TV shows vs movies – Which one is better?

Since high school, I have been a big fan of everything that relates to cinema: TV shows, movies, cartoons, actors and so on. And even now, I hang out with my friends and kill time by talking over and over again about new movies, trailers, or TV shows; when will a movie come out in theaters or what’s going to happen in the next episode of a TV show. If I’m good at something, this would probably be my field.  I do wonder sometimes, which one I prefer more, a full 10-20 episode-TV show or a one and a half hour movie?

If you didn’t figure it out by now, we live in The Golden Age of everything that means cinematography. Movies, got better, TV shows got better and longer, actors play better and are cuter too. Yes, cinematography grows day-by-day, and we, the common people crave for the upcoming sequel of a trilogy or a new season for our favorite TV show. But the question remains the same: which one is better? A movie or a TV show?

Obviously, there are pros and cons for both categories. And we shall discuss them.

1. From my point of view 2014 and 2015 were and still are the years of action movies. I swear, these years I have seen a lot of action movies with crimes, guns, superheroes, wars, and the list can go on. As good as they are for their effects, script and the way the actors play their characters, there will be a moment when you’ll just say stop. Enough is enough! Too many action movies, too many Marvel movies. I’d rather watch The Notebook again.

2. Sometimes I have the tendency to re-watch a whole series, episode after episode. Time flies by and after an entire day, I manage to finish a season. Sometimes I am very proud of this but I can get bored very fast too. In these moments, I choose to put aside the TV show and treat myself with a movie. Movies are short, the main idea is straight to the point, there is not that much drama in it, and definitely actors don’t die one-by-one like in Game of Thrones. For this thing right here, you can count on a 90-minute movie.

3. The storytelling in a TV show is better than in a movie. And it is obvious. A series means more than 2 seasons and you will have plenty of time to understand the concept of it, you will get to know the characters on an emotional level as well, you get to choose your favorite character. Until the director will kill him or stab him. Just kidding…

4. TV shows have the luxury of affording to make mistakes. There is that one episode in your favorite series you didn’t enjoy that much. And you probably will not be the only one in this case. TV show directors tend to make these experimental episodes so they can test the audience on their preferences. Movie makers can’t afford that. A failed movie can ruin a whole studio.

If I think about it twice, I’d say that I would prefer to watch or re-watch a TV show until the movie I want to see hits the theaters.

Which one do you prefer? Let me know.