Rapid Insights: ‘The Waterfront’ Reveals the Trick to Masking Gritty Drama as Soap

Netflix recently released an addictive, attention-grabbing new series that, more than a month after its premiere, is still going strong, heading the streamer’s top ten list and generating considerable buzz. From the creator of Dawson’s Creek and The Vampire Diaries, this new series straddles the line between gritty crime and soapy melodrama and follows a seemingly affluent and put-together North Carolina fishing family that actually hides treacherous lies and messy dark secrets.

Here’s what you need to know about The Waterfront:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

Which of the show’s two genres is most influencing its appeal? 
Moral crime drama. We’re seeing a gender-balanced audience (50% men) of those 30+ (80%)–a much closer match for the world of anti-hero crime thrillers than soapy family melodramas. Shows like Ozark, Yellowstone and Animal Kingdom all maintain a similar gender balance, while series that lean more into tumultuous, twist-filled family relationships (Revenge, Nashville, This Is Us, Bloodline, A Million Little Things, and even the creator’s own Dawson’s Creek and The Vampire Diaries) all appeal more heavily to women.

Are these crime-based elements propelling the show’s ratings? 
Absolutely. The show’s top five ratings drivers all center around the affluent Buckley family’s descent into organized crime (Criminal Organization, 160; Crime Family, 146) as they attempt to save their one-proud empire from spiraling into decay. Outwardly respected business moguls whose family has dominated the North Carolina fishing industry for generations, the current crop of Buckleys will do anything to preserve this at-risk legacy, turning to High Stakes (136) smuggling, Drug Dealing (134), and worse for ever-higher and riskier payouts (Avarice & Greed, 128) as fishing becomes increasingly unreliable as a source of wealth. The Waterfront joins similar gritty crime dramas (e.g. MobLandPeaky Blinders) in leaning on its less-than-legal underworld elements to pull in audiences.

Where does the family drama piece come in? 
It inspires bingeability. While viewers may be tuning in for the Buckleys’ fledgling criminal empire, they’re staying glued to their screens for the family’s interpersonal clashes, toxic melodramas, deep-seated Marital Problems (125), and soapy Family Legacy (112). The secrets of this toughened, hardened clan (Tough Guys, 151) provide plenty of fodder for relationship twists and turns throughout the show’s first season, especially in the wake of their Life Changing Decision (116) to become involved in crime. The binge-driving emotional experience of Surprise (119) is also gripping audiences, who are eager to see the storyline zig and zag.

How is the show’s social buzz? 
Very impressive. For the first four weeks of its release, The Waterfront held a consistent (160) on our social buzz meter, maxing out our top measured level of chatter for a length of time exceeding most comps. While online activity has since dipped very slightly, it’s still hanging out near the top of “outstanding” territory at (150), promising continued buzz for weeks to come. The star-studded crime thriller MobLand saw a similar streak of social virality after its release back in March.

What will help propel The Waterfront into a second season? 
The chance the Buckleys will get caught. Among the show’s many secondary characters is a DEA agent sniffing around the family’s drug smuggling, and, along with the stresses inherent in Working with Family (117) on such an illegal enterprise, the potential for a Criminal Investigation (114) with Emotions Running High (114) will help maintain the suspense and stakes across future seasons.

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

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Rapid Insights: ‘Nautilus’ Makes a Strong Case for Reinventing IP Instead of Reviving It

AMC recently premiered an exciting new adventure series that has been generating considerable buzz and netting impressive viewership numbers for the network. A reimagining of Jules Verne’s 1870 novel Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea, the show creates an origin story for the enigmatic Captain Nemo as an Indian prince-turned-rebel slave-turned-crusading scientist who captures and pilots the Nautilus submersible.

Here’s what you need to know about Nautilus:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

Who’s been watching this new aquatic adventure show? 
We’re seeing an audience that leans toward men (55%) and is heavily older, both on linear AMC (90% aged 35+, with the largest demo 55+) and streaming AMC+ (78% aged 30+, with the largest demo 45+). This viewership matches other linear-based historical adventure epics like VikingsBlack SailsInto the BadlandsThe Last Kingdom, and The Librarians: The Next Chapter. (Notably, genre entrants that originate on streaming–Shōgun, Marco Polo–tend to land a bit younger overall.)

