The curse of the second season: Why some TV shows flop after the pilot

Throughout the years, as streaming has gained more popularity, there has been a growing pattern of second seasons failing or dropping in viewership.

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This has been a phenomenon across many streaming platforms, more specifically Netflix. Many new shows hit the ground running, with record-breaking numbers in the show’s opening weekend, yet see a lesser turnout in the show’s second season.

Which begs the question: what could be the cause? Is it the show’s quality? The distribution method, the platforms? Few reasons can explain this phenomenon.

The release strategy

Netflix is known for its bingeing strategy, releasing a chunk of episodes all at once, allowing viewers to watch a show and finish it all in a weekend. It can be quite enticing to get the full story all in one go without having to wait. The usual two- to three-year wait doesn’t leave room for viewers to care much about the show or enough to rewatch a second season.

By the time the second season is announced, new shows are trending and have captured viewers’ attention. The release strategy doesn’t make room for viewers to develop an attachment to the characters or the show.

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The 2-year wait

Some streaming platforms have been releasing second and third seasons of a show after two years. This pattern has been a point of contention for viewers, as in the fast-paced world, the wait seems more like an eternity. The two-year period is also a completely different time frame from regular TV.

TV shows back in the early 2000s would make viewers wait a year for a new season and release episodes weekly, whilst replaying episodes from older seasons, keeping viewers interested in the show.

Chasing subscribers and not viewers

Streaming platforms make their money off of new subscribers; the more they attract, the more money they are likely to make on a monthly basis. More effort is put into making sure the first season of the show is attractive enough to draw in a new subscriber while neglecting the second season that will possibly keep subscribers on the platform.

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