Television's fascination with the corridors of power underwent a massive transformation during the 2010s. From the bingeable cynicism of Netflix's House of Cards to the procedural rhythm of ABC's Designated Survivor, the genre once defined the small screen before seeing a sharp decline in mainstream interest.
The Netflix model and the 33 Emmy nominations of House of Cards
Netflix's House of Cards fundamentally altered the landscape of television production by introducing a binge-friendly format. As the report notes, the series earned 33 Primetime Emmy nominations and eight Golden Globe nods, helping to establish Netflix as a major player in the entertainment industry. By utilizing shorter seasons and episode-heavy installments, the show focused on the brutal ambitions of Frank Underwood, a character portrayed by Kevin Spacey.
This shift toward compact, high-intensity storytelling wasn't limited to political dramas. Other major streaming successes, including Orange Is the New Black, BoJack Horseman, and Peaky Blinders, adopted similar patterns to keep audiences engaged through continuous viewing. This era prioritized the "binge" over the weekly appointment, changing how viewers interacted with narrative arcs.
Kiefer Sutherland and the 22-episode procedural rhythm
In contrast to the streaming revolution, ABC attempted to maintain the traditional network structure with the 2016 launch of Designated Survivor. Starring Kiefer Sutherland, the series followed Tom Kirkman, a professor who becomes president following a catastrophic attack. Unlike the tightly wound seasons of Netflix hits, Designated Survivor embraced a more traditional, long-form approach.
The series leaned into the procedural style, with its first two seasons consisting of 21 and 22 episodes respectively. as the source reports, this was a delliberate move to mirror the familiar rhythms of shows like 24 or The Blacklist. By blending intense political drama with the steady pace of a procedural, ABC sought to capture an audience accustomed to the classic network television experience.
The 2018–2020 exodus of political heavyweights
The end of the decade signaled a significant contraction for the genre. Between 2018 and 2020, a wave of major political series reached their conclusions, including House of Cards, Veep, Scandal, Madam Secretary, and Designated Survivor. This mass departure of flagship titles suggests that the era of the mainstream political blockbuster may have passed.
This decline appears to be driven by a shift in public taste. While the 2010s were defined by a hunger for political narratives, the close of the decade suggested that viewers were moving toward fresh formats that blend politics with other genres. The once-dominant political drama has transitioned from a central pillar of television to a more specialized category.
Can niche hits like The Diplomat sustain the genre?
As the mainstream appetite for overtly political plots wanes, the future of the genre remains an open question. While the "watershed" moment of 2019 marked the end of an era, new productions like The Diplomat continue to find footing. However, it is unclear if these shows can achieve the same cultural saturation as the giants of the previous decade.
One primary question is whether the genre is truly fading or simply evolving into something less centralized. Furthermore, it remains to be seen if the decline is a permanent shift in viewer psychology or a temporary reaction to the current political climate. For now, the high-stakes political thriller seems to have moved from the center of the living room to the fringes of the streaming menus.
Comments 0