"This short-episode trend isn't new, but 2020 has cemented it as a rule," says Kim Renfro, pointing to half-hour acclaimed shows like Normal People, Never Have I Ever and I May Destroy You. "Sitcoms have historically occupied the '30 minutes or shorter' runtime on TV, leading to shows like The Office, Friends, and Seinfeld still dominating as beloved binge-watches for multiple generations. But now, thanks to new streaming services breaking genre shows out of typically restricted cable runtimes, dramas can run short, too."
TOPICS: I May Destroy You, Never Have I Ever, Normal People, Peak TV