It’s become conventional wisdom that the 2000s and early 2010s was the golden age of television, with series that managed to become cultural phenomena, the sort of conversation starters that kept viewers engaged and talking about the shows for weeks after episodes aired. Though the high point seems to have passed, there are still many series that continues to exert a powerful hold on the collective imagination.
Thus, it’s not entirely surprising that the users of Reddit have identified some of the highlights of this golden age, drawing attention to the experience of viewing so much excellent content.
Watching Lost Episodes In Real-Time
Lost was a notable series for many reasons, not the least of which was its narrative complexity and the many enigmas that it kept going. Though it began with a seemingly simple story of people on a desert island, it soon became something much more, exploring a major number of weighty issues.
PostyMcPosterson writes: “Watching Lost episodes as they aired and the discussions online of what would happen next were amazing.” A major component of the pleasure of the golden age was the communal experience of watching something and commenting on it with other fans.
The Plethora Of Strong Sitcoms
Though the golden age of television has been marked by several excellent drama series, it is also important to draw attention to the many great sitcoms that emerged during this period as well. Series like Veep viciously lampooned the mendacity of politics, while Parks and Recreation pointed out the value of perpetual optimism.
Vincent_adultman98 writes that such series are “All extremely popular sitcoms, all from the last 10 or so years.” Thus, it is just as important to laud these series as it is to pay attention to more somber fare.
The Constant Stream Of Good Content
Though much of the emphasis in golden age discourse is on the dramas themselves, it’s also important to recognize that much of the reason that the age exists at all is because of the increased access. Indeed, the plethora of new streamers ensures that new content is always available to consumers, and this dramatically increases the types of stories that can be told.
As Vincent_adultman98 puts it: “If anything, we're living in a golden age of television access. It used to be difficult to find weirder or darker shows if that's what you were into, but now you can watch almost anything immediately if you have the right streaming service.”
The Communal Experience Of Game Of Thrones
Game of Thrones looms large in the conversation about the golden age of television. This is not surprising, given that it is one of the best HBO series. Indeed, part of the appeal of the show was the communal experience of watching it with others who were just as passionately devoted.
armypantsnflipflops writes of watching it in the city in which they lived, and they describe it as “Such an amazing experience that I doubt would ever happen again on that big of a scale.” In some ways, it does feel like an experience that can never quite be replicated.
The Strong Foreign Dramas
Though many of the most iconic series of the golden age of television have hailed from the United States, it has also been a great era for foreign dramas. Skavau writes: “If you're willing to pay for stuff across streamers, and international lines, or just pirate whatever - this is a solid age for TV. Foreign dramas have also never been better.”
This is an important reminder that, while American networks tend to dominate the discussion, it is also worth branching out into other areas of viewing interest.
The Big Budgets Of Series
One aspect of the golden age of television that has appealed to viewers has been the enormous amount of money studios are willing to commit to their various offerings, and many series have become quite expensive. Lightsongtheold is particularly enthusiastic about this turn of events.
They note: “This is definitely the TV Golden Age as even outside of prestige quality shows we are in the era of blockbuster TV where we get massive budget adaptations of stuff like Star Wars, Marvel, Star Trek, Foundation, The Witcher, WoT, The Boys, etc. what a time to be a TV fan!” It is the case that the larger budgets have dramatically expanded the scope of the types of stories that can be told.
Watching Multiple Excellent Episodes
One of the hallmarks of the golden age of television has been serialized stories, in which a given storyline is told over multiple episodes. Among other things, this method of storytelling has allowed numerous strong episodes to emerge during a given season. AnubisSaves, for example, writes of one particular instance they remember: “There was a week where last month where we had new episodes of Better Call Saul and Atlanta two all-time shows.
Plus new Barry which has been great.” Part of the experience of the golden age of television is knowing that there will be not one but several episodes of several series worth viewing.
The Many Great Shows Coming Out Of HBO
In addition to its regular offerings, HBO has also made great strides with its streaming series on HBO Max (on which there are several great series). Many of these shows have managed to become a major part of the cultural conversation, igniting commentary.
Lightsongtheold puts it this way: “HBO might have had a better show in a past era but they have never had a collection of shows this strong!” It is certainly true that the network continues to show that it is one of the most reliable producers of strong content.
Seeing Many Shows In Several Different Ways
There are now many streamers available, and they have all been responsible for producing great content. Indeed, it is precisely the wide variety of content available, and the increased methods of watching it, that appeals to many who love the golden age of television.
LivefromNewYork95, for example, puts it this way: “I feel like I got to see so many great TV shows air live and in so many different ways network TV, cable TV, premium cable, early streaming.” Whatever else can be said about the golden age of television, it has made many types of entertainment available.
Capturing A Theater Experience On TV
One of the most notable things about the golden age of television has been the high quality of its dramas. Indeed, the 2010s was known for its many strong television series. In some ways, these series blend the pleasure of both television and movies.
Jfstompers, for example, says: “Still something like GoT or True Detective seemed unimaginable outside of a movie theatre when I was a kid.” The golden age of television has helped to elevate the medium as a whole, showing just how capable it is of telling complex stories.