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PacManRandySavage t1_jdwmy4d wrote

Modern sitcoms (especially those on streaming platforms) seem to lack filler episodes. Seasons are shorter, so every episode exists to move the plot forward. We don’t actually see the cast acting like a group of friends or family. I think it really hurts the dynamic of the cast. I watched season 1 of How I Met Your Father and it seemed like the big plot events and twists were too close together. Why do I care about a relationship between 2 characters if I only saw it developing for 2 episodes?

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Faithless195 t1_jdx2dme wrote

> Seasons are shorter, so every episode exists to move the plot forward.

Which is the worst thing to do for a sitcom. Who tf watches a sitcom for 'the plot'? The entire 'plot' of the show should just be about the adventures/relationships between the characters. 99% of a sitcom like Friends, How I met Your Mother, The Office, etc, were all 'filler.'

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sakamism t1_jdxkz0r wrote

I think it's possible to make a more plot-driven sitcom that's still good. I haven't seen it yet but I've heard The Good Place is like that. But no one seems to want to make the old-school, meandering, slice-of-life sitcoms anymore - even though audiences obviously still crave those shows, since everyone is apparently just rewatching Friends or The Office or Community or whatever over and over again.

The problem won't be solved until the people making TV let more slice-of-life sitcoms be made again, and give them time to build momentum.

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Jewronski t1_jdxyzra wrote

The good place is amazing, and does many things I have never seen a sitcom pull off. Watch it!

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jack3moto t1_jdyuzcx wrote

i'm not here to shit on the good place as I loved it but it lacks a lot of that rewatchability that other big hit sitcoms have. The plot moves forward and there are some filler episodes but I think the biggest reason why it's a shorter series than most is the S1 reveal kinda alters the entirety of the show. It no longer can be a mix of fillers moving the plot forward, after that reveal each episode MUST work towards advancing the plot. Solid show but I think reddit gives it way to much praise when comparing it to sitcoms that carry A LOT of weight either due to initial viewing magnitude or the amount of people/hours rewatching it.

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BuzzedBlood t1_jdytku9 wrote

The Good Place ends on a cliffhanger nearly every episode. Not only is it plot driven but it’s really quite enthralling. Highly recommend

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jl_theprofessor t1_jdy07ls wrote

>The Office or Community

Throw in 30 Rock and you're describing my next six months, pal.

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BurritoLover2016 t1_jdxie34 wrote

Yeah and I think it's not that modern sitcoms have changed so much, it's that modern audiences have wildly different expectations of what a show is supposed to be.

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GeekdomCentral t1_jdyavup wrote

I had that issue with That 90s Show. In the season 1 finale one of the characters goes “wow, you’ve grown so much this summer!” and it’s like… we just started though. How’s it the end of the summer already?!

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ozsum t1_jdzx695 wrote

I blame the binge model for that one. It feels like you just started because you're not watching it over a 10 week period, you're watching it in a day.

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lucashoodfromthehood t1_jdz3j6v wrote

>Seasons are shorter, so every episode exists to move the plot forward.

My favourite sitcoms are You're The Worst and Catastrophe. Both are short when compared to HIMYM and still able to add fillers or an episode or two that focuses on just one side character. Shit writers is the real problem.

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Jorg_from_The_Jungle t1_jdzmi49 wrote

Is there really a plot in sitcoms? Was there a plot in TBBT outside Leonard trying to seduce Penny? or in HIMYM outside of how Ted met the mother (forget 90% of the episodes)

And I don't think the problem of HIMYF is the plot or lack of filler, first problem IMO is the characters and their respective actors. Like someone said in another thread, you can easily complete season 1 without knowing the names of the 6 main characs.

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Derfal-Cadern t1_jdzzm2o wrote

I did complete season 1 and I don’t honestly know the characters names. Definitely no Ted or Barney. They should have kept the spin off with Kristin miloti, she was awesome

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Jorg_from_The_Jungle t1_je02wln wrote

Among all guest-stars who played the potential mother, I only found Ashley Williams , the actress who played Victoria, to be the one matching the energy of Ted, Barney and the others.

Miloti came to late, was too tame and didn't stay long enough to be interesting, outside of being "the mother".

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Derfal-Cadern t1_je27huz wrote

Victoria was definitely the best outside of the main core. I think if Miloti was there a season earlier she’d be queen. Alas we’ll never know

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eescorpius t1_je043kz wrote

Season 2 is actually a lot better, though it's still just a filler show for when I am bored.

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PiFlavoredPie t1_jdyoe5l wrote

Season 2 currently airing is actually fixing that problem. The season is 20 (I think) episodes long so things move a lot slower as far as the central plot goes, and we get a lot more of the cast just hanging out in both normal and silly scenarios.

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