Streaming services have been able to get the maximum profits during the pandemic. They have been a lifesaver for several people. As a result, several OTT platforms stream some of the best series for us. But there have been some issues for the users. One of those problems has been the subscription service that platforms have. It is sometimes difficult for the users to shell out money every month for the subscription.
So, there has been a revelation by XDA Developers that there are chances that Google will introduce ad-based movie streaming on Google Play Movies. It has been done to make the platform more popular. It has been revealed after an analysis of the APK of the app. It is similar to the feature that YouTube provides.
In the entertainment market, online streaming platforms have been the king for the last couple of years. Several movies and shows are being released especially for the OTT platform. As a result, several big production houses like Bollywood, Hollywood and various others all around the world are creating content for the OTT platform.
As a result, platforms like Amazon Prime, Netflix and many others are already gaining users and popularity. But Google Play Movies has been on the back foot in this case. The content that is available on this platform is paid. Due to that, the users are finding it difficult to use the platform as they will have to pay individually for each content.
So, now Google might launch this service for its users. But there is no clarity that which content will be free and which will not. Once, the confusion is clear then it will be better for the users.
On the other hand, mobile networks are also making users in India stream more content over the internet. The decrease in internet costs in the country is also making it possible for users to consume more data. All of these changes were made possible by the introduction of the JIO 4G network in the country.
Now, there is another point for streamers to take advantage of. The feature is that of the higher penetration of smart devices in various households. The pandemic pushed several people to buy devices or upgrade their existing one. This was done to complete the various tasks that people need a device for. Also, the new devices helped various people beat their boredom by watching content online.
The higher usage and the slow but steady expansion of devices that support streaming platforms are also making it easier for people to stay UpToDate with their favourite shows. It is due to the support that various devices like tablets, smartphones and many more have. The continuous software support which is currently being provided by the major smart device companies is also helping in making various devices eligible for use by the users. The constant support is also making the various streaming platforms push out an update for their apps so that they can work on various devices.
So all of these points are going to help google play movies get more viewers after they release the ad-free support for the users. But for the time being this news must be taken with a pinch of salt.
We are living in the Golden era of television. Since the year 2000, television has evolved dramatically. The rise of cable networks resulted in a period of more innovation, quality and quantity, which has since been surpassed by the arrival of streaming services. TV has become the primary source of entertainment for the majority of the population since the introduction of streaming services such as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime, HBO Max and Disney Plus. Previously the thought of a network airing a complete season on a single day was unthinkable. Episodes aired week after week, sometimes back to back, and so on – until streaming services showed their willingness to take a different path. With the knowledge that television is undergoing yet another revolution, and that the medium’s limits and definitions may alter yet again, it seems appropriate to reflect on the past.
With that said, let’s directly jump into the very best chapters of television the medium had to offer.
Note: I’ve considered only one episode per a TV show to make the list more diverse.
The Winds of Winter, Game of Thrones (Season 6, Episode 10)
IMDb Rating: 9.9
Written by: David Benioff, D. B. Weiss
Directed by: Miguel Sapochnik
Air date: June 26, 2016
This is an all-timer. This episode is Game of Thrones at its very best. It offers everything a fan wished for, a shocking yet satisfying end to one of the best seasons of the show.
International Assassin, The Leftovers (Season 2, Episode 8)
IMDb Rating: 9.6
Written by: Damon Lindelof, Nick Cuse
Directed by: Craig Zobel
Air date: November 22, 2015
International Assassin is the most polarizing episode of the most polarizing show, a stress test of an episode that pushes the show’s concept and expands its universe in ways that not everyone will appreciate and that makes it so special and unique.
Chicanery, Better Call Saul (Season 3, Episode 5)
IMDb Rating: 9.7
Written by: Gordon Smith
Directed by: Daniel Sackheim
Air date: May 8, 2017
A standout episode of the show as it stages a bittersweet showdown. This episode marks the climax of a seasons-long power play between Chuck and Jimmy. This episode is a relatively simple installment on a plot level. But it’s the character interactions, as well as the show’s willingness to bring out the worst in these characters and pit them against each other, that have us hooked. This is one of the defining TV episodes you’ll come across on television today.
407 Proxy Authentication Required, Mr. Robot (Season 4, Episode 7)
IMDb Rating: 9.9
Written by and Directed by: Sam Esmail
Air date: November 17, 2019
If there was ever an episode that defined a series, then this is the one. The episode that finally revealed the origin of the titular character. A riveting hour of television, you feel like the characters when you complete the episode, but you embrace every second of it because this is how good television should feel: thrilling, horrifying, and a little bit nauseating.
The Suitcase, Mad Men (Season 4, Episode 7)
IMDb Rating: 9.7
Written by: Matthew Weiner
Directed by: Jennifer Getzinger
Air date: September 5, 2010
The Suitcase says so much with so little, without a visual or narrative trick in sight. And in doing so, it defines a show and sets a high bar for the next decade of television, and most likely the next decade after that. The Suitcase is the one of the best episodes because it tells the show’s story in miniature: flawed, difficult, and damaged characters finding salvation in their job, though not enough to save them from themselves.
