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Comment by KPGv2 | Hacker News Reader

There's way more good content available than an employed adult human has time to consume. I have watched five great seasons of TV this year (Frieren, Apothecary Diaries, Dandadan, Blue Box, Stranger Things, all on Netflix) and zero movies (no time with kids!), and have read twelve good books (ranging from prize-winning literature to incredible graphic novels). I have zero time for anything else besides two other hobbies, both of which involve the creative act: coding, and writing fanfiction.

When I hear "there's nothing good available," I assume the person is a dullard. Like where are you looking that you can't throw a rock and hit something worth watching?!

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Do you really believe the latest season of Stranger Things is « great tv »?

It tastes like bland mashed potatoes to me.

This person gets it.

One reason I enjoy anime as much as I do is because most of these stories are written by a single person with maybe an assistant or two and an editor, they're not designed by committee.

I somewhat enjoy Stranger Things but it's falling into the space where I can write the next line of dialog in my head for whole scenes. Whereas it started out poking fun at tropes like doing exposition or relationship development at moments of maximum danger it's turned into a long sequence of Obligatory Scenes that feel increasingly forced.

> a long sequence of Obligatory Scenes that feel increasingly forced

You're describing mainstream entertainment in general. I started noticing this with the storyboard-as-film, action-by-numbers "Raider's of the Lost Ark". (I won't even waste my time on super hero films.)

Hard disagree. All the examples you gave are anime with the exception of Stranger Things which suggests a rather narrow view of content.

It isn't that good stuff doesn't exist only that a majority is derivative and uninspired. Anything that does catch a spark is milked dry.

> majority is derivative and uninspired

A lot of good creations are derivations or remix of older ideas and they don’t have to be uninspired: West Side Stiry, Ulysses, so much of jazz music…

It blows my mind that anyone can consider Stranger Things to be great anything. It's utter dross. It's like our standards have dropped massively over the last 50 years in almost every way, in literature, music, journalism, politics, movies, and TV.

I'm interested in the book recommendations!

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