What’s the series’ biggest draw? 
Its odd couple pairing. At the heart of the show is the ‘opposites attract’ energy between the mercurial, secretive Nemo and the privileged, stubborn Humility Lucas, a woman forcibly taken aboard after the Nautilus collided with her ship. Though initially adversaries from very different backgrounds, the pair ultimately forges an Unlikely Friendship (145) as their adventures progress, and it’s this element that spurs the most dynamic character growth and propels all four of our key metrics: ratings, bingeability, social buzz, and longevity.

What else is pulling in viewers? 
The crew’s interactions. Nemo and his Nautilus companions (save Humility Lucas) start the show as prisoners of the East India Mercantile Company, sentenced to hard labor constructing the firm’s powerful new submarine. Through a carefully-planned uprising (Rebels, 122), they succeed in taking over the vessel and sail to freedom in the open seas, refashioning what was intended as a war machine into a ship of exploration and scientific discovery. Audiences are tuning in for this motley crew’s compelling Team Dynamics (112) as brothers-in-arms and now deep-water sailors, and to see them clash and cooperate as they take the Nautilus on new adventures. Interestingly, the series’ connection to the famous classic novel does not appear anywhere in its list of top drivers, possibly because nearly all of its characters and storylines were invented fresh for the show.

What’s keeping audiences watching? 
Adventure and suspense. The show’s exhilarating, swashbuckling sense of Outdoor Adventure (122) couples well with the heightened stakes of the crew’s Dangerous Mission (119): to avoid capture and death at the hands of the sinister East India Mercantile Company officers hot on their trail. This overall tone of excitement, helped along by the Action & Violence (119) marking each deep-sea peril and hero-to-villain confrontation, is keeping viewers on the edge of their seats.

What landed best in the show’s native UK and Australia? 
Humility and adventure but not the wider crew. Produced in Britain and filmed Down Under, Nautilus boasts the same overall top driver in these markets as it does in the US: the spark-filled Unlikely Friendship (125 AU; 120 UK) between Nemo and Humility Lucas. The show’s broader sense of Outdoor Adventure (121 AU; 119 UK) is also crucial in driving ratings, bingeability, and social buzz in both markets. However, the Team Dynamics (87 AU; 87 UK) and Rebel (102 AU; 102 UK) status of Nemo and his crewmates that are so important to American audiences are not nearly as interesting to viewers here, who instead seem to prefer a narrower story focus on the two ‘odd couple’ protagonists.

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

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Rapid Insights: ‘Stick’ Makes a Case for Mentorship as Sports TV’s Secret Weapon

Apple TV+ recently released a quirky new lighthearted sports dramedy that, halfway through its first-season run, continues to top the streamer’s weekly most-watched list and drive plenty of buzz. The show stars Owen Wilson as a washed-up ex-pro golfer who discovers a troubled teen prodigy and attempts to coach him into the big leagues, staking his own future on the boy’s success.

Here’s what you need to know about Stick:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

Who’s been tuning in for this likeable new show?
With its golf focus and midlife crisis arc, we’re seeing an audience that’s mostly men (64%) and heavily aged 30+ (71%)–a notably more off-center sweet spot than many other lighter sports-focused dramas. Comparable shows like Ted LassoCobra KaiRunning PointThe GameFriday Night Lights, All American, and Ballers appeal to a somewhat more balanced streaming viewership, both in gender (45-56% men) and age (57-67% aged 30+).

What’s pulling in viewers and driving Stick’s ratings?
Weighty topics handled with a light touch. The two characters at the heart of Stick–disgraced pro-golfer Pryce and sullen teen prodigy Santi–are dealing with fears of abandonment and low self worth thanks to past trauma. Both have Anger Issues (123) as the latter grapples with deep-rooted Teen Angst (133) and the former tries desperately to resuscitate his future (Trying to Save Career, 128), laying an effective foundation for relatable drama and true character development. At the same time, the show’s gently humorous take on their story (Awkward & Funny Moments, 141) lightens the tone and invites audiences into their world.

