Either I have an exceptionally short attention span, or TV shows with upwards of seven seasons are just not worth anyone’s time anymore.
After recently rewatching the 2017 hit show “Big Little Lies,” I had an epiphany: limited series are the best kind of show. Somehow, these series capture the stylistic features of a blockbuster without an excessive number of episodes.
As a college student with multiple things on my mind, I don’t always have the time or energy to keep up with a dragged-out plot that spans hours and hours of television. However, I still find myself searching for an outlet to relax, and limited series seem to always provide the perfect solution.
Apart from “Big Little Lies” (my personal favorite), other miniseries like Netflix’s “The Perfect Couple” and HBO Max’s “The White Lotus” provide high-quality, captivating narratives in a few seasons, often including six to eight episodes per season. If these shows have mastered concise yet entertaining storytelling, why should viewers push through an agonizingly long show?
Freshman Meghan Colello agreed.
“I wholeheartedly believe that limited TV series are a much better use of time,” Colello stated. “Especially regarding one-season shows like ‘Normal People’ and ‘Love Story,’ they use much more powerful storytelling to condense the show instead of dragging out the plot to the point where no one has the time to keep up with it.”
“We’re busy. We have chores to do,” freshman Emma Perdigon, another fan of miniseries, added. “We don’t have the time or mental capacity to keep up with endless hours of the same show. I’m currently watching ‘Scandal,’ which has seven seasons, and there is simply no need for this many episodes.”
Of course, some long-running shows hold a special place in my heart and cannot be replaced by their more efficient counterparts. In fact, one of my favorite elements of “The Office” is Pam and Jim’s slow-burning love story, which definitely would not have held the same gravity in a six-episode show.
That said, series like “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Criminal Minds” and “Scandal” would still be just as great with fewer seasons.
“It just loses the plot,” freshman Georgia Gimbel said regarding the longevity of “Grey’s Anatomy.” “The show gets boring and repetitive with the same storyline happening over and over again, just with different sets of characters.”
As someone who has never made it to the final seasons of these seemingly eternal shows, I often find myself turning to limited series as an escape from the endless TV sagas. With the busy schedule and attention span of a full-time student, miniseries are the perfect mode of entertainment. Until long-running shows decide that it’s finally quitting time, I will continue browsing for my next fun-sized show.
