Television's journey from "idiot box" to cultural cornerstone represents one of entertainment's most fascinating paradoxes. While TV's reputation has soared in recent decades, the actual quality of programming remains largely unchanged.
The transformation began with HBO's "The Sopranos" in 1999. Tony Soprano's complex character and the show's novelistic storytelling convinced critics that television could achieve artistic excellence. Soon after, shows like "The Wire," "Mad Men," and "Breaking Bad" cemented TV's new prestigious status.
But this elevation came with a catch. While these groundbreaking series demonstrated television's potential, they also created a rigid template that subsequent shows slavishly followed: brooding anti-heroes, stylized violence, and heavy-handed symbolism became the hallmarks of "prestige TV."
Today's acclaimed shows often mask mediocre writing behind glossy production values and self-conscious artistic flourishes. Take HBO's "Westworld," which packages recycled sci-fi concepts and gratuitous content in expensive wrapping paper. The show's convoluted mysteries seem designed more for online theorizing than compelling storytelling.
The internet plays a pivotal role in maintaining television's elevated status. An army of recappers and critics emerged alongside streaming platforms, creating an echo chamber of praise. These writers frame even middling shows as profound artistic statements, helping viewers feel sophisticated about their viewing habits.
Comparing today's best TV shows to cinema reveals the medium's limitations. While film continues producing diverse, challenging works like "Moonlight" and "The Lobster," television's most acclaimed offerings remain stuck in familiar patterns - usually focusing on troubled white men in criminal enterprises.
Television's business model partially explains this creative stagnation. Shows must maintain viewership across multiple seasons, leading creators to prioritize addictive plotting over artistic risk-taking. The result is a form of cultural fast food masquerading as fine dining.
The "Golden Age of Television" may have raised the medium's ceiling, but it hasn't lifted the floor. Most viewers still watch conventional network fare like "NCIS" and "The Big Bang Theory." Television's improved reputation stems more from changing critical standards than genuine artistic evolution.