This is a new category, brought on by the fact that we are
certainly in the midst of a Television Renaissance as the medium has grown and
expanded to now include shows that are longer than a mini-series but still have
an ending, however nebulous it may be. These “Netflix” shows are really just
the next phase of what cable networks like HBO and Showtime have been doing for
twenty years now. The difference is that, instead of willingly placing oneself
apart from the rest of the content providers (“It’s not TV…it’s HBO”) now everyone
is on a level playing field thanks to a more egalitarian distribution system.
This competition has been the best thing for show creators, the networks, and
the fans, as amazing shows with oddball premises that wouldn’t have found a
voice in 1998 are now among the most eagerly anticipated events of 2018. And a
lot of these shows are horror and fantasy and science fiction and sometimes a
mix of all that and more.