What’s keeping audiences glued to their screens?
Warm character dynamics. Pryce and Santi are surrounded by caring friends and family (Supportive Relationships, 134) who boost them up as needed, and the unlikely yet genuine Mentorship (119) and Male Friendship (129) that develop between the pair as they butt heads and find common ground is the show’s beating heart. Their relationship is buoyed by an optimistic, feel-good strain of comedy (Feel Good Humor, 122), and it’s the show’s unique brand of inspiring warmth that’s driving bingeability and bringing viewers back throughout the season.

What type of emotional experience are viewers looking for?
A well-rounded one. Stick’s top emotional drivers reflect both the weightiness of its characters’ trauma and the hope of their ultimate success, both in golf and in life. As Pryce and Santi experience a range of very human emotions, from the lows of self-Loathing (134) and lash-out Aggressiveness (134) to the highs of competitive Anticipation (134) and hard-won mutual Trust (134), audiences are right there with them, pulled along by the relatability of their Optimism (110)Sadness (113), and general Apprehension (134) towards life.

Where do the sports themes come in?
They help with longevity. All of the show’s specifically sports-related elements top the list of drivers that will help push Stick to a second season: its insider focus on the golfing world (Sports Focus, 120), its protagonists’ specifically Coach-Athlete Relationship (129), and its centering on a pair of rootworthy Underdogs (137) who are fighting their way to the top. Stick very much falls in line with other sports-based dramas and dramedies in this area, whose long-term story engines also tend to be fed by similar themes.

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

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Rapid Insights: ‘Ironheart’ Hints at a Quiet Revolution in How We Tell Hero Stories

The number of women superheroes on TV has jumped in the past few years thanks to the broader explosion of comic book and superhero content in general. Heirs to a storied dynasty (Wonder Woman, The Bionic Woman, Xena: Warrior Princess), this most recent crop of female-led titles kicked off with Netflix’s Marvel deal (Jessica Jones), passed through DC’s Arrowverse (Supergirl, Batwoman), and broadened to additional streamers like Hulu and Disney+ (She-HulkMs. Marvel, Echo, Ahsoka). And with last week’s premiere of its newest Marvel series, Disney+ has just introduced another buzzy, compelling heroine into this impressive pantheon.

Here’s what you need to know about Ironheart and other female-led superhero shows:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

Do these shows always attract the same viewers? 
No. The age and gender skew of their audiences can vary widely, from mostly men (Ironheart, She-HulkAhsoka) to primarily women (BatwomanSupergirl), and heavily 30+ (EchoJessica Jones) to largely <30 (Ms. Marvel). This variation likely reflects the wide range of tones, subgenres, and violence levels incorporated into these series, each of which has a different appeal. For Ironheart, we’re seeing a viewership that’s 60% men and 58% aged 30+, aligning most closely with fellow Disney+ entry She-Hulk.

Is it important to these shows’ success that their superheroes are women? 
Not like it used to be. For the DC and Marvel series that premiered several years ago, the fact that they were led by powerful heroines rather than much more typical male protagonists was one of their very top viewership drivers (Strong Female Character, 151 – Batwoman (2019); Strong Female Protagonist, 148 – Jessica Jones (2015)). However, as both universes expanded and female superheroes happily became more common–both on TV and in theaters–their gender became less important. The more recent shows in each canon instead pull in viewers based on the nuances of their own specific stories and character development; the fact that they’re helmed by women doesn’t even appear among their key drivers.

What does spur ratings among the more recent female-led series? 
Superhero excitement and relatable characters. As with their male-led counterparts, shows like Ms. Marvel, Echo, She-HulkAhsoka, and Ironheart trade heavily on their Stylized Action & Violence, heightened suspense (Life in Danger, Dangerous Mission), cool and imaginative Superpowers, and broader universe connections (Marvel Universe, Star Wars Universe) to get fans pumped and eager to watch. And underlying this layer of Action and Adventure is a broad base of emotional heart as these characters must navigate Family RelationshipsFamily ConflictEmotional Turmoil, Friendships, and, in one case, Teen Angst, making it easy for viewers to sympathize and connect.

