Jim and Pam from The Office, one of the most beloved couples in TV history, only got together at the end of season three, after roughly 50 episodes. Along the way, the pair captured the hearts of millions through stolen glances, subtle gestures, and a plethora of subplots and hijinks.
Part of what made us so attached to them, aside from the palpable chemistry and great writing, was the time they had together and the time we had with them. That’s what made their slow burn so satisfying. So the real question is this: can we still have another Jim and Pam in the age of the eight-episode season?
GREAT TV, SHORT SEASONS
Don’t get me wrong, there’s still an abundance of amazing TV released every year. Sitcoms have adapted successfully to this generation’s struggles and humour, and shows like Hacks and A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms are the kind of quality TV that can rival the best of the past.
But a common denominator between all of these shows is how short they are, ending barely after they’ve begun. We can still get attached to the characters thanks to brilliant writing and acting, but it’s a widely shared concern: how much less content are we getting while waiting twice as long? Does that make for better TV, or worse?
SLOW BURN ON A DEADLINE
Take Anton and Paul Baker from the FX series Adults, whose story promises the friends-to-lovers slow burn we’ve all seen and loved throughout television history, because it truly is a tale as old as time. But compare them with Jake and Amy from Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
Jake and Amy had roughly 45 episodes to go through many journeys together, realise their feelings, and ride an emotional rollercoaster before they finally got together. Anton and Paul Baker have had to fit their entire first phase into roughly 16 episodes. Jake and Amy’s progression feels natural because it’s spread across so many episodes, whereas newer shows like Adults or Not Suitable for Work have to condense everything into a quick resolution, which can make plot points feel hurried and unnatural.
WHY IS TV GETTING SHORTER
A major reason is streaming. Services dropped entire shows at once rather than releasing them weekly, and cable networks have now adopted shorter formats too. Shorter seasons are much more beneficial to studios for a number of reasons. They let studios cut their losses early if a show doesn’t do well, and they free up more of the budget for better VFX, acclaimed actors, and more impressive sets.
Shorter TV can also mean tighter, more focused writing, with less of the filler episodes we usually skip on a rewatch of older shows. But it can also mean we don’t have the time to immerse ourselves properly in a story. Shows might feel less cluttered, and the bigger budget can help produce higher-quality TV such as The Last of Us, but it also distances us from the characters and can leave the story feeling rushed.
THE DATA BACKS IT UP
While there are still shows that follow the 22-episode format such as Abbot Elementary and Ghosts US, it is becoming increasingly rare for TV to have longer episodes like before. Most shows you have recently watched are probably under 10 episodes per season; The Studio, Heated Rivalry, Off Campus, Pluribus, no matter the genre or theme, it is an undeniable recorded fact that TV is getting shorter across the board with streaming series averaging under 10 episodes per season (as of March 2024, the latest report).
SO WHAT NOW?
There are real advantages to this format in terms of plot and production, but it’s hard to ignore that shorter seasons can harm story progression and weaken the attachment between viewer and show. We have to decide whether to accept shorter seasons as the new status quo and focus on making the most of them, or to slowly return to the classic format we all know and love.
It might be harder to experience the magic of a slow burn right now, but we can stay optimistic. TV and film are the best they’ve been in ages, and with more and more conversations about how to improve the viewing experience, it’s only a matter of time before studios and audiences alike examine the need to bring longer seasons back.