The original post: /r/television by /u/No_Bar_8333 on 2025-10-30 16:42:08.
Lately, it feels like every new TV or Netflix show barely makes it past season 5 - even the good ones. I keep wondering why that is.
What happened to the long-running series era? Shows like Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother, Friends, The Office, etc. all ran for 8, 9, even 12 seasons.
Now it feels like writers and studios purposely wrap things up early - either because of budgets, viewership drops, or fear of “dragging it out.” But honestly, some stories deserve more time to grow.
Is it a creative choice? A streaming-era issue? Or did long-running sitcoms just belong to another time?
Curious what everyone thinks. Ate shorter runs better storytelling, or do you miss the 9+ season classics too?