What’s setting Ironheart apart from the other Marvel shows? 
Journey of Self Discovery (160). Though Ironheart is a superhero origin story just like many of its brethren, this version focuses on a frustrated teenage genius eager to be recognized for her skills and put her own stamp on the world, and its unique viewership drivers–beyond the action and Marvel connections–all revolve around her personal growth. The show tracks protagonist Riri, first introduced in the second Black Panther film, as she grapples with Tough Decisions (135), works to Overcome Adversity (126) (lack of funds, MIT expulsion, personal loss), and ultimately rises to the occasion, both emotionally and through her crime-fighting tech advancements (Stepping Up, 124; Bettering Oneself, 128). Riri is also a heroine who, like her idol Iron Man, invents her own superpowered capabilities rather than develops them supernaturally (as in Ms. Marvel, She-HulkEcho, and Jessica Jones).

What’s the buzz potential for these superhero series? 
Extremely high. Thanks to the widespread popularity of their respective universes, these female-led series–just like their male-led counterparts–can spur tremendous chatter online, especially the more recent entries. Whereas ten years ago, shows in this genre took a bit longer to catch on and build word of mouth (e.g. 2015’s Jessica Jones, which didn’t really hit its stride until T+40 days after release), Ms. MarvelEchoShe-Hulk, Ahsoka, and now Ironheart (all released since 2022) immediately maxed out our social buzz meter (at 160) with their premiere and remained there for a number of weeks.

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

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Rapid Insights: ‘Revival’ Unlocks Why Comic Book Horror Is the Genre Blend to Watch

Syfy recently premiered a gripping new supernatural horror noir that’s based on a popular comic series of the same name. The show follows a small Wisconsin town in the aftermath of “Revival Day,” a shocking day in which the recently deceased suddenly came back to life–not as zombies but as themselves, with looks, memories, and personalities intact.

Here’s what you need to know about Revival:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

Who’s tuning in for this intriguing new series? 
We’re seeing an audience that’s mostly women (60%) and heavily aged 35+ (90%)–a profile right in line with other linear series about mysterious supernatural happenings in a small town. Shows like The ReturnedThe Leftovers, ManifestWayward PinesGrimm, and Haven all hit a similar viewership sweet spot (56-65% women / 89-94% aged 35+).

What’s Revival’s biggest draw? 
Its unique spin on Solving A Murder (146). After the dead awaken (Afterlife, 125), small town police officer Dana Cypress (Female Professional, 127) must figure out who killed her younger sister, a “reviver” who has no memory of her own demise. Working with a CDC lab contact to analyze the supernatural evidence (Scientific Method, 125), Dana contends with Murder Suspects (131) both living and undead to uncover what happened and how it might be related to the miraculous “Revival Day.” The show leverages its high-concept set-up to infuse a procedural framework with fresh new layers, inject a sense of the macabre (Death Theme, 130), and bring its original source material to life (Based on a Book, 137), keeping audience glued to their seats and driving both bingeability and longevity.

Why else are viewers tuning in? 
For its unsettling slice of Small Town Life (122)Revival’s isolated setting makes the Mysterious Event (117) at its center that much more unnerving, amplifying the unease of its 4,500 residents as they’re forcibly blockaded from the rest of the world by the CDC. The show’s exploration of the widespread paranoia as well as its focus on Dana’s maladjusted personal life (snarky and resentful, she’s desperate to escape while trying her best as a Single Parent (122)) are helping to boost ratings.

How is the show’s social buzz? 
Really good. The pilot’s premiere on June 12 spurred significant online activity, maxing out our social buzz meter (at 160) for several days. Though chatter dipped a bit in the week between new episodes–a common occurrence for series on a weekly rollout schedule–it nevertheless remained in “promising” range (at 118) before spiking right back up into “outstanding” territory (at 149) with episode two. This pattern suggests a promising hold for the rest of the show’s first season.

