[richk449]

I’m not sure that the writing quality is the point. A better question to ask whether the creator has something they are trying to convey. It can be something artistic, or philosophical, or ethical, or none-of-the-above, but there is something there someone behind the series believes in.

So much of what is on Netflix feels like a Hallmark Special with better writing and cinematography. It’s still empty calories.

[tptacek]

Right, but that's because Netflix produces a lot of content; if you're comparing the output of Netflix to that of FX, you're doing apples/oranges. If you select out just the high-effort stuff, they're doing great.

[richk449]

Has recent Netflix done anything that comes close to The Wire? Or to Breaking Bad?

[tptacek]

Has Netflix done anything that comes close to the first and third greatest television shows of all time? No. They did Black Mirror, Stranger Things (hey: season 5 of The Wire was no great shakes either), BoJack, the Flanagan halloween miniserieses, Dark Crystal, and most recently Man on the Inside. Those are just the things I personally appreciate. They're holding their own with FX, which is not a small achievement.

[richk449]

So what is number 2?

Black mirror was a British show first. I don’t know the others except for Man on the Inside - I’m skeptical, but if it turns out to as good as The Good Place, it will be impressive for Netflix.

[tptacek]

Saul, of course. Netflix commissioned most of Black Mirror. Man on the Inside is better than Good Place (and than any Only Murders season but the first).

[smackeyacky]

Maybe people like dreck.

Before the internet, Mills & Boon used to sell a hell of a lot of cheap paperbacks with much the same story in them. Or Arthur Hiller books. None of it was even approaching art but it sold well and people liked it.

A lot of the accusations that "Netflix is 99% dreck" is reflected in the top 10 list they handily generate for you. It simply means to me that I don't look on Netflix for something to watch, having seen the garbage getting watched on there. It says more about me than Netflix though and being judgy about other peoples taste shouldn't be mistaken for diagnosing the internets enshittification. These things are not the same.