Liev Schreiber and Nicole Kidman in "The Perfect Couple."
Content is Content: A Manifesto for the Episodic Revolution
December 27, 2024
Forget those tired narratives about the changing media landscape. This is a bold proclamation, a wake-up call to the entertainment industry: episodic content isn’t just the future, it’s the glorious present, reigning supreme as our most captivating form of entertainment.
And it’s high time everyone else caught up.
It’s time for a revolution, a complete and utter embrace of episodic storytelling, from its inception to its consumption, to the very awards we bestow upon it.
Content is Content, Episode 1: The Cracks in the Foundation (Box Office Blues, A-List Migration, and the Looming Shadow of AI)
For decades, the two-hour cinematic experience clung to its throne. But the throne is crumbling. While box office numbers occasionally sputtered back to life with event films such as Barbie or Oppenheimer in 2023, they’ve resumed their pathetic decline in 2024. A few meager successes can’t hide the obvious: traditional theatrical releases are floundering, gasping for air in a world that demands more. This is especially glaring when compared to the unwavering devotion episodic content inspires. And, finally, even Hollywood royalty is taking note. We’re witnessing a mass exodus of A-list talent, including Steven Spielberg with “Halo” and Nicole Kidman and Reese Witherspoon with “Big Little Lies.” These aren’t mere dalliances, they’re full-fledged conversions. These and other A-listers are diving headfirst into episodic storytelling, producing and starring in series that captivate audiences worldwide. This isn’t a passing trend; it’s a seismic shift, a changing of the guard. Even Martin Scorsese, the cinematic titan, has seen the light, embracing episodic storytelling with projects like “Boardwalk Empire” and “Pretend It’s a City.” He, like the rest of the enlightened, understands the power of a longer format to delve into characters and narratives with a depth that traditional film can only dream of. And just beyond the horizon, AI is poised to revolutionize episodic content creation, automating tedious tasks, generating creative content, and personalizing viewer experiences, making the production of high-quality episodic content even more effortless and cost-effective, accelerating the inevitable shift towards this superior format.
Content is Content, Episode 2: My Two-Hour Limit (And Why It’s No Longer Enough – Even for the Masters, for AI, or for Our Attention Spans)
We’ve all been there. Trapped in a bloated blockbuster, yearning for a more expansive story, thinking, “This could have been so much better as a series.” The two-hour constraint, a relic of a bygone era, forces filmmakers to hack away at their narratives, sacrificing character development and diluting the impact of their stories. But episodic storytelling … ah, that’s where true freedom lies. It liberates narratives, allowing them to breathe, to flourish, to explore the depths of human experience. And it’s not just a theory; it’s unfolding before our very eyes. Take “Beef” (Netflix), a critically acclaimed dark comedy directed by Lee Sung Jin and starring Steven Yeun and Ali Wong. Its episodic format allows for a slow burn, a nuanced exploration of anger, class, and identity, culminating in a series as robust as it is thought-provoking. Or consider “The Crowded Room” (Apple TV+), starring Tom Holland and Amanda Seyfried, which masterfully tackles challenging subjects such as Dissociative Identity Disorder. The episodic format allows the gradual unfolding of the protagonist’s fractured psyche, creating a narrative as compelling as it is suspenseful. These aren’t isolated incidents; they are harbingers of the future.
Content is Content, Episode 3: The 154 Million+ Gamer Uprising (It’s Not Just a Game Anymore, AI is Playing Along, and Viewers Are Joining In)
The gaming revolution has arrived, and it’s rewriting the rules of storytelling. No longer a niche hobby, gaming is a cultural force, and guess what? It’s embracing episodic storytelling with a fervor that would make even the most seasoned showrunner blush. We’re witnessing the rise of interactive films and games with narratives so compelling they rival the best Hollywood has to offer. Games such as The Last of Us have been successfully adapted into acclaimed episodic series, further blurring the lines between gaming and traditional television. And the audience? Massive. Engaged. They’re not just playing; they’re watching, discussing, and immersing themselves in these interactive worlds. Recent reports indicate that The Game Awards 2024 viewership shattered previous records, reaching a staggering 154 million-plus live streams, a 31% increase from the prior year. Beyond playing, the rise of e-sports demonstrates that millions are tuning in to watch others play, transforming gaming into a spectator sport with massive online audiences following professional gamers and tournaments. This isn’t just kids playing games; it’s a global audience engaging with interactive, story-driven experiences in countless ways.
Content is Content, Episode 4: Beyond Oscars and Emmys (One Award to Rule Them All – And Yes, It Might Sound Crazy)
If episodic content is the future, why are we still clinging to an outdated awards system that arbitrarily separates film and television? The Oscars and Emmys, while prestigious, represent a division that no longer reflects the reality of the entertainment landscape. Even the Golden Globes, for all their flaws, recognized this long ago, merging film and television categories into a single ceremony. And yet, the Oscars and Emmys remain stubbornly entrenched in their outdated ways. The Oscars, in particular, have often been criticized for their bias towards smaller, “art-house” films, frequently overlooking more popular, mainstream fare, including episodic series. It’s time for a change, a revolution in recognition. It’s time for a merger, a unification, a Super Bowl of entertainment that celebrates the best storytelling, regardless of format.
The writing is on the wall. The future of entertainment is episodic, interactive, and brimming with potential. It’s time to embrace a new era of storytelling that prioritizes depth, engagement, and above all, the power of a well-told story, unconstrained by outdated formats. Let the episodic revolution begin.
Rob Tonkin is a radio and music industry marketing veteran with a keen interest in film and media. He is a consultant, advisor and speaker and is currently working on his memoirs. He may be contacted at robtonkin@gmail.com.