Why TV Episodes Are Getting Longer: The Surprising Costs of Your Small-Screen Entertainment

The debate around The Bear isn’t just about its quality; it’s also about what genre it fits into. Initially labeled a comedy, it lacks the typical jokes or light-hearted moments you’d expect. When it first aired, its half-hour format led many to categorize it as a sitcom.

However, the show has transformed. In its fourth season, not a single episode clocks in at under 30 minutes. Although some episodes range from 31 minutes to just over an hour, this change reflects a broader trend in television.

Take Netflix’s Too Much and Stranger Things, for example. Stranger Things saw its average runtimes grow from about 50 minutes in season one to nearly 90 minutes in its latest season. This can be overwhelming for viewers. As one Twitter user remarked, lengthy episodes can feel like a “time-suck” in our already busy lives.

This shift away from strict time limits comes as traditional TV wanes. Without the need to fit into specific slots due to ad breaks, creators enjoy more freedom. At first, this felt exciting. More innovation, fewer compromises; creative visions could come to life without restrictions.

But there’s a downside. With fewer constraints, some shows have started to feel bloated. For example, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt lost its spark when it transitioned to Netflix, as additional minutes were filled with weaker jokes that might have been cut in a tighter format. Some Stranger Things episodes are rumored to stretch over two and a half hours—can we really sit through that?

For many of us, our evenings are packed. After cooking, cleaning, and putting kids to bed, we often only have a few hours to enjoy our shows. Long episodes can feel like less entertainment and more time theft.

The Bear should also take note. Its standout episode, “Review,” from season one was just 21 minutes long. In those minutes, it built tension and deepened characters like no longer episodes have done. The show itself even features a sign saying, “Every Second Counts.” It’s a reminder that brevity can lead to better storytelling.

In summary, as we embrace more flexibility in runtimes, we should also advocate for tighter narratives that respect our time. Quality storytelling doesn’t always mean more time; it often means using every minute wisely.

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