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Sep. 2nd, 2024 08:49 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Status of Dead Boy Detectives, Good Omens, and Sandman S2.
For those struggling to understand why Netflix cancels things, and why they cancelled Dead Boy Detectives - go HERE
" In a Variety exclusive, Netflix's decision to cancel Dead Boy Detectives after just one season becomes a little more understandable, as the show's viewership numbers dropped pretty quickly — and steeply — following the eight-episode season's premiere on April 25, 2024. Despite a solid opening, Dead Boy Detectives' first and only season clung to the Netflix Top 10 English TV charts for just three weeks after its release, peaking at number two on the lineup. While that run isn't as impressive as some of Netflix's mega-hits, it wasn't a terrible turn — but other metrics weren't so hot.
Dead Boy Detectives had an incredibly sharp decline, falling to a slim 1.8 million views by week three.
The Sandman spin-off garnered just 3.1 million views in its first three days on the platform. Although its views rose to just shy of 5 million during its first week, Dead Boy Detectives had an incredibly sharp decline, falling to a slim 1.8 million views by week three. After that, it vanished from the streamer's Top 10 chart altogether. Netflix's metrics for determining a show's success or failure are often criticized for being obtuse. However, the streaming giant often cites a week-to-week drop-off as a major factor in its renewal decisions. "
I recently watched a podcast on Youtube (it's annoying, I barely got through it - so won't repost here, but..it made some salient points). Netflix has a streaming model - that bases popularity or ratings on how many people binge the show in the first few months of release. Or the first weekend. So, if you wait say - six or seven months to watch the show? You probably won't be counted. If you don't watch it when it first hits Netflix and is at the top of your queue - then Netflix doesn't really count your viewage in its determination.
The rest of the podcast rants about streaming and Netflix being set up to destroy television and not being sustainable. (Well, no, a streaming channel allowing you to watch limitless television for basically $9 a month will bankrupt the producers of the content rather quickly. It's why we have commercials sneaking back into the mix. Commercials and ads paid for content.)
In short, this had zip to do with the allegations against Gaiman. For one thing he didn't create the show or series, it's by someone else, who isn't directly connected to him. You can kind of tell by the fact that is among the few Gaiman verse works that is tightly plotted. And has definitive and strong characterization of lead and supporting players.
I wouldn't worry too much about loving Good Omens either - that's based on work co-written by Terry Prachett (you can tell by the puns and the whimsy), and is largely collaborative in nature. To put this another way? It's kind of like deciding not to watch Buffy and Angel because of Whedon.
* Caveat? I'm not a fan of Good Omens? Not into puns - I don't understand them. No one in my family does. You either have the brain for puns or you don't. I only watched for the credits sequence - which is hilarious, and the banter between Tennant and Sheenan, which you can see elsewhere. I also found it horribly plotted, Gaiman can't plot to save his life nor have they hired anyone who can, and most of the characters (with the exception of the leads - and that's due to the actors portraying them more than anything else) are kind of weak and unsubstantial, almost allegorical in nature. Gaiman is more into world building and witty whimsy than he is into plotting or characterization. After multiple attempts, I gave up on him finally. I did however enjoy Ocean at the End of the Lane - even if I can't remember it now. That said? It's still more of a collaborative work.
At any rate, Good Omens S3 - the Final Season - was renewed in 2023, and it will most likely air in 2024 or 2025. Amazon is not going to cancel that. And no, even if Good Omens got cancelled, you wouldn't get Dead Boy Detectives (that's Netflix - if it had been Amazon, it would have been fine). Different streaming outlets, different rules. Amazon won't cancel Good Omens because Amazon has too much sunk into it. S1 and 2 did extremely well, and they are paying a lot of money to keep the set intact and the cast. It will air.
Sandman on the other hand - you might want to avoid? That's pretty much all Gaiman. [A good comparison? Is Whedon's Dollhouse. Sandman and Dollhouse are very similar horror tropes and very much the creators visions. Also the creators have similar fetishes with Shakespeare.] And Season 2 of Sandman - has been pushed back to 2025 - so I believe that one is affected by the current scandal and most likely won't make it to air. (Gaiman was advertising the casting on it on Bluesky when the scandal broke.) Of the three, Sandman is by far the most horrific and dark - it slides from dark fantasy to pure horror. It's also very sadistic in places, and there's a lot of torture and dark sex, allusions to sexual violence and rape (which have admittedly been toned down greatly from the 1980s comics - it doesn't totally date well, so they had tone it down a bit, thank god). However, if you made it through Game of Thrones and House of Dragon, and basically anything on AMC, you'll be fine. It's not as bad as Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead. I was reminded - listening to the audiobook version and watching it on Netflix - of why I gave up on the comics. So, if any of that triggers you - avoid Sandman.
