Mind the Gap

As we all know, "Game of Thrones" is taking a year off before the final stretch of episodes next year. So is "American Gods" after some production troubles. "Westworld" took an eighteen month break between its first two seasons, and probably won't be seen again until 2020. And your guess is as good as mine as to when we'll see the next seasons of shows like "Black Mirror" or "Fargo."

As the age of Peak TV barrels on, the old network model of a show coming back every fall and running for twenty-odd episodes is no longer a given. Everyone has gotten used to shows premiering year round, running as few as five or six episodes for a full season, and Netflix introduced the concept of making an entire season available all at once. Now longer production cycles are becoming the norm. American television now looks much closer to British television, where multi-year hiatuses between series of shows like "Red Dwarf," "Sherlock," and "Luther" are commonplace. "Doctor Who" famously took a fifteen year break between 1989 and 2005. With the new popularity of revivals, it can be argued that shows like "Arrested Development" and "Roseanne" are simply finally being renewed for more episodes.

The benefits are obvious. Longer production times and limited episode counts mean higher quality and easier scheduling of all the talent involved, who don't have to commit the large amount of time tradition television demands. Now, instead of writing around cast absences and behind-the-scenes upheaval to meet broadcasting deadlines, it's feasible to simply wait a little longer before the next season goes into production. The audience has proven willing to wait for the better shows to return, and often have far too much to watch anyway. Back in the early 2000s, it was only the rare, oddball series like "Curb Your Enthusiasm" or "The Venture Bros." that dared to be off the airwaves for more than twelve months. Now, it's honestly a little surprising when more ambitious series like "Legion" and "The Handmaid's Tale" actually return within a single calendar year.

The nature of television has also changed over the last few cycles, and new seasons of certain television shows are increasingly being treated like events. In a crowded field, the genuine hits can be few and far between. Longer production times mean that the biggest shows like "Game of Thrones" can be kept on the schedules for a few extra seasons. A show that had an off year like "True Detective" can spend some time regrouping and retooling out of the limelight before they return to our screens. I wish more declining series like "The Walking Dead" or "Supernatural" would take a break, letting the creators recharge or at least have more time to generate better material. Longer absences can also help to pump up more audience interest and help the marketing efforts.

It's interesting that Hollywood's film and television production cycles are starting to look alike. Most of the big tentpole blockbusters like the "Fast and the Furious" movies go about two or three years between installments. It's also become more common to see the same talent operating in both worlds. Meryl Streep will be in the second season of "Big Little Lies" as the new villain. Emma Stone and Jonah Hill are headlining "Maniac" for Netflix. Millie Bobby Brown from "Stranger Things" is also starring in the next Legendary Pictures "Godzilla" movie, due next year. And as television becomes more and more ambitious, I expect we'll see the breaks go even longer.

I think about Amazon's upcoming Middle Earth series and Netflix's "Another Life," and HBO's "Watchman" series, and the push for more of these big, effects-heavy projects. And I'd be happy to wait a little longer if it meant that the creators involved could do these shows right. Sure, I'd love to see the next series of "Black Mirror" right now, but I'd rather wait five years for really, really good episodes than have a compromised, rushed handful of episodes on Netflix next month. As American television continues to grow and change, I'm pretty happy that it's starting to develop some patience.

After all, good things come to those who wait. Happy watching.
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