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Netflix in 2024 is pretty shite.
I’m not a huge fan of reality TV. I’ll indulge in the odd season of Married At First Sight every couple years, sure, but I find it more irritating than anything before long.
Despite being apparently ‘unscripted’, most now follow the same formula relentlessly year after year – to the extent that people will say: ‘It’s the XYZ episode on Love Island tonight’ with genuine excitement.
The novelty of these reality TV shows (especially the dating ones) died long ago, and the prospect of ogling attractive contestants doesn’t suffice by itself… beyond a couple of episodes, admittedly.
Why then, does my Netflix account suddenly feel oversaturated with banal reality shows that get commissioned with new seasons every year? Multiple versions of Love is Blind, The Circle, Perfect Match, Too Hot to Handle, The Ultimatum, Dating Around, all clogging up the popular section like the showers of their various villas.
How many times can you watch 12 people struggle not to shag each other for cash before it becomes tiresome? Apparently that eventuality is nowhere near, as Too Hot to Handle just wrapped its 6th season in four years.
Without wanting to sound like an old man, I remember Netflix in its purest iteration; when it was predominantly about watching flix, aka films. Reality TV may drive engagement, and Netflix is having no problems on that front, but is it worth ruining the platform for many of the legacy viewers by swaying too heavily in this direction?
It would seem many concur with my frustration at Netflix’s clamour for crap in 2024. I continue to see #NetflixCancels gain traction online with people continually criticising the platform for cancelling series with decent followings – including Warrior Nun, Dead Boy Detectives, and Lockwood & Co just recently.
Some 200 shows have been axed from the app’s library since 2015, with Mindhunter being a real sore one for me personally. The show was original, rich in seminal performances and atmosphere, and had room to explore so much more about the origins of criminology.
Netflix, however, like on so many other occasions, pulled the trigger citing high production costs as being untenable when weighed against viewing figures.
🍅100% 🍿99% WarriorNun S02
🍅97% 🍿95% MindHunter
🍅94% 🍿96% TeenageBountyHunter
🍅93 % 🍿98% Julie&The Phantom
🍅98 % 🍿93% SantaClaritaDiet
🍅93% 🍿94% LOCKWOOD & CO.
🍅92% 🍿89% TheOA S02
🍅98 % 🍿91% AmericanVandal
🍅89 % 🍿94% Dark Crystal
All🚫by N. pic.twitter.com/WlywEtsIH3— Cancelled on a cliffhanger ➐ (@CancelNetflix) August 15, 2023
Despite its 99% score on Rotten Tomatoes (Season 2) and its #1 successes in regions like Australia and New Zealand, they decided not to make a third season and to leave almost every element of the story unfinished.
This is one of many examples that confirm Netflix will only keep a show if it rakes in ridiculous profits. Critical acclaim apparently isn’t worth much and a loyal following is worth even less. It feels like a kick in the nuts and a big fuck you considering subscription fees are continually rising every year.
Just last week, I had to call and cancel an extra member I have no recollection of adding, the constant need to ‘change home device’ whenever I’m away, and the stickler mechanics of charging for extra screens have all contributed to me feeling some type-o-way about Netflix recently.
In 2023, the company raked in over $33 billion, and that total is sure to rise significantly in 2024’s valuation. You’ve the cheek to tell us, nonetheless, that every show must be a rip-roaring mainstream success to survive being culled or cut short. There’s no room for compromise, cult followings, or listening to your audience, no?
In 2019 when I first signed up, Netflix had 8 shows in its reality TV section. That has now expanded to upwards of 35 in 2024 and they market the absolute shit out of all of them. When I load up the app now, it feels like I have to wade neck-deep through garbage to find anything worth watching or that I haven’t already seen.
If you don’t fancy a documentary involving murder or stalking, and glean minimal enjoyment from watching influencers pretend to fall in love, the pickings are pretty slim. Most of my time on Netflix is now spent staring blanky at the ‘coming soon’ section in hope that something fresh and decent is on the way.
Suffice to say, when my mortgage payments kick in, I may well have to take Netflix’s lead and cull it from my library of subscriptions entirely.
Thanks for listening to another ramble. Until next time.
