Wake up! A New Episode is Finally Here
Graphics by Claire Arveson
We live in a time where we want everything now. We’ve grown accustomed to our patience levels getting lower and lower, constantly wanting our desires to immediately be in front of us. Everything must be new, fresh, and directly placed into our hands. Take for instance, the rising surge of streaming services being the new norm, our lives now depending on things coming out all at once. From Netflix dramas to Hulu originals, more and more shows just release seasons, having all the episodes immediately available. Fans scramble to login, binge watching the entirety of the show in a 5 hour marathon. The second it’s finished, TikTok immediately gets a hold of every clip, making edits and throwing spoilers around for everyone to see. I think we’re slowly losing the art of releasing episodes weekly, with more than just 8 episodes in a season, mind you… There’s so many evident benefits that can make these shows more fun for the viewers, as well as the creators.
Many recent series are missing the mark on what keeps viewers engaged and more involved within the content of the shows themselves. Invigorating shows like YOU, a blood-filled thriller encapsulating a man getting away with murder, or even Stranger Things, a high-speed science fiction phenomena, engulfed by 80s nostalgia, put out their episodes all on the same date, letting fans get swept up into the story in only one day. Shows like these, created with such care, with so much lore and substance to the storylines, immediately lose their uniqueness when they can be watched so quickly. Imagine they were released weekly, say, a new episode every Friday at 6PM. Now, it’s an event. It’s a set date every week, integrating this show into people’s lives. Every week, fans could make up theories on what they think could happen, understand the characters better, and overall, sit with the entire story as a concept. Of course, this sounds great in theory, but let's look at the ancient texts, seeing it in practice.
Before streaming services replaced cable TV, shows and series had a weekly schedule. Saturday Night Live, although still being made today, first released in 1975, coming out, obviously, on Saturdays. Each week, a new celebrity host and musical artist would take the stage, filling the TV screen with fresh comedy sketches and music that defined the time. This not only impacted the viewers watching, but also the culture as a whole. SNL speaks on current issues and pushes forward many musical talents, letting the rest of the week talk about what happened in the latest episode. Even with its occasional controversial moments, this is what made the show what it is, being an outlet of culture every Saturday. Although this was 50 years ago, some shows are still upholding the “weekly-episode” art form in 2025.
Take Euphoria, a groundbreaking, riveting HBO series, describing the lives of high schoolers dealing with issues of drugs, relationships, and the hardships that come with being a teenager. Yes, of course, many have harped on and on about this show being “unrealistic” and not suitable for actual teenagers. While this can be true, it can also be argued that it made people feel seen, as teenagers go through things that can feel so isolating. With this found comfort, it also comes from the fact that it was released each week. Deemed “Euphoria Sundays,” this show was a topic of discussion for months, even those who didn’t watch the show were talking about it. In doing this, the show was able to increase its longevity as well as bring so many issues to light. Say what you want, but this technique helped solidify its place in the world of this generation.
We use TV shows as escapes, engulfing us into a world of fictional characters, or even real humans. In recent years, these shows have been put out all at the same time, but maybe it's time to revert to a classic, more fulfilling formula. Growing up with shows on Disney Channel or Nickelodeon, every week, new episodes would be released, giving us something to look forward to. Since we were kids, we’ve always had weekly episodes, making TV more than just a leisurely activity. Although we’ve grown accustomed to 9 episodes at a time, I think it’s time to revert back to our childhood, one filled with new weekly stories.