[SanFranManDan]

One problem I found is that streaming services have too much mental overhead. It sounds funny, but look at Netflix original content; Most of the story writing is "too good" and too dark (like most of their content seems to be about murderers or spooky stuff or substance abuse). I have to remember what happened in the previous episode and pay attention so I know whats happening in the next episode

Things on cable are more focused on self contained episodes. Black mirror accomplished this but again, it was too emotionally heavy. Netflix is too focused on binge watchers.

I haven't really found content (except old series from cable) that I can just "zone out" and be entertained like Futurama, cooking or auto shows and not worry if i didnt watch all of it.

I'm overseas and so I dont have a lot of the series from cable on Netflix. The content it has is good. But its not something I want to unwind with in the background.

[ghaff]

In the US at least, you could put together a profile with a lot of fairly mindless sitcoms, cooking shows, reality TV, etc. But I agree it's not as easy to just put something on in the background. And the streaming model and perhaps just the current era of TV shows, where a lot of subscribers deliberately select something to watch, probably encourages a focus on more complex--and often serialized--TV.

I just don't watch a lot but I definitely understand your point of view. Shows like Game of Thrones I'll sometimes doze off or get distracted and ten minutes later I have no idea what's going on. A lot of the series on TV today really require paying strict attention.