As a huge fan, I was totally glued to the screen for the Stranger Things finale! Honestly, it was amazing to see so many people watching it live – it really felt like those days of everyone tuning in at the same time were back, proving that ‘event television’ isn’t a thing of the past.
Netflix has been changing the way we consume entertainment since it first started sending out DVDs by mail.
The company first disrupted the video rental industry and, after transitioning to streaming, has become a major force that traditional movie and TV studios now watch closely.
Netflix revolutionized how we watch movies and TV series, but one of its features has had a mixed impact on viewing habits, a trend recently highlighted by the ending of Stranger Things.
How Netflix changed television
Old-fashioned network TV created “event television,” where everyone across the country would tune in to watch a show at the same time on a specific day. Of course, the exact time depended on your time zone!
The finales of shows like Seinfeld, Friends, and MAS*H drew massive audiences – 76 million, 80 million, and a remarkable 106 million viewers respectively. These events weren’t just about watching TV; they were shared experiences that brought the nation together and created lasting memories.
Netflix changed how people watched TV shows by releasing whole seasons at once. Shows like House of Cards pioneered this “binge-watching” trend, allowing viewers to watch an entire series in a single sitting if they wanted to.
People really enjoyed watching it, and the ability to watch multiple episodes at once played a big role in making Netflix as popular and successful as it is today. Soon after, other streaming services appeared and began offering similar experiences.
I love being able to binge-watch shows whenever I want, but it definitely has a downside. It’s hard to join in on those fun conversations everyone’s having about the latest episodes – you know, the ‘water cooler’ moments – when you’re not watching things live. Plus, it feels like you’re constantly dodging spoilers if you fall even a little bit behind!
In 2023, Netflix’s Chief Content Officer, Bela Bajaria, explained that data doesn’t show releasing shows weekly performs better, and she believes it doesn’t provide a good viewing experience for audiences.
Recently, the streaming service has started dividing its seasons into two parts more often. This is sometimes due to unavoidable circumstances like the pandemic or work stoppages, but also because showrunners for popular series like Bridgerton and The Crown have asked for this approach.
When questioned about a potential “hybrid” model in early 2025, Bajaria wasn’t definitive, explaining that the best approach would vary depending on the specific show.
Stranger Things delivered the shared TV experience that streaming forgot
That leads us to Stranger Things, which released its final season in three parts. The first part came out around Thanksgiving, and the second part was released during the Christmas season.
I was so excited when Volume 3 dropped on New Year’s Eve! It’s just one long episode, but it really brought back the feeling of having to tune in at a specific time to watch – a proper TV event, you know?
Actually, it’s true! I know people – friends and coworkers – who changed their New Year’s Eve plans just to watch the finale as soon as it was released. They wanted to experience it together, either by sharing reactions online or with friends in person.
Okay, that solo win was probably a fluke, but honestly, seeing everyone watch and talk about the finale together for the past day has been insane. It’s a huge moment for the streamer, and I bet Netflix is seriously thinking about how people are watching now. It might even change how they release shows in the future! If you want more Stranger Things, you can check out details on the Season 5 soundtrack, or read up on the best characters and episodes – I’m still buzzing from the finale!
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2026-01-01 16:19