The Rise of Web-series: Unravelling Reasons and Effects
A con-artist acting as a body-double for criminals and fugitives, Ayna, finds himself at a dead end while impersonating a state criminal and eventually receives a death-sentence. Ingenious Ayna manages to perform his way out of the prison fooling a guard to take his place. As the audience are at the edge of their seats keen to find out what will happen next, the screen fades to black and the credits scene rolls up. This is how abruptly one of the best Bangla films of this decade, Aynabaji ends and leaves a mark of false coherence in the minds of the viewers. This is one of the many contributing factors behind the rise of web series.
Even Though, Different kinds of television dramas gained momentary popularity here and there. The rise of web series occurred back in 2019 when the global pandemic hit. While most of the people were stuck inside their homes, streaming companies used this opportunity to hit the jackpot. They kept releasing different series from different genres so that everyone can enjoy their time while gaining over 28 million subscribers in just nine months! (according to Economic Times, 2020).
Enhanced Character Development:
In the shorter forms of entertainment, the emergence of heroes often feels like a ‘Deus ex Machina’ that leads viewers questioning the story resolution. On the other hand, internet series offer more opportunities for more character growth. Although the majority of web series feature their own main protagonists, they tend to not be centred on a single individual, which adds to the unpredictability of the series. The audience remain captivated due to the unpredictable outcomes.
[Image Source: Reddit (Avatar The Last Airbender)]
Even Though, Different kinds of television dramas gained momentary popularity here and there. The rise of web series occurred back in 2019 when the global pandemic hit. While most of the people were stuck inside their homes, streaming companies used this opportunity to hit the jackpot. They kept releasing different series from different genres so that everyone can enjoy their time while gaining over 28 million subscribers in just nine months! (according to Economic Times, 2020).
[Image Source:MensXP()]
There are various reasons behind the rise of web series, let’s go through some of the main ones:
The Perfect Length:
A movie provides a concise narrative experience, while a web series offers a greater opportunity for character development and intricate plot lines. Web series are broken into episodes, each episode is 50 to 60 minutes in length generally. The directors develop each episode by creating suspense till the very end, which keeps the viewer interested to watch the next episode. Moreover, it is easier for people to manage an hour of their time everyday rather than spending three hours at once. [Image Source: Imgflip (Emperor's New Groove)]No restrictions:
Prior to their official release, every film or television series undergoes a mandatory evaluation by a designated censor board. Certain scenes are often removed to make them more family-friendly. However, web series are released on streaming platforms. Despite the fact that the streaming companies set viewing requirements for these series, they are often easy to access. As a result, they have become extremely popular among teenagers.Flexible Platforms:
Web series air on online platforms. Some popular platforms are Netflix, Amazon, Disney etc. These platforms have their own apps across almost every smart device. Furthermore, these applications are user-friendly and very easy to use. They make suggestions for options depending on the viewer's preferences using artificial intelligence. All of this is available for a reasonable monthly membership fee, known as subscription. They are therefore easily accessible, which contributes to their enormous popularity.
[Image Source:]Enhanced Character Development:
In the shorter forms of entertainment, the emergence of heroes often feels like a ‘Deus ex Machina’ that leads viewers questioning the story resolution. On the other hand, internet series offer more opportunities for more character growth. Although the majority of web series feature their own main protagonists, they tend to not be centred on a single individual, which adds to the unpredictability of the series. The audience remain captivated due to the unpredictable outcomes. 
[Image Source: Reddit (Avatar The Last Airbender)]
Global Influence:
Online platforms make it possible for web series to reach viewers from all over the world, eliminating language barriers and opening the door to a wider range of stories with universal appeal. Additionally, it provides opportunities to learn about cultures from all around the globe. In addition to being entertaining, this even has a learning curve.[Image Source: (Money Heist)]
The Impacts of Web Series:
Although web series undeniably offer a great deal of entertainment value to viewers, its increasing popularity also poses certain unique challenges. We are not unfamiliar with the term "Internet addiction", web series is one of the factors that contribute to this issue. In addition to being a massive time consumer, binge-watching culture can be harmful to one's health. Furthermore, social isolation is frequently aggravated by this. Web series often include gore, violence, and adult content. Although each series has a minimum age restriction, it is currently impossible to monitor. Many teenagers may consequently encounter trauma and other mental health problems. Unrealistic scenarios are frequently shown in web series, which may have a harmful impact on viewers, especially youngsters. Web series are beneficial when viewed properly, just like any other form of entertainment. Streaming companies should implement tougher identity verification procedures. At the moment, certain applications alert users when they exceed the suggested viewing duration. In the future, if someone exceeds the limit the service should be automatically terminated for the duration of the day. Even though these adjustments may cause a large decline of viewers, they likely will keep these services viable in the long run.
Conclusion:
In the realm of entertainment, web series remain as a perfect blend of classic roots and modern innovation. Choose whatever tickles your fancy from the unending list of web series. Just remember to keep track of your time and don’t get lost! Remember, you have no chance of saying:
“I have made mistakes. Life didn’t come with instructions.”-Ragnar, Vikings
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