Let's face it - there's a lot of extremely violent television shows on at the moment? I tried Into the Badlands - and gave up. Too violent and I didn't care about anyone, also the dialogue was alarmingly bad. Very disappointed.
2. I feel like I wasted my time off. Although to give myself some credit - I'm trying to get my health back in wack, and struggling with work and various other changes. Plus, trying to save money.
Read something recently on FB...I'll see if I can find it? Found it.
I found it encouraging.
I am grateful for my job, healthcare benefits (such as they are), vacation time, general health, apartment, area that I live in, free transportation benefits, and my family and the scant friends that I have.
I keep thinking daily, there but for the grace of god go I. Been thinking this a lot lately. I've managed to live my life without endangering, harming, screwing, or damaging another person or sentient creature for my own personal gain. Not everyone can say that. Or after fifty-seven years.
Heck surviving to fifty-seven is a minor accomplishment.
Saw on the news today that six people had been shot at the West Indian Day Parade. They located the shooter fairly quickly though - it was yet another young nitwit with a gun. And NYC has strict gun laws.
Also, there's something to be said for relaxing and chilling. Which I apparently needed to do? Or I'd have done something else?
For those struggling to understand why Netflix cancels things, and why they cancelled Dead Boy Detectives - go HERE
" In a Variety exclusive, Netflix's decision to cancel Dead Boy Detectives after just one season becomes a little more understandable, as the show's viewership numbers dropped pretty quickly — and steeply — following the eight-episode season's premiere on April 25, 2024. Despite a solid opening, Dead Boy Detectives' first and only season clung to the Netflix Top 10 English TV charts for just three weeks after its release, peaking at number two on the lineup. While that run isn't as impressive as some of Netflix's mega-hits, it wasn't a terrible turn — but other metrics weren't so hot.
Dead Boy Detectives had an incredibly sharp decline, falling to a slim 1.8 million views by week three.
The Sandman spin-off garnered just 3.1 million views in its first three days on the platform. Although its views rose to just shy of 5 million during its first week, Dead Boy Detectives had an incredibly sharp decline, falling to a slim 1.8 million views by week three. After that, it vanished from the streamer's Top 10 chart altogether. Netflix's metrics for determining a show's success or failure are often criticized for being obtuse. However, the streaming giant often cites a week-to-week drop-off as a major factor in its renewal decisions. "
I recently watched a podcast on Youtube (it's annoying, I barely got through it - so won't repost here, but..it made some salient points). Netflix has a streaming model - that bases popularity or ratings on how many people binge the show in the first few months of release. Or the first weekend. So, if you wait say - six or seven months to watch the show? You probably won't be counted. If you don't watch it when it first hits Netflix and is at the top of your queue - then Netflix doesn't really count your viewage in its determination.
The rest of the podcast rants about streaming and Netflix being set up to destroy television and not being sustainable. (Well, no, a streaming channel allowing you to watch limitless television for basically $9 a month will bankrupt the producers of the content rather quickly. It's why we have commercials sneaking back into the mix. Commercials and ads paid for content.)
In short, this had zip to do with the allegations against Gaiman. For one thing he didn't create the show or series, it's by someone else, who isn't directly connected to him. You can kind of tell by the fact that is among the few Gaiman verse works that is tightly plotted. And has definitive and strong characterization of lead and supporting players.
I wouldn't worry too much about loving Good Omens either - that's based on work co-written by Terry Prachett (you can tell by the puns and the whimsy), and is largely collaborative in nature. To put this another way? It's kind of like deciding not to watch Buffy and Angel because of Whedon.
* Caveat? I'm not a fan of Good Omens? Not into puns - I don't understand them. No one in my family does. You either have the brain for puns or you don't. I only watched for the credits sequence - which is hilarious, and the banter between Tennant and Sheenan, which you can see elsewhere. I also found it horribly plotted, Gaiman can't plot to save his life nor have they hired anyone who can, and most of the characters (with the exception of the leads - and that's due to the actors portraying them more than anything else) are kind of weak and unsubstantial, almost allegorical in nature. Gaiman is more into world building and witty whimsy than he is into plotting or characterization. After multiple attempts, I gave up on him finally. I did however enjoy Ocean at the End of the Lane - even if I can't remember it now. That said? It's still more of a collaborative work.
