So far, the reputation that Netflix has staked out for themselves is a home for creatives where they will be allowed to flourish with minimal to no interruption from executives, and a place where programming doesn’t live or die on ratings, or even critical reception. However, both of those values critical to the brand of the streaming giant are coming under question today.
The Hollywood Reporter has an extensive profile on the media giant, where it’s revealed that the third season of “Bloodline” will be the last on the Netflix, and run ten episodes long. For fans of the slow-burning show, this will certainly be some disappointing news, as the show’s creators revealed last year they envisioned a five or six arc for the Rayburns. Either that will have to be really hurried up, or Sony Television, who produce the show, will have to find a new home for it. I’d wager the third and most likely option will see the writing team figuring out a new ending, and everyone calling it a day.
Meanwhile, with “House Of Cards” gearing up season five for next year, it will be doing so without series creator Beau Willimon. When his exit was announced in January, Willimon released a diplomatic statement, saying the “time for me to move on to new endeavors” had arrived, but there could be another reason.
Sources tell THR that Willimon bailed after pushing back quite hard on the notes about the hit series he received from Netflix. And certainly, the show’s producer Dana Brunetti (who it should be noted, is also the head of Relativity, who were involved in a fractious legal battle with Netflix this year over the release of a couple of titles) has seen the shine wear off the streaming service.
“There’s nothing special about Netflix anymore,” he said. “They had the first-mover advantage with digital streaming and giving artists more power, but now they’ve become like any traditional network or studio. And there are a lot of competitors.”
Of course, for every story about potential trouble, there are others who praise Netflix for taking real risks and investing lots of money in original programming. Just remember, this summer’s smash hit “Stranger Things” was rejected by 15-20 networks before Netflix came along.
Thoughts or feeling about “Bloodline” and “House Of Cards”? Let us know below.
eh, without knowing the full story I just think you can’t ALWAYS allow the inmates to run the asylum. Freedom and creativity has to be allowed but sometimes it runs amock, cough-zachsnyder-cough, so the company putting up the $$$ to allow a writer/director’s vision to come to screen should be allowed to give some direction if they feel it’s necessary. I don’t think that makes them bad or overly controlling there is a middle ground.
At least I hope it’s not a change in culture and just a matter of differences here and there, which are bound to happen in any business.