Stranger Things Opening Tease Is So Close To Nailing Netflix’s Problem
Netflix'sopening 8-minute tease of Stranger Things season 4 proves that the streaming service should rethink how it releases its original series. Nearly three years after season 3 premiered, Stranger Things is returning with a highly-anticipated fourth season in two volumes. While the opening minutes of the next season are a welcome surprise, it does reveal a consistent streaming issue with Netflix.
In April 2022, Netflix reported that the platform had lost 200,000 subscribers in the year's first quarter. Furthermore, they explained that they expected to continue to lose subscribers in greater numbers as the year proceeded. As a result, Netflix's stock plummeted and they have since continued their policy of mass layoffs of Netflix employees.
Related: Netflix Losing Subscribers Is Bad For Disney+ & HBO Max Too
This release of the opening scene from Stranger Things shows that Netflix is close to solving its biggest problem, but is still not quite there. Netflix would benefit from releasing original show episodes weekly instead of all at once. While Netflix has built its brand around immediacy and accessibility, the binging format is clearly no longer working for the streaming giant. Other streaming services like Amazon's Prime Video, Apple TV+, and HBO Max have implemented weekly releases of many of their shows, garnering more tension, interest, and conversation from viewers. These extended release schedules give viewers something to look forward to each week instead of attempting to get through the whole release in one sitting to avoid spoilers. In turn, this encourages conversations and theorizing around mystery shows and outlandish series — something that both The Lincoln Lawyer and Russian Doll season 2 would have
Read more on screenrant.com
