Did you watch “Aquarius” last weekend? More importantly, did you watch all of “Aquarius” last weekend? For the first time in broadcast history, anyone in the United States could watch all 13 episodes of “Aquarius” the day after the pilot aired on NBC. It was a big move from a network jumping ahead of what many saw as an extended timeline for this sort of distribution, and fans seem to be pleased with the choice even more than the series. But is it really a good thing for television?
READ MORE: This Trilogy is the Best Binge-Viewing Experience of the Year
When Netflix established the binge-viewing model, it was an outsider; a renegade; an exception to the rule, not the rule it’s becoming. Virtually every network is trying to capitalize on the demand for binge-viewing, making this release strategy more and more common every year.
But as has been mentioned before, not all series are conducive to the 21st century viewing method. Creators like Matthew Weiner and Jenji Kohan have admitted to partaking in the practice, while still mourning the days gone by when individual episodes were dissected, not just seasons. Is “Aquarius” better off with bingeing? Are there other shows out there that would benefit from a similar release?
Have no fear, Indiewire TV Editor Liz Shannon Miller and TV Critic Ben Travers are here to answer all these questions and more in this week’s Very Good TV Podcast. Returning from a holiday weekend bye, the two dig into what’s right and wrong about bingeing “Aquarius,” what other shows they like to binge and why these particular entries are better for it than others. You can listen to the episode above, but don’t forget to subscribe via Soundcloud or iTunes. Follow Indiewire on Twitter and Facebook for all your pertinent TV news — including more David Duchovny, more “X-Files,” and more bingeing — and check out Liz and Ben’s Twitter feeds for more, more, more.
Related Articles and News:
– Ben watched all of “Aquarius” and turned out this review. (Big surprise: he liked it.)
– Ben also spoke with “Aquarius” creator John McNamara and series star David Duchovny.
– Liz reviewed “Wayward Pines” and didn’t like it as much as “Aquarius.”
– Love bingeing? Check out these new additions to the Netflix lineup in June.
– Miss “Mad Men”? check out our post-mortem coverage, including Emmys odds, series finale review, and coverage of the Los Angeles live-read with Jon Hamm, Elisabeth Moss and more.
– Check out Liz’s in-depth look at “Unreal,” a Lifetime original everyone needs to sample.
– Yes, “Zoo” is a real show. No, Ben didn’t have a stroke and dream it up. Here’s the trailer.
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