Prestige drama

Prestige drama is a genre of television show in which the tone of the show is serious, the production values are high, and there is a complex plot across episodes.

Examples of prestige drama include shows such as Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones and True Detective.

In the media
Common characteristics of prestige drama include a more sophisticated approach to cinematography than other generes, high production values, and a complex storyline. Most prestige dramas, as the name implies, are more dramatic and serious in tone.

Popularity
One cause for the rise of prestige dramas is the rise in streaming video services where television creators are not limited by time slots and commercial breaks. These streaming services vie for viewer attention and spend large amounts to produce shows they hope will encourage customers to subscribe to their platform.

Criticism
Prestige dramas have been criticized as being similar to one another. Most are bleak with anti-hero qualities in the primary characters. In recent years they have become cliche, with studios across the television industry creating shows with a familiar feeling.