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Trending TV shows that I just don't get - am I missing something?
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Every time a new trending TV show takes over social media, I feel like I'm living in a different reality. The latest one for me is Squid Game. Everyone was obsessed, memes everywhere, Halloween costumes... and I watched it and thought it was okay, but not life-changing like people made it out to be.
Or what about Euphoria? The cinematography is beautiful, but the characters are so unlikeable and the situations feel exaggerated. Yet it's treated like this groundbreaking portrayal of teen life.
These TV phenomena come and go, and I always feel like I'm on the outside looking in. The pressure to watch and enjoy these must-watch shows can be intense, especially when they dominate water cooler conversations.
What trending TV shows have you tried to get into but just couldn't? I'm talking about those TV shows with rave reviews that everyone says you must watch, but you end up feeling like you're missing something everyone else sees.
Squid Game is such a good example. When it came out, you couldn't escape it. Memes everywhere, Halloween costumes, think pieces about its commentary on capitalism. And yeah, it's a decent thriller with an interesting premise. But greatest show of all time"? Not even close.
What I find fascinating about these trending TV shows is how quickly they become part of the cultural conversation, and how quickly they fade away. Remember when everyone was obsessed with Tiger King? For about two weeks, it was all anyone could talk about. Then... nothing. It was a moment, not a masterpiece.
Another one: The Queen's Gambit. Beautifully shot, great performance from Anya Taylor-Joy... but the story felt predictable. Troubled genius overcomes personal demons through their extraordinary talent - we've seen this narrative before. Yet people treated it like it was revolutionary.
Bridgerton. The first season was everywhere - the soundtrack, the costumes, the who is Lady Whistledown" mystery. And it's... fine. It's a perfectly enjoyable period romance with modern sensibilities. But the way people talked about it, you'd think it was reinventing television.
What's interesting about these TV phenomena is how they often succeed by mixing familiar elements in new ways. Bridgerton is basically Jane Austen meets Gossip Girl. Squid Game is Battle Royale meets capitalist critique. The formula isn't new, but the packaging is.
Another one: The Witcher. As someone who hasn't played the games or read the books, I found the timeline jumping confusing and the world-building poorly explained. Yet it has this massive fanbase that treats it like the second coming of Game of Thrones.
Yellowstone. Everyone keeps telling me I need to watch it, that it's this amazing modern western with complex characters and gripping drama. I tried. I really did. But it just feels like a soap opera with horses and cowboy hats.
The characters are all terrible people making terrible decisions, and after a while, I stopped caring what happened to any of them. Yet it's one of the most popular shows on television, with multiple spinoffs in development.
Sometimes I think these must-watch shows succeed because they tap into a particular fantasy. Yellowstone lets people imagine what it would be like to own a massive ranch and have absolute power over your domain. The appeal is aspirational rather than artistic.
The White Lotus. Won all the Emmys, critical darling, everyone was talking about the theme song and Jennifer Coolidge's performance. And... it's fine. It's a dark comedy about terrible rich people being terrible. The social commentary feels obvious, and the characters are caricatures rather than real people.
What's interesting is how these TV shows with rave reviews often get praised for being timely" or "relevant." The White Lotus is about wealth inequality and privilege - topics that are definitely important. But having an important theme doesn't automatically make something good television.
Another one: Succession. I know, I know - it's brilliant, the writing is sharp, the acting is phenomenal. But I tried watching it, and all these terrible rich people screaming at each other just stressed me out. I don't find watching miserable people be miserable to each other entertaining.
Wednesday. The Addams Family spinoff that took over Netflix. The aesthetic is great, Jenna Ortega is compelling... but the plot is basically every teen supernatural drama ever made. Mystery at a magical school, love triangle, monster of the week.
What's interesting about these trending TV shows is how they often succeed by combining nostalgia with current trends. Wednesday takes a beloved IP (The Addams Family) and gives it a modern makeover (dark teen drama with supernatural elements). The formula works, but that doesn't make it groundbreaking.
Another example: Only Murders in the Building. Charming performances, fun premise... but the mysteries aren't particularly clever, and the tone wobbles between comedy and drama. Yet it's treated like this brilliant reinvention of the murder mystery genre.
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