Algorithms are designed to keep us watching, often leading to a "race to the bottom" where content is engineered for clicks rather than substance. Extra quality entertainment acts as the antidote to this fatigue.
But what makes content "extra quality"? Is it just high production value, or is it something more? As audience tastes become more sophisticated, the media industry is struggling—and succeeding—to redefine excellence in an era of infinite choice. 1. Defining "Extra Quality" in a Saturated Market hegre230131giaandgoroshowersexxxx1080 extra quality
The film studio A24 has built an empire on "extra quality." They make movies that are risky, beautiful, and polarizing ( Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Lighthouse, Past Lives ). Find the creators—in TV, podcasts, or music—who operate like A24. Follow directors, not franchises. Algorithms are designed to keep us watching, often
Most popular media today is designed to be consumable , not memorable . It is engineered for the "second screen"—designed to be watched while you scroll through your phone. It relies on cliffhangers, shock value, and algorithm-friendly tropes. It is the fast food of storytelling: hot, salty, addictive, and empty. Is it just high production value, or is it something more
Shows like Succession or The Last of Us offer deep character development and complex plots that unfold over hours, something a two-hour movie cannot achieve.
Audiences now demand a two-way relationship with media. Successful franchises integrate fan feedback, user-generated content, and digital communities into their official ecosystems.
The resurgence of long-form storytelling (think prestige TV series like Succession or The Last of Us ) proves that audiences crave complex, slow-burn narratives over simplistic, fast-paced plots.