Season 3 of Bridgerton has arrived on Netflix, but not in its entirety. Instead of releasing all episodes at once, the streaming platform has adopted a new strategy of splitting seasons in half. In the case of Bridgerton, only four episodes are available now, with the remaining four set to debut in under a month on June 13. This trend is not limited to Bridgerton, as other successful shows like Stranger Things, The Witcher, You, The Crown, and Cobra Kai are also being divided into halves.
This new approach by Netflix seems to be aimed at preventing viewers from signing up for a short period to binge-watch a show and then canceling their subscription. By releasing episodes in two parts with a gap of a month or more between them, the streaming platform hopes to retain subscribers for a longer period. However, this strategy has raised concerns about the impact on the pacing and storytelling of these shows, as creators now have to adjust their plots to suit the split release format.
The decision to split seasons in two halves has not been well-received by fans and critics, who argue that it disrupts the viewing experience and diminishes the quality of the storytelling. Many believe that Netflix should either stick to the binge-watching model that made its shows successful in the first place or adopt a weekly release format for its biggest shows. Weekly releases not only keep viewers engaged over a longer period but also generate buzz and discussion around the show.
Popular shows like Bridgerton and Stranger Things are not the only ones affected by this new release strategy. Even upcoming series like Wednesday season 2 and Squid Game season 2 are expected to be split into multiple parts. The fear is that this trend will continue, with more shows being divided into halves or even thirds, which could potentially harm the overall storytelling and audience engagement. Critics hope that Netflix will reconsider its approach and return to a more viewer-friendly release format in the future.
Despite the backlash, Netflix seems determined to stick with its current release strategy for the time being. The success of shows like Shogun and X-Men 97, which have been released weekly, indicates that there is still a demand for the traditional viewing experience. Fans and critics alike hope that the streaming platform will eventually rethink its approach and prioritize the viewers’ experience and the storytelling integrity of its shows. Only time will tell if Netflix will continue down this path or make changes based on feedback from its audience.