What’s appealing to Canadian audiences? 
Dark humor in a small town. Filmed entirely in New Brunswick, Syfy’s Revival is airing simultaneously across the border on CTV Sci-Fi, and Canadian audiences are being pulled in by different elements than their American counterparts. In particular, the show’s Twisted Humor (116 CA) carries much more weight here, especially as it relates to quirky Small Town Life (120 CA) and Dana’s misadventures as a Single Parent (120 CA). At the same time, the whodunnit investigation at the heart of the story (Solving a Murder, 80 CA; Murder Suspect, 93 CA; Scientific Method, 103 CA) is much less compelling.

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

Stay in the know

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Rapid Insights: ‘Dept. Q’ illustrates how the cold case genre can still break new ground

Netflix recently released a thrilling new dark drama about a traumatized, guilt-ridden detective (Matthew Goode) reassigned to investigate some of the most difficult, high-profile cold cases in Edinburgh. Adapted from a Danish book series by the creator of The Queen’s Gambit, this crime thriller show is racking up views on the service and has both critics and viewers buzzing.

Here’s what you need to know about Dept. Q:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

Who’s been watching this compelling new series? 
We’re seeing an audience that’s 53% women and 81% aged 30+–a more gender-balanced viewership than many similar dark crime dramas. Other entrants in this space often appeal more heavily to women, even those led by male detectives (e.g. Mare of EasttownHappy Valley, Long Bright River, Broadchurch, Wallander, Sherlock–all 57-63% women), though they all show a similarly heavy 30+ skew.

What’s the show’s biggest draw? 
Its eccentric protagonist (Eccentric Character POV, 145). After a case gone wrong destroys his meager emotional stability, Detective Chief Inspector Carl Morck is relegated to the cold case basement, investigating unsolvable crimes that no one else wants to touch (Lifestyle Change, 118). Brilliant yet thoroughly unlikeable–his judgement, sarcasm, and ego spare no one–he’s tasked with putting together a competent team (Team Up, 140) willing to embrace his vicious quirks and sand down his edges. Audiences are tuning in and staying put for Morck’s tortured Journey of Self Discovery (130) as he attempts to course-correct his flailing life and overcome the Psychological Turmoil (113) of past trauma–his personal story drives both ratings and bingeability.

What else about the series is attracting viewers? 
Tension and suspense. Dept. Q traffics in Dark Themes (160) and dangerous situations as Morck becomes fixated on solving the seemingly unsolvable: the disappearance of a high-profile prosecutor four years prior. As his team ventures farther down the twisted rabbit hole (Conspiracy and Cover Ups, 117) in their Search for the Truth (132), audiences are reveling in the riveting emotional experience (Terror, 128; Surprise, 117; Aggressiveness, 114) of their high-stress investigation.

How does the show’s online buzz look? 
Killer. Online activity skyrocketed with the show’s full-season release on May 29, maxing out our social buzz meter (at 160) and holding steady at peak levels for nearly three weeks straight. Viewers are texting and tweeting about the same key driver that’s drawing them into the show: Morck’s erratic character.

What will help catapult Dept. Q into a second season? 
The crime-solving elements. While the show’s acerbic protagonist is what’s driving ratings, it’s the steady drumbeat of its Police Procedural (119) framework that will keep its story engine running for seasons to come. Audiences will keep returning to see Morck follow new clues, crack new cases (Solving A Murder, 116), and put new perpetrators behind bars (Criminal Justice System, 111), all in a quaint Edinburgh setting (British Culture, 114).

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

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Rapid Insights: ‘Sirens’ Dismantles the Luxury Mystery Trend to Reveal What Works

In recent years, TV has increasingly turned its attention to exploring the wealthy 1%, digging beneath the seemingly idyllic surface of their pampered lives to reveal the dark undercurrents beneath. To do so effectively, show creators often leverage the tension and shock built into the mystery-thriller genre, piling up murders, betrayals, and whodunnit suspense to spotlight the deep rot beneath the glistening façade. Within this arena lies shows like HBO’s The White Lotus and The Undoing, Peacock’s Apples Never Fall, Amazon Prime’s Expats, Hulu’s Death and Other Details and Nine Perfect Strangers, and Netflix’s The Fall of the House of Usher and The Perfect Couple; the newest entry is Netflix’s gripping Sirens, already an effective (and heavily-watched) addition to the list.

