Mozart wrote for audiences who were only half paying attention. If that is all he had done -- and it was all that most of his peers did -- he would be forgotten. But at the same time he also wrote for audiences who were paying the closest possible attention. He is remembered for doing both. It is quite a trick, as you will see if you try it. Netflix do not even see the need for it, and therefore, their "works" will be forgotten.

Some related discussions:

Casual Viewing – Why Netflix looks like that

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42529756

The new literalism plaguing today’s movies

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=44567683

Why 90s Movies Feel More Alive Than Anything on Netflix

https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=46062198

Turkish TV series have been operating on this exact "second screen" logic for decades. They are massive global exports specifically because their 140-minute episodes rely heavily on meaningful stares, flashbacks, and circular dialogue.

They are designed for people ironing or cooking; you can leave the room for twenty minutes and miss absolutely nothing.

Personally, I can't bear them, the constant spoon-feeding is torture if you are actually paying attention, but Netflix is effectively just adopting this proven, low-attention retention strategy.

"Can we get a big one in the first five minutes?"

That's in screenwriter circles called the hook, not the plot. You don't reiterate the whole plot for the innate viewers, you just deepen the hook, usually by giving wrong hooks, which are then replaced by better hooks.

It's not that Netflix invented TV scripting. Even with festival movies you turn it off within the first 5 minutes if you have to judge 200 to 2000 admissions in a month. Same with distributors. They certainly don't watch the whole movie if it starts bad. It usually doesn't get better in the third act.

Some TV is already like this. I recall critics of Teletubbies complaining about the repeated statements and actions (Tinky-Winky says "Again! Again!"). Then I spent time in Asia and all their popular entertainment (eg Running Man) continually repeats the last 10 seconds of each action. It's crazy making to me, but it evidently is what the viewers like.

”He is buying a gift for his aunt”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2gB03p44_4

I am daft: why do people past a certain age continue to watch movies and tv shows so religiously. What’s the never ending allure? It’s very formulaic as per the articles. Once in awhile I can sort of understand but beyond that, is it escapism? Addiction?

This will kill Netflix in the end.

I recently heard some workmates discussing some new TV show - one told the other that they definitely can't double-screen for this show - it needs full attention.

i believe that would qualify as "hanging a lantern"

http://bekindrewrite.com/2011/02/04/what-does-hang-a-lantern...

when done artfully it works well, rather than insulting intelligences, or seeming intentionally dumbed down.

There will never be another The Wire.

The HN headline misses the point that Netflix told Matt Damon this.

I'd guess more people will watch Matt Damon's new movie on Netflix than watched Adolescence before it won the awards

People want to see (are more likely to watch) super and action hero movies with big stars in - but there's been so many of these with fairly similar plotlines that outside the attention grabbing action and fight scenes the quiet/story development scenes become like ad breaks and people start looking at their phones.

If Matt Damon made different movies for Netflix (like adolescence!), he'd get less views but be given more freedom.

> shows like “Adolescence” are “the exception,” Affleck said he felt the show “demonstrates you don’t have to do” the Netflix tricks to please audiences.

I hate this lazy, boring form of non-art.

If people can't pay attention, fuck them.

I am of two minds here. I can understand how the filmmakers can feel insulted by this demand but I am also one of those viewers that watches movies with one eye on my phone so spoon feeding the audience benefits people like me. I only pay full attention to one or two shows (usually those that I watch with my spouse) and every other show can only get my divided attention. My product manager sense says that you should give people what they want even if my artistic sense is indignant.