5) Shorten The Series
And thus we arrive at the most pervasive problem that plagues the Netflix shows: they’re just too long.
Not the episodes themselves, it’s that pesky thirteen-episode structure that’s the main culprit. Regardless of what theme each show is exploring, at their hearts they’re superhero stories, right down to their adrenaline-fuelled needs. That isn’t to say they can’t be deep or cerebral (these shows have frequently proved that it’s possible), but they do need that burgeoning, dramatic tension to keep them chugging along.
Unfortunately, because of their structure, the Marvel/Netflix shows can’t sustain this drive for the time that they’re required to. Even the best of these series are forced to tread water for some period of time, be it the opening episodes of The Punisher or those where Kilgrave’s imprisoned in Jessica Jones. When this happens, the bloat sets in and the show grinds to a halt.
Again, it’s not that we don’t love spending time with characters like Jessica Jones. But if the show around them suffers for it, then something’s got to give. And that something is the series’ length.
All in all, plenty of square-eyed superhero fans are eagerly anticipating the returns of Jessica Jones and Matt Murdock in the coming months. And there’s certainly a lot to love in these shows, from their compelling characters to their cool costumes. But there’s always room for improvement, and we can only hope that the bosses at Marvel and Netflix take note of these problems so that their series return to their former glory once more.