Here’s what you need to know about Sirens and this broader trend:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

Who’s the typical audience for this type of show? 
Mostly women 30+. In keeping with the broader mystery-thriller sweet spot, this ‘wealthy crime’ subgenre also tends to appeal most strongly to a female audience, with streaming viewership landing at 57-68% women and 68-77% aged 30+; Sirens falls toward the upper end of both ranges (65% women, 74% aged 30+). An exception can arise if the series also weaves in darker, bloodier elements to bring in more men; the violence-filled The Fall of the House of Usher, for example, actually skews slightly male (55%).

How important is wealth to these shows’ success? 
Very. The elite status of the protagonists is what sets up the series’ core themes and provides the contrast between the rarefied setting and the sordid crimes within it. Story elements like the characters’ high Social Status, conspicuously Wealthy Lifestyles, and efforts to rise higher still (Power Struggles)–especially when set against dark Secrets & Lies, a Criminal Investigation, the Death of a Loved One, or a Murder Mystery–help to drive ratings, bingeability, and social buzz. A number of these shows also feature an audience surrogate (Fish Out of Water) in the form of a lower-class outsider, who serves as an effective onramp for viewers by being just as taken aback at the disturbing peek behind the 1% curtain (e.g. Sirens’ older sister, The Perfect Couple’s new fiance, The White Lotus’s hotel staff).

What else helps these series bring in viewers?
Centering on family. Nearly all shows within this microgenre–even those with a more wide-ranging set of characters (e.g. The White Lotus, Nine Perfect Strangers, Death and Other Details)–explore Family Relationships within this moneyed milieu, honing in particularly on themes of Family Dysfunction and Family Tension. Though shown through a fairly melodramatic lens, it’s nevertheless these universal themes that make the shows more broadly relatable and accessible to viewers, and the wealthy protagonists more sympathetic. Audiences can feel for the broken Father-Child Relationships (135) in The Fall of the House of Usher, for example, or the strained Sibling Relationships (128) on The White Lotus while still scoffing at the absurd behavior of their out-of-touch elite.

What’s setting Sirens apart? 
Dark comedy. While Netflix’s newest show incorporates all the key elements of its subgenre, it also adds a heavy dose of Twisted Humor (128) into its exploration of wealth and power. The series examines a young woman’s creepy, worshipful devotion to her billionaire boss, and its depiction of the billionaire’s absurdly curated ‘Stepford Wives’ persona and over-the-top cult-like influence has viewers snickering–while still leaning into its mounting sense of danger and tension.

What’s the buzz potential for these types of shows? 
Very high. Most of these series immediately maxed out our social buzz meter (to 160) upon release, with a number sustaining that level of online activity for weeks (especially The White Lotus and The Undoing). Sirens seems on track to make a similarly impressive splash; it’s currently still holding at (160) twenty days after its premiere and has already outpaced last fall’s The Perfect Couple.

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

Stay in the know

Subscribe to get Rapid Insights delivered to your inbox or follow us on LinkedIn

Past Rapid Insights: Miss one? Check out previous issues here

Rapid Insights: ‘Adults’ Uncovers What Gen Z Really Wants in a Comedy

FX has just premiered a fresh new ensemble comedy series that serves as a coming-of-age reflection for Gen Z, and the show has already picked up considerable buzz. From executive producer Nick Kroll, the show follows a group of twenty-something roommates in Queens, New York, as they struggle with the responsibilities and expectations of modern adulthood.

Here’s what you need to know about Adults:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

Who’s tuning in for this sharp new comedy? 
For the FX cable broadcast, we’re seeing an audience that’s gender-balanced (52% men / 48% women) and heavily aged 35+ (74%). Gen Z twenty-somethings–the show’s ostensible target–are largely watching instead via the FX on Hulu streaming release, which boasts a heavier chunk of <30s (48%) and leans male (56%). Adults is, unsurprisingly, attracting a younger viewership than many of FX’s previous edgy comedies (You’re the WorstArcher, Baskets, Better Things, AtlantaMr Inbetween, and even the teen-focused Reservation Dogs).

