From ‘Glow’ to ‘One Day at a Time,’ Netflix Comedies Only Get Better with Age

Every TV show eventually wears out its welcome. Cast members leave, romantic tension fizzles, or a character literally waterskis over a shark. Shows aren’t built to last forever, and network comedies seem to come and go before they ever get a chance to find their footing.

That’s not the case with Netflix’s shows, specifically their comedies. Somehow the binge-it-now release model has become conducive to longevity! That wasn’t clear at first; a few years ago it seemed like this everything-at-once release model could cause shows to do a fly-by. I thought that the key to sustainability was the weekly release schedule honed over 60 years of network television. Fast-forward four years and I know that’s not true. Netflix comedies only get better with age.

We’re only a month into 2019 and Netflix has proven this to be true. Friends from College Season 2 was a major improvement on Season 1, replacing a chunk of the show’s snark with much-needed heart. Grace and Frankie came back for Season 5, retaining a vibrancy and relevancy that you maybe wouldn’t expect from Netflix’s now longest-running comedy. Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Netflix’s first original comedy, closed out Season 4 this year with a batch of episodes on par with the show’s wittiest. And One Day at a Time’s third season, which drops this Friday, is not only the best season of the show, but it may be the best season of any Netflix comedy ever.

Take a step back to include 2018’s seasons and the trend continues. American Vandal’s sophomore outing lost none of the razor-sharp satire and vulnerability that made Season 1 a dream. Dear White People and BoJack Horseman continue to push boundaries, and GLOW’s second season was the best TV of 2018. Even Fuller House is consistently doing exactly what it wants to do four seasons into its run, maintaining its bonkers voice whether you like it or not (the fans love it).

Many of these shows are all pushing into Season 4 or Season 5; Grace and Frankie is coming back for round 6 next year! For comparison, that infamous shark jump happened in Happy Days’ three-part Season 5 premiere. These streaming shows should be showing some sign of wear or at least a little bit of routine. Even shows that stayed fresh in the middle of their runs (The Office, Seinfeld, Friends) settled into a kind of workman-like grind that provided consistent laughs but maybe not a lot of innovation.

This is where that Netflix model–dropping a dozen-ish episodes all at once–works in comedy’s favor. Admittedly there is a downside to this release schedule; Netflix shows don’t get to course correct as quickly as their traditional, 22-episodes a year network counterparts. For example, Friends‘ producers thought there was romantic potential between Monica and Joey, but it was fan reaction to Ross’ high school crush on Rachel that changed the course of Season 1 while it aired. Netflix shows don’t get to do that. If fans hate a character or plot, they have to stick with it through a six-hour binge. This is probably why most of Netflix’s Season 2’s are so strong; they’re the first chance producers get to actually look at their show, see what clicked and what flopped, and perfect it.

And while the lower episode count may mean we don’t get to spend as much time with our friends Titus, Frankie, or Zoya the Destroya, it also means that the writers aren’t blowing through all their big ideas in the first season. Grace and Frankie released 65 episodes in 5 seasons whereas Cheers released 121. Even I, a man who worships Cheers, have to admit that the ratio of killer to filler in Grace and Frankie’s first 5 seasons is way more balanced than Cheers‘ first 5 seasons (sorry Cliff, I still love you).

Even though I skew a bit old-fashioned and really enjoy a weekly release schedule, I gotta admit that Netflix’s way of doing things has kept their comedies fresher longer. Would Grace and Frankie still be pulling out surprises if episode 112 was airing this week? Probably not.

I know Netflix prides itself on being the go-to place for true crime, Christmas romcoms, and fulfilling reality shows, but it’s put in the work over the last four years to quietly become the low-key king of TV comedy. Don’t believe me? Spend some time this weekend with One Day at a Time Season 3. It’ll make you a believer.

Stream One Day at a Time on Netflix

Stream GLOW on Netflix