Hello friends,
Last week, Netflix announced that it would be discontinuing its original series The Baby-Sitters Club. Netflix prematurely canceling beloved shows is nothing new, but what’s interesting about this is that The Baby-Sitters Club received wide viewership and even wider acclaim (both of its seasons scored 100% on Rotten Tomatoes). So why did it get the boot?
In a recent interview with Vulture, series creator Rachel Shukert points to the notorious Netflix algorithm, which she says hid season two of the show even from devoted fans. She observes that “A lot of times, Netflix things come out and for whatever reason, if the algorithm doesn’t put it in front of you, no one knows it’s on.” She then asks, “Why is this not getting in front of people that want to watch it?”
We already know why: the algorithm is broken, and it’s always going to put the company’s needs first. Shukert thinks that, right now, those needs are viral and easily bingeable content—the Squid Games and Money Heists of TV. This doesn’t bode well for niche and slower-moving shows, but this is why we do what we do. Here’s to more thoughtful human recommendations.
I hope you have a nice weekend!
OUR TOP TV SHOW OF THE WEEK
Undone
Season 1 is on Amazon Prime 🍅 rating: 98%
Undone is a rotoscoped fever dream of a show; it’s about a woman learning about the limitless possibilities of time and space after almost dying in a car crash. In the trippy realm between life and the afterlife, she reconnects with her father and helps him uncover the truth about his mysterious death.
Bojack Horseman creator Raphael Bob-Waksberg also helped build and write this show, which is why it’s no surprise that despite the vivid and detailed animation, it’s the characters who truly stand out. He also announced earlier this week that season 2 is slated to arrive next month, which makes now the perfect time to watch (or rewatch) the show.
OUR TOP MOVIE OF THE WEEK
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