8. Viewers Will Be Inundated By Critically Lukewarm Sci-Fi Shows
And I'm not talking about superhero shows, either, though you could reasonably argue they're a contributing factor. 2016 is already set to be inundated by high-concept sci-fi series. February, for example, is set to air Stephen King's 11.22.63, which tells the story of a high school teacher (played by James Franco) who travels back in time to 1963 and then decides he might as well try and prevent the assassination of JFK. There's also Colony, written by Carlton Cuse and starring Josh Holloway, the plot of which is so convoluted it would take several paragraphs to explain, but basically involves a dystopian LA and a bunch of alien overlords. The reason for this inundation is quite simple. As mentioned, superhero shows are extremely popular, and networks know that there's likely to be a certain amount overlap between superhero fans and people who watch high-concept sci-fi. On top of that, it's a whole lot easier to come up with a unique concept to hinge a show on rather than to try and consistently write nuanced, complex, character-driven stories. Then there's the fact that the constant increase in blockbuster spectacle means television shows really have to try hard to keep up with what's going on in the world of cinema (immense success of post-apocalyptic films like Mad Max: Fury Road also contributes). As superhero shows and movies continue to thrive, expect to see dozens of attempts to popularise big-budget science fiction.
