Netflix

Stranger things season 5 poster with the 3 parts and release dates in the corner

Many modern series and films are increasingly being released in divided parts, raising concerns among viewers over the effects of the practice. 

Streaming platforms such as Netflix often split seasons to extend engagement and maintain subscriber interest. By dividing a single season into multiple installments, the companies can sustain viewer engagement over long periods of time, enabling them to make a larger profit overall. 

However, there are many negatives to this practice. Viewers lose interest in the show due to abrupt pauses in the narratives and extremely long wait times. Important plot points are also less impactful as the emotional journey and narrative buildup are split up instead of being presented all at once. 

The one benefit TV shows have by splitting seasons into parts is that they can release parts of the show sooner than the entire season, which can result in less waiting for the viewers. While this is a beneficial intention, it can backfire very easily. “Splitting seasons is generally better than one large season, but the show needs to make sure there is not too much of a break between parts,” said senior Atharva Anthati. This large break between parts is the unfortunate consequence that most shows experience. 

The split-season trend negatively affects binge-watching habits. Many viewers prefer to watch a season over the course of a day or a week rather than a month or a year. The long breaks between installments impacts this habit by making it harder for the viewer to continue watching. “For the anime “Attack On Titan”, a show with a 4 part final season, the constant announcement of new parts made the show drag on so much that I didn’t even finish it,” said senior Alex Larsen. The 4 parts of season 4 took over two years and eight months to be released, an extremely long time for an anime. 

The TV show “Stranger Things” is another example of this, where in its most recent season, the showrunners decided to split it up into three parts. The first volume was released on Nov. 26, while the second volume and finale will release on Dec. 25 and New Year’s Day, respectively. This resulted in many viewers being dissatisfied with the four episodes that were released, not because of quality, but because of the long wait times. “It is very frustrating that I can’t watch the entire season at once especially since I am super hyped for the ending,” said senior Henry Brown. Fans had waited over three years for the new season, and now, they have to endure waiting over a month between volumes. 

While split releases may make it easier for shows to release and profit off of content, it often negatively affects viewer experience. The fragmentation can reduce entertainment and weaken the overall narrative of the story. For most audiences, splitting shows into parts is more of an obstacle than a benefit.