At any rate, Good Omens S3 - the Final Season - was renewed in 2023, and it will most likely air in 2024 or 2025. Amazon is not going to cancel that. And no, even if Good Omens got cancelled, you wouldn't get Dead Boy Detectives (that's Netflix - if it had been Amazon, it would have been fine). Different streaming outlets, different rules. Amazon won't cancel Good Omens because Amazon has too much sunk into it. S1 and 2 did extremely well, and they are paying a lot of money to keep the set intact and the cast. It will air.
Sandman on the other hand - you might want to avoid? That's pretty much all Gaiman. [A good comparison? Is Whedon's Dollhouse. Sandman and Dollhouse are very similar horror tropes and very much the creators visions. Also the creators have similar fetishes with Shakespeare.] And Season 2 of Sandman - has been pushed back to 2025 - so I believe that one is affected by the current scandal and most likely won't make it to air. (Gaiman was advertising the casting on it on Bluesky when the scandal broke.) Of the three, Sandman is by far the most horrific and dark - it slides from dark fantasy to pure horror. It's also very sadistic in places, and there's a lot of torture and dark sex, allusions to sexual violence and rape (which have admittedly been toned down greatly from the 1980s comics - it doesn't totally date well, so they had tone it down a bit, thank god). However, if you made it through Game of Thrones and House of Dragon, and basically anything on AMC, you'll be fine. It's not as bad as Game of Thrones or The Walking Dead. I was reminded - listening to the audiobook version and watching it on Netflix - of why I gave up on the comics. So, if any of that triggers you - avoid Sandman.
Let's face it - there's a lot of extremely violent television shows on at the moment? I tried Into the Badlands - and gave up. Too violent and I didn't care about anyone, also the dialogue was alarmingly bad. Very disappointed.
2. I feel like I wasted my time off. Although to give myself some credit - I'm trying to get my health back in wack, and struggling with work and various other changes. Plus, trying to save money.
Read something recently on FB...I'll see if I can find it? Found it.
I found it encouraging.
I am grateful for my job, healthcare benefits (such as they are), vacation time, general health, apartment, area that I live in, free transportation benefits, and my family and the scant friends that I have.
I keep thinking daily, there but for the grace of god go I. Been thinking this a lot lately. I've managed to live my life without endangering, harming, screwing, or damaging another person or sentient creature for my own personal gain. Not everyone can say that. Or after fifty-seven years.
Heck surviving to fifty-seven is a minor accomplishment.
Saw on the news today that six people had been shot at the West Indian Day Parade. They located the shooter fairly quickly though - it was yet another young nitwit with a gun. And NYC has strict gun laws.
Also, there's something to be said for relaxing and chilling. Which I apparently needed to do? Or I'd have done something else?
no subject
Date: 2024-09-03 05:14 pm (UTC)Syndication wouldn't matter to a network unless they were the owner of a show. But that was what kept the CW running as long as it did. Selling their content to other locations that would get much bigger audiences provided an incentive to keep new episodes coming of long running shows. And Netflix is the owner of a lot of content. It could sell it on DVD if it wanted, it could license it elsewhere and all that content continues to keep people subscribed to Netflix. The first month of viewership isn't the only way it could provide revenue.
However that is clearly not considered in terms of keeping shows running, which is rather odd given that Netflix works on an on-demand model and not a one-time or even weekly release schedule of programs.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-03 09:05 pm (UTC)As a result, only series like Stranger Things or Bridgerton get a chance of succeeding.
The other problem with Netflix - is long lag times between seasons. There's often two-three, sometimes four years between seasons. Which is okay, if it's an anthology, but with serials, you lose your audience. The audience has to re-watch the series. The Witcher lost me, because there was a good three-four years between season 1 and season 2. I'd forgotten most of S1 by the time S2 arrived or why I liked it. Stranger Things has a similar issue, as does Bridgerton which has two-three years between seasons.
Amazon has maybe a year or two, if that. Paramount maybe a year. Disney - a year, sometimes less, sometimes more.
The broadcast networks? Or cable? Just five months. The five month lag time is ideal.
Another problem - the number of episodes. 6-10 episodes isn't enough for the creators/actors etc to get make a living or get benefits. They can't support a family on that. As a result they have to do other gigs, which is why we get long-lag times between seasons, because the writers/actors/crew etc can't afford to solely commit to the project. Thirteen episodes isn't much better. Ideal? At least 20 or close. Stephen DeKnight, J.S (the writer behind Bab 5), Jane Espenson, and others have vented about this at length on Twitter. They just can't make a living off of the British model of six episodes, and it doesn't give them enough time to build a story or character, or even make mistakes.
no subject
Date: 2024-09-04 10:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2024-09-05 12:50 am (UTC)