes to TV shows? Is it just about the writing and acting, or is there something more to it? Like, what makes a show feel truly satisfying? .

OMG u guys! I'm literally so over these new TV shows that r just dragging out 1 storyline 4eva like wut happened 2 Big Little Lies & Emily in Paris? Dey got away with makin a 2nd season or even more but some other shows like Stranger Things & Yellowjackets are just losin their edge . I mean, whys not just stoppin at 1 season lik My So-Called Life? that show was EVERYTHING in its 1-season run, so perfect! The dialogue, the cinematography, the characters... all just perfection u can't beat a limited series that knows wut it's doin

I don’t usually comment but I think TV creators are getting a bit carried away with these bloated seasons . Like, I get it, we want more storylines and character development, but sometimes less is actually more . Shows like My So-Called Life were perfect in their one-season run because they knew exactly when to stop and leave us wanting more. It's not about milking the drama for all it's worth or introducing random characters just to fill up episodes . If TV creators could take a cue from those limited series, I think we'd see some amazing, well-crafted narratives emerge . Just because a show is popular doesn't mean it needs more seasons – sometimes, less really is more .

I feel me too when I watch a season that's just rehashing what was good in the first place . Shows like Big Little Lies are getting away with being bloated and still getting rave reviews? It's weird. My So-Called Life is a great example of a limited series that knew exactly when to wrap it up - it wasn't like it needed 10 more episodes to be satisfying . Sometimes less really is more, you know? A one-and-done approach might actually lead to more memorable moments and a stronger impact on the audience...