In praise of the limited series

Mic

"In times like these, many of us are inevitably binging beloved old TV shows like Lost and Alias on Hulu and Netflix," says Kara Weisenstein. "But as you slog through four or seven or ten or even 30-odd seasons of a long-running series, it becomes evident just how many shows start off brilliant then 'jump the shark,' so to speak." Weisenstein points out that, in contrast to long-running shows, there are currently a slew of limited series in the works, from Ryan Murphy's Halston to Mark Ruffalo's I Know This Much Is True. "One solution to writers’ room fatigue: the limited series," says Weisenstein. "An entire story told in eight or ten episodes, over in a few months or a few hours, depending on your consumption method (streamed weekly or binged all at once). Smaller-scale narratives have all the addictive excitement of a multiple-season show. And instead of investing in a story that could go on for years, audiences can pick up a series that’s less of a commitment."