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Netflix Doesn't Seem to Care about Quality Anymore

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  • CultureWizard
    03-03-2020 12:47:48 AM
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    Netflix just can't seem to get it right.. The quality of their movies and series seem to be all over the place. I just recently watched their new movie 'The Last Thing He Wanted'. I just don't know how they managed to get Ben Affleck, Anne Hathaway and Willem Dafoe all in the same movie and mess it up so badly.. I know that these movies aren't specifically written/directed by Netflix, though they do play a huge hand in the project and can absolutely pull the plug and/or change things up if they see fit. They could have fixed this. I guess you could chalk it up to me simply not being a fan of the movie, but with a rotten tomatoes score of 7% and 17%(audience) I'm not the only one thinking this.

    This also brings to mind 'Triple Frontier'. This movie was in production limbo for years when Netflix finally got it made. It also starred Ben Affleck, Charlie Hunnam and Oscar Issac all as leads. They messed this movie up so bad that it's actually irritating to think about. It had a great premise, great actors and a big budget. But turned out that the only thing good about the actual movie was it didn't have a long run time. Along with this you have just ridiculous movies like 'Tall Girl' which most everyone hated.

    You can also see this in their series. On one hand, you have a great series like 'OA'. This was a great, great show that got canceled on it's second season for seemingly no reason. It had a rapidly growing fan base, then canceled. This is the same for numerous other shows that got canceled on the third season. On the other hand, you have shows like 'Locke & Key', 'Iron Fist', 'Another Life' being pumped out like clockwork. These shows didn't need to be made.. and they're mostly all just bad. Put the funds into quality content like 'Ozark', 'Narcos', 'Stranger Things', 'OA' etc.

    Now I'm not saying that everything they put out has to be to my exact taste, considering they have to make content in a wide variety for everyone. But I am saying that their decision making in what they should/should not produce is insanely lacking. It's like someone dropped the ball on one mediocre or flat out bad movie/show a while back and everyone just left it on the ground.

  • NeoLogic
    03-03-2020 02:06:08 PM
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    I truly appreciate the grand experiment that is Netflix, where they take all the money in the world and try and make all the different kinds of entertainment in the world, for all the people in the world, all while operating at a loss. Happy

    Pretty amazing. Sure they could have a better batting average, like HBO. But HBO is playing a different game, they are doing quality first because they have limited broadcast ability anyways. That will change though when HBO Max takes hold (if it does). Its streaming vs a cable network atm.

    There is a problem Netflix can't seem to get quite right yet though, you are right. They shouldn't start shows they don't intend to see through, unless they absolutely tank. The 'OA' did not tank at all. Sense8 didn't tank. Sure, both of these shows were very expensive and pretty niche sci-fi head trips (my favorite kind). But I say if you start something and it has a dedicated audience you need to allow the show to play out, like a 3-5 season minimum.

    Of course, we are spoiled at the same time. Network TV has been cancelling good shows for mediocre shows for decades. For all the same reasons - money, lack of viewers and marketability. A formula I think Netflix is still perfecting but only like 50% there. Still, not bad for a company that produces more film and TV than I believe any other in the world. So I try and cut them some slack. They still do make so many great shows and even the rare great movie.

  • CultureWizard
    03-04-2020 12:40:38 AM
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    NeoLogic Wrote:

    I truly appreciate the grand experiment that is Netflix, where they take all the money in the world and try and make all the different kinds of entertainment in the world, for all the people in the world, all while operating at a loss. Happy

    Pretty amazing. Sure they could have a better batting average, like HBO. But HBO is playing a different game, they are doing quality first because they have limited broadcast ability anyways. That will change though when HBO Max takes hold (if it does). Its streaming vs a cable network atm.

    There is a problem Netflix can't seem to get quite right yet though, you are right. They shouldn't start shows they don't intend to see through, unless they absolutely tank. The 'OA' did not tank at all. Sense8 didn't tank. Sure, both of these shows were very expensive and pretty niche sci-fi head trips (my favorite kind). But I say if you start something and it has a dedicated audience you need to allow the show to play out, like a 3-5 season minimum.

    Of course, we are spoiled at the same time. Network TV has been cancelling good shows for mediocre shows for decades. For all the same reasons - money, lack of viewers and marketability. A formula I think Netflix is still perfecting but only like 50% there. Still, not bad for a company that produces more film and TV than I believe any other in the world. So I try and cut them some slack. They still do make so many great shows and even the rare great movie.

    Yeah, maybe I'm just spoiled now with all the options. I know they are all about making money and want to have successful shows. It just bothers me that they have great casts like in those two movies I listed above and they drop the ball so hard. They give the green light for it simply for the cast and a pretty trailer, then just let it go cause they'll get the viewers no matter what.
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