Have you ever watched a show on Netflix and thought it could shave a few episodes off? You’re not alone. In an age where TV shows are becoming more and more story-driven, actual episode counts are growing shorter and shorter. Back when I was growing up, even hour-long shows had 22-plus episodes, rain or shine — even the story-driven ones. Nowadays, the medium has become much more flexible, allowing for shorter, more concise storytelling.

So why the bloat? Given the nature of streaming, where there are virtually no rules, why does it still feel like some shows can still afford to trim the fat? Speaking with IGN, Netflix VP original content Cindy Holland gave a bit of insight as to the why of it all, without naming specific shows or studios:

“In some of the earlier negotiations and deals that we did with third-party studios, we were sort of hamstrung a little bit by the convention of the 13-episode cable series pattern. And if you look at the content that we’ve been making out of Netflix Studios and even with third-party partners now, often the seasons are generally no more than 10 episodes.”

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So, based on that, it seems like deals they made with studios like Marvel Television nailed down a 13-episode order. So, like it or not, they’re paying for 13 episodes. Keep in mind, these deals were likely made a few years back when 13 episode runs were more common. Should they update it, 10 episodes could be seen as the new normal. From a viewer perspective, I think eight to 10 episodes is the sweet spot, but some could afford a few more. Perhaps in the future, adopting a more flexible figure could be in their best interest?

That being said, if the studios are getting paid on a per-episode basis, I can’t see much incentive for them to get paid less. If that’s the case, I’d personally love to see Netflix bite the bullet and give them a 13-episode fee and still allow them to cut down the story as needed. They can pump that extra money into each money, raising the production value all while pruning the narrative, but I’m sure that could ultimately cut into the streaming service’s bottom line.

What do you think? Is there an easy solution to the Netflix bloat? Sound off with your undoubtedly well-informed opinions below!

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SOURCE: IGN