In recent years, many popular TV series have seen their episode counts shrink in their second seasons, a trend that appears to be winding down. Shows like HBO's House of the Dragon and Netflix's The Diplomat reduced their episode numbers in their sophomore runs, but this pattern seems less pervasive as the industry moves into 2025.
Reasons Behind the Shrinking Seasons
The shortened second-season trend stemmed from several factors, including last year’s industry strikes, tighter budgets at streaming platforms, and creative storytelling decisions. These pressures often forced creators to choose between fewer episodes or compromised production quality.
For instance, House of the Dragon cut its second season from 10 episodes to 8, citing both financial and creative reasons. Similarly, The Last of Us will reduce its episode count from 9 to 7 for its upcoming season. However, showrunner Craig Mazin emphasizes this aligns with a natural narrative breakpoint, with plans for a more expansive third season.
Netflix and the Strike Effect
Netflix also felt the pinch, with shows like The Diplomat and The Recruit dropping from 8 to 6 episodes, primarily due to strike-related delays. However, creators like Debora Cahn of The Diplomat have confirmed plans to return to the original eight-episode format for subsequent seasons.
Interestingly, other Netflix series like Beef and Squid Game experienced reductions due to creative choices. For Squid Game, a second-season count of 7 episodes facilitated the launch of a third season, already filmed and set for a Summer/Fall 2025 release.
A Glimpse of Stability
Not all series succumbed to shorter second seasons. HBO’s Andor, Apple TV+’s Silo, and Netflix’s Wednesday maintained their original episode counts. Some, like Severance, even increased theirs, adding an extra episode in its second season.
As production schedules stabilize post-strike and streaming budgets recover, viewers may see a return to longer seasons. For now, the shorter-season trend appears to be tapering off, offering hope for fans eager for more extended storytelling.
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Source: Dark Horizons
Photo Credit: HBO
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