From the random button to interactive series: the 5 biggest mistakes in Netflix history

When Netflix makes a move, the rest of the streaming services dare to do the same. Even with genuine blunders that one might think would harm them, like introducing an ad-supported plan or indiscriminately raising prices, they manage to come out unscathed. The platform changes every day, even if we don’t see it, improving the algorithm, adding trailers and sections… that often nobody has asked for. Because even Netflix is not capable of being perfect. And to prove it, I’m going to take you on a journey through those 5 things from the Big N where they really messed up (even though they survived to tell the tale)!

Random Button

Netflix realized that we spent more time choosing a series or a movie to watch than actually watching it, so they gathered their courage and launched the “Play Something” button. Do you remember the time when Google had a “I’m Feeling Lucky” button that took you to the most relevant page that seemed to answer your question, before AI messed everything up? Well, it’s the same thing, but with Netflix: a gamble, a roll of the dice against fate.

The idea is not bad, and at first glance, with a good algorithm, it would lead you to discover new things. But when it came down to it, the button only took you to the latest releases, without caring whether you were interested or not. It was all Bridgerton, The Crown, Stranger Things, or Black Mirror, and the audience forgot that this button existed until it finally disappeared quietly. Since then, Netflix toyed with the idea of launching a linear channel within its app, but seeing the success, it has decided to let people spend hours choosing what to watch.

Interactive Series

Although there are precursors in the history of cinema, really no one had done on such a large scale what allowed viewers to choose what happened next in movies and series. And they managed, in a very short time, to create three great titles: El Gato Caco (by the one and only Charlie Brooker, creator of Black Mirror), Kimmy vs. the Reverend (the final episode of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt), and Bandersnatch (which needs no introduction). Seriously! They are really good!

The problem is that they also launched a lot of junk, with children’s series like The Cat in Boots or Minecraft trying to take advantage of this feature. The result ended up being very poor for all the effort that had to be put into it and Netflix ended up eliminating most of the interactive series, leaving only four behind. One of them was The Caco Cat. Rest in peace.

Video Games

Okay, they are still trying, and they are not doing badly, but we can all agree that Netflix’s video game section is an absolute disaster, right? A lot of money wasted trying to be the Steam of mobile games and offering dozens and dozens of legendary games that very -very- few actually play.

The games created by Netflix itself are not helpful: cheap versions of their reality shows that are clones of each other, very simple titles that struggle to stand out among a spectacular catalog that, sadly, does not seem to be yielding results. If they remove it soon to focus more on another area, don’t be too surprised: no matter how good the idea seems on paper, the audience goes to Netflix to watch series and movies, not to play. And changing that mindset is almost impossible.

Extra content

For a while, when watching a series or a movie, there was an option below called “Trailers and more,” where you could see not only the previews but also extra content, similar to what you would find on any DVD or Blu-Ray: making ofs, deleted scenes, and more. Even in season 4 of Arrested Development, there was a completely different version in this section! Over time, they noticed that people weren’t stopping to see what else was offered, and they stopped putting in the effort. Is there anyone else here who wants to see the audio commentaries for all their favorite series? Tell me I’m not alone.

Remove Reviews

In the early days of the platform, you had two compatible options, which were a kind of proto-Letterboxd. On one hand, a friends section where you could take a look at what your friends were watching. On the other, a comments and reviews section where you could read real opinions from people you trusted instead of just a mere “thumbs up” and “thumbs down.” Given the quality of some things, it’s normal for Netflix not to want to take risks, but frankly, it provided the transparency that many need to choose what to watch next. Come on, Netflix, dare to be the “buddy streaming” again!