Start, The Americans (Season 6, Episode 10)
IMDb Rating: 9.8
Written by: Joe Weisberg, Joel Fields
Directed by: Chris Long
Air date: May 30, 2018
Perhaps the most overlooked episode in the list. The series finale of The Americans is a subdued, sublime, and utterly tragic send-off to one of television’s best shows. It delivered a wondrous wallop that crackled with sadness and urgency. The episode is a fascinating flight full of heartbreaking decisions and unexpected swerves.
If-Then-Else, Person of Interest (Season 4, Episode 11)
IMDb Rating: 9.9
Written by: Denise Thé
Directed by: Chris Fisher
Air date: January 6, 2015
Person of Interest’s never-ending ability to deliver mind-blowing episodes is what makes it one of the best tv shows. And the episode If-Then-Else does exactly the same. Smart, action-filled chapter with a powerfully sad and meaningful conclusion. As the main plot of the show is about the relationship between humans and machine, this episode in particular dig deeper in to that. This episode is about what it means to be a machine, but it’s also about what it means to be human.
Final Grades, The Wire (Season 4, Episode 13)
IMDb Rating: 9.5
Written by: David Simon, Ed Burns
Directed by: Ernest Dickerson
Air date: December 10, 2006
The Wire’s fourth season came to a close with a mega-episode that alternated between periods of crushing despair and sparks of hope and optimism. Watching this episode was like putting down a fantastic book, one that had provided knowledge, excitement, a view into another world, and consistent brilliance with character development throughout the season.
ronny/lily, Barry (Season 2, Episode 5)
IMDb Rating: 9.8
Written by: Alec Berg, Bill Hader, Taofik Kolade
Directed by: Bill Hader
Air date: April 28, 2019
Perhaps the most recent episode on the list. It was released during the same weekend when Game of Thrones most awaited episode The Long Night and Marvel’s Avengers: Endgame came. But somehow this episode of Barry impressed me the most when it comes to action sequences and storytelling. The episode is an absolute knockout it’s suspenseful, surreal, and darkly hilarious.
Pine Barrens, The Sopranos (Season 3, Episode 11)
IMDb Rating: 9.7
Written by: Tim Van Patten, Terence Winter
Directed by: Steve Buscemi
Air date: May 6, 2001
The oldest episode on the list but the one that defined television forever. A distinctly self-contained short story. The episode is a classic example of the show’s unpredictability and surprisingly humorous tone. It’s basically a cross between an anti-buddy comedy and a nightmare; it’s funny, absurd, and horrifying all at the same time.
The View From Halfway Down, BoJack Horseman (Season 6, Episode 15)
IMDb Rating: 9.9
Written by: Alison Tafel
Directed by: Amy Winfrey
Air date: January 31, 2020
The only animated episode in the list. The episode is a depressing perspective on the inevitability of death. Although this is an adult cartoon, one of the things that make it wonderful is that the writers put a lot of effort into crafting strong writing and a great tale that does credit to all of the characters and the result can be seen in this episode.
Ozymandias, Breaking Bad (Season 5, Episode 14)
IMDb Rating: 10
Written by: Moira Walley-Beckett
Directed by: Rian Johnson
Air date: September 15, 2013
Do you ever watch something where you are so emotionally invested by the characters, setting and story that when it’s over, you can’t help but sit and contemplate what you just watched? Exactly felt the same after watching this episode. Ozymandias is perhaps the most gut-wrenching, twisted, horrific, well-planned episode ever made. This episode is Breaking Bad storytelling at its finest. It’s completely flawless. Not surprising that it is the highest-rated episode in the history of television.
The imposition of lockdown on account of the COVID 19 pandemic marked a major retard in the growth of many leading industrial giants. Unlike the rest, OTT is one among the few industries which marked an exponential growth since its inception. Though the OTT platforms are not a fresh face in the entertainment industry, the burgeoning of the sector was a never expected one until lockdown happened. Amazon Prime, Netflix, Disney Hotstar are the few OTT platforms which benefited from the imposition of lockdown.
The television broadcasting companies failed to meet the demands of its viewers and was forced to rerun existing contents as the production industry was under a halt. The average screen time has simultaneously increased which resulted in people searching for fresh contents. The video on demand services gained popularity over the masses as it provided the flexibility to watch contents on our likes at our wish. In addition to this, these platforms released their fresh as well as original contents consistently and managed to maintain the initial consumer interest. These conveniences dragged the viewers towards OTT services and generated a buzz by increasing the traffic into these platforms even during the pandemic times. While the theatres and multiplexes remained closed for many months, film producers noticed the scope of the OTT industry and made an audacious move by releasing their films digitally for the first time to cater to a wider set of audience.
It is estimated that an average person spends around 40% of their waking hours in front of a screen which makes almost seven hours a day. The OTT platforms have added a whopping 3-4 million subscribers to their existing viewership. This figure also included people viewing more non-broadcast content on platforms like YouTube and gaming sites. Just like how television revolutionised the early 90’s, OTT is bringing a new wave of change to the entertainment industry. These changes are always for the better and are inevitable.
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