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One of the most bizarre and all-encompassing trends of 2016 TV has been the rise of the after show. The Golden Era of television has produced such high-end content, shows dissecting our favorite series are now not only profitable; they’re desirable. Game of Thrones has proven the demand for more Westeros entertainment with After the Thrones, and The Walking Dead has had a large amount of success with Talking Dead. But recently, Netflix has decided to jump into this realm of obsessive fans with its Stranger Things After Show.
The pun-free after show can be found on Netflix’s YouTube page. Technically, this is Netflix’s first official after show, but if you know where to look, Netflix has been promoting after shows about its content for a while. The Netflix US & Canada YouTube page currently showcases five different after shows for four of its originals series — two for Orange is the New Black (Seasons One and Four) and one for Grace and Frankie (Season One), Narcos (Season One), and now Stranger Things, respectively. Besides the Stranger Things After Show, these web-series have all been created in partnership with AfterBuzz TV, a web-series site that offers reviews for over 350 shows. However, at least from a branding perspective, the Stranger Things After Show is completely separate from AfterBuzz TV.
Netflix has been very quiet about the launch of its after show series, but I think what we’re seeing it the beginning of a new branch of Netflix Original content. AfterBuzz TV is far from the only critical platform that obsesses over TV. In fact, Decider has been known to dabble with Facebook Live around Bachelorette season. Netflix has proven time and time again that it’s a savvy company. As countless after shows and podcasts have proven, there is a demand for after shows. Netflix’s decision to launch its own after show to its most recent hit series, Stranger Things, may reveal that the company is testing the interest for this format.
Stranger Things was almost destined to be a hit — a big claim in this current tumulus TV climate. It was based on a beloved era (who doesn’t love the ‘80s?) and was packed with enough Stephen King and Steven Spielberg nostalgia to make any caliber of fan smile. But more than that, Stranger Things is just good. The series has an equally mysterious and fun premise and enough amazing performances from children to make The Goonies embarrassed. This surefire hit, which was designed to either live as a mini-series or become a new franchise on its own, was the perfect solid and complicated show that would benefit from an after show. And now it has one.
So how is it? If you love Stranger Things and are craving a more intense deep dive, it’s worth checking out. Hosted by DJ personality Jesse Janedy, each 40-minute episode gleefully nerds out about the series. However, the show stays relatively positive and upbeat. It’s difficult to tell whether that positivity stems from a pure love of Stranger Things or a hesitation to criticize Netflix. There’s really no way to tell unless Netflix chooses to cover a streaming flop, which may be more likely than you think.
As I mentioned before, one of Netflix’s promoted after shows is for Narcos Season One. Season Two of the series will be premiering in September, and Narcos is exactly the kind of highly dramatic and confusing series that would benefit from an after show. If I had to put money on it, I’d bet Netflix will be launching Season Two with an after show of its own. There’s nothing to indicate that Season Two will be anything but great. Ignoring the real life drama the series has produced, Season Two’s trailer looks inspired. However, the more content you release, the more likely it becomes that your critical outlet will have to decide whether to defend or attack a potentially problematic series. I want Narcos to be as amazing as Season Two, but if it’s not and if Netflix releases an after show, the company has a choice to make. Of course, this is all speculation. Netflix could decide to write off the Stranger Things After Show as a one-time failed experiment and move on to other projects. But for now, the Stranger Things After Show is worth the watch.
