‘The Big Bang Theory’s New Sci-Fi Spin-Off Is Officially Taking Over the World

Now firmly in its franchise era, HBO is seeing the benefits of this strategy already. Television was always uniquely reliant on sequels, so to speak — every successful show is expected to return every year with a new installment. But before the streaming boom, TV was also viewed as a venue for originality. HBO was at the forefront of producing what is now known as prestige television, and this commitment rubbed off on several other networks. In fact, in the early years, streaming platforms seemed to be relying on a similar strategy. But the pendulum has swung in a different direction now, with even HBO turning to a populist model to keep with the times. All of this is to say that the same HBO that released shows like Oz and The Wireis now releasing titles such as The Penguin, Lanterns, House of the Dragon, and a new hit that’s taking over the streaming charts.