If you have noticed a heightened sense of millennial angst in the air recently, it is likely to be because Friends is leaving Netflix this month, and fans have not taken the news well, per theguardian.com.
“Absolutely raging,” one viewer tweeted upon hearing the announcement. “I’m cancelling my Netflix subscription,” raged another. A third captured the national mood with a healthy sense of perspective: “F*CK OFF FRIENDS IS LEAVING NETFLIX IN THE UK WHAT THE F*CK WILL I DO TO RELAX WTF THIS HAS BEEN THE SHOW TO GET ME TO SLEEP SINCE I WAS A BABY WHAT DO U MEAN ITS COMING OFF NEFLIX IM SORRY BUT NO.”
Alas, it is true. On 30 December, Friends will leave Netflix, where it has been streaming since 2015. While shows often hop between platforms – a modern ‘prestige Whack-a-Mole’ – the departure of the globally popular sitcom has tipped many fans over the edge, highlighting its enduring, deathless appeal.
The fact that Friends is one of the most rewatched series on Netflix, even 21 years after its finale, made it a highly valuable asset. In 2018, Netflix shelled out an estimated $80m-$100m for just a one-year renewal.
However, we now live in an era of intense streaming wars, and the true reason for the exodus is a simple matter of business. Friends is a Warner Bros show, and Warner Bros is preparing to launch HBO Max in the UK for the first time.
The show is arguably the single greatest asset the new platform has to pull in subscribers, making it a perfect business decision for HBO Max to claim its ownership.
The resulting uproar provides insight into how modern audiences watch TV. Few are upset because the show is artistically brilliant; instead, they are heartbroken because their comfort routine has been disrupted.
For many, Friends is a comforting piece of background noise they use while eating, studying, doing chores, or even managing their ADHD. It’s an efficient, reliable sleep aid with a predictable rhythm and comforting cadence.
This isn’t the first outcry. Back in 2011, when Friends moved from E4 to Comedy Central, there was a similar wave of fan fury, including an online petition. The world, and the show’s fans, survived that move.
The current hysteria may be short-lived, too. We live in an age of aggressive media consolidation. Netflix submitted a bid for the streaming side of Warner Bros last month, and if it succeeds, it could potentially own Friends again by Christmas.
•Featured image by Netflix
