Peak TV? We’ve Already Been There

Why TV Shows Aren’t as Good as They Used to Be

Photo by Bruna Araujo on Unsplash

Television has never given us more choices, and yet it’s harder than ever to find a show everyone actually loves. With dozens of streaming platforms and endless recommendations, you’d think we’d be living in the golden age of TV. Instead, many viewers find themselves doing the same thing every night: scrolling for 20 minutes, giving up and watching an old favorite. As older shows continue to pop up on rewatch lists, viewers begin to wonder why shows aren’t as good as they used to be.

Take the most recent season of “Stranger Things.” What began as a fresh show has slowly turned into a rushed money grab. This trend isn’t limited to streaming hits. Even Disney Channel shows, once known for clever writing and humor, are now lazy and formulaic. Many shows are now predictable and include slang that’s outdated the minute the show airs. The result is shows that try too hard to be relatable or trendy, but are easily forgettable and sometimes not even watchable.  

Writers seem more concerned with what will trend on TikTok than what will end up as an enjoyable form of media. Modern TV loves clichés, the sarcastic best friend, the forced love triangle and the “shocking” plot twist that everyone sees coming, show up again and again. 

“There used to be such an array of plots and characters,” senior Anna Hawken said.

“Now it’s just a mosh posh of the same series over and over again.” 

Compare older shows like “Breaking Bad,” “House,” “Prison Break,” “Lost” or “Dexter”--this is peak television. Every episode had masterclass storytelling. The characters were messy, complicated, hard to forget and easy to get attached to. Plot twists weren’t rushed or underdeveloped. These shows didn’t chase trends or try to become viral. They were so incredible because viewers connected with them. Even early seasons of “Grey’s Anatomy,” at its best, built entire seasons around relationships, emotions and real consequences, making it easy to feel heartbreak and happiness alongside the characters: something almost no modern show manages to pull off anymore. 

Stretching stories for profit is a common occurrence in many modern shows. Popular series that should have ended keep going. Instead of emotional and fully resolved endings, viewers get poorly done cliffhangers that are meant to guarantee another renewal. Another issue is product placement and “Netflix Lighting”, an overly bright, washed light that eliminates shadows. 

“It feels like I'm watching a commercial instead of something that’s supposed to be entertaining,” senior Hudson Miller said. 

The result of all this is television that is temporary. It’s entertaining while it’s on, but forgettable once it’s over. Many modern shows aren’t typically rewatched or have the quality and storyline to be labeled a “comfort show.” Meanwhile, audiences continue to re-watch shows from 10 or 15 years ago because they are timeless and addicting, not just a trend. 

Maybe TV isn’t worse. Maybe it’s just trying too hard. Until shows stop chasing trends and start relying on good storytelling again, audiences will keep going back to the classics. Can you blame them?