As 2024 draws to a close, TV enthusiasts may find themselves struggling to recall the year’s biggest shows. Was that Apple TV+ crime series Presumed Innocent or Sugar?
What was that rom-com with Adam Brody again? And which Nicole Kidman series was it where she played a wealthy woman in designer dresses—Expats or The Perfect Couple?
Such confusion speaks to a broader trend: the rise of “Mid TV”—glossy, binge-worthy shows that captivate for a moment but leave little lasting impact.
The Perfect Couple, Netflix’s splashy adaptation of Elin Hilderbrand’s 2018 novel, epitomizes this trend.
Premiering in September, the six-episode series featured an impressive cast, including Kidman, Liev Schreiber, Meghann Fahy, and Dakota Fanning. It revolved around a murder mystery at an upscale Nantucket wedding, blending melodrama with a whiff of satire—though it was unclear whether the latter was intentional.
One unforgettable, albeit awkward, element was the all-cast dance sequence on the beach set to Meghan Trainor’s Criminals, used as the show’s opening montage.
Even Fahy admitted the cast found the dance baffling, telling Variety, “Everyone was saying they didn’t want to do this because we just didn’t understand.”
Despite initial popularity, topping Netflix’s TV chart for two consecutive weeks, The Perfect Couple faded from the public consciousness almost as quickly as it appeared.
Industry journalist Manori Ravindran noted, “I had actually forgotten I’d watched The Perfect Couple… The only thing I remember is the dance, which felt like a calculated attempt to make the show memorable.”
This fleeting impact defines Mid TV in 2024: shows crafted for immediate binge appeal but lacking cultural staying power.
They capture attention with high-profile casts, glossy production, and viral moments, only to disappear without a trace once the next big release drops.
In the ever-growing world of streaming, Mid TV has become the defining genre of the year—easily consumed, but just as easily forgotten.
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