What’s the show’s biggest draw? 
Its wide-ranging comedy. Adults focuses a sharp lens on the boundless, exhilarating, and often overwhelming period of growth and exploration that makes up modern young adulthood, and its moments of relatable hilarity are driving both the show’s ratings and bingeability. From raunchiness (Sexual Humor, 143) and mature punchlines (Adult Humor, 141) to dry wit (Sarcastic Humor, 136), sweet awkwardness (Awkward & Funny Moments, 121), and goofy immaturity (Arrested Development, 129), the series leverages comedy of all types to effectively portray its characters’ attempts at growing up.

What type of viewing experience is capturing audiences? 
The ups and downs of emotional growth. Viewers are watching to experience (and laugh along with) the familiar triumphs and disappointments of life as a young twenty-something, and the show’s emotional gamut–everything from Disgust (123)Terror (120), and Aggressiveness (115) to Surprise (115)Grief (112), and Awe (111)–is helping to pull them in and keep them engaged.

How is the series’ level of online chatter? 
Strong. With last week’s full-season release on Hulu, the show shot to the top of our social buzz meter (maxing it out at 160) and continues to remain there, an early harbinger of a promising run. Viewers are texting and tweeting about the characters’ deep friendships as well as the relatable challenges they face in getting their feet on the ground as adults (Struggling, 113).

What will help push Adults into a second season? 
Its core Friendships (136). The show focuses on five tightknit roommates and their mutual support and dependence, and the bond between them forms the series’ beating heart. As they navigate the adult world together, their Multiple Storylines (125) and individual Journeys of Self Discovery (119) will keep the show’s story engine churning for seasons to come.

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

Stay in the know

Subscribe to get Rapid Insights delivered to your inbox or follow us on LinkedIn

Past Rapid Insights: Miss one? Check out previous issues here

Rapid Insights: ‘Murderbot’ Delivers a Sharp New Take on Emotional Sci-Fi

Apple TV+ recently premiered an offbeat new sci-fi-action-comedy based on an award-winning book series and it already has critics and audiences buzzing. The series stars Alexander Skarsgård as a sentient and hilariously snarky security cyborg who must hide his secretly-gained free will while protecting a team of scientists as they explore a dangerous new planet.

Here’s what you need to know about Murderbot:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

How does this show compare to Apple’s other sci-fi series? 
It skews more male. For Murderbot, we’re seeing an audience composed heavily of men (73%) as well as those 30+ (68%). While the show’s age skew matches its streaming brethren, its gender tilt sets it quite apart from Apple TV+’s previous genre entries (Dark MatterSilo, Hello Tomorrow!, SeveranceInvasionFoundation – all 59-64% men), potentially due to its cyborg-generated action and violence.

Why are so many viewers tuning in? 
For the suspense and excitement. The show follows a quirky group of peaceful scientists exploring a potentially lethal alien planet (Dangerous Mission, 130), and audiences are eager to see how (and if) their cynical security robot–the titular Murderbot–will choose to protect them with its built-in weaponry and military-like fighting skills (Stylized Action & Violence, 144). At the same time, Murderbot must hide the fact that it has an internally rich Secret Life (126)–the cyborg hacked its source code and granted itself free will–lest the scientists destroy it for going rogue, adding a whole new layer of tension. The group’s fraught Team Dynamics (145), filled with dramatic irony, are a major selling point for the show as Murderbot considers its approach to working with its humans (Teamwork, 127).

What’s making the show so bingeworthy? 
Wry humor. While the action and suspense are bringing viewers in, it’s Murderbot’s dry wit that’s keeping them watching. Events in the show are punctuated by the cyborg’s droll internal monologue as it weighs in on the scientists’ ill-advised choices, flinches away from oddities like human eye contact, and generally comments on the absurdities of humanity (Sarcastic Humor, 136; Twisted Humor, 129; Cynicism, 110). Murderbot’s continual sense of snarky Annoyance (129) (it would rather be watching soapy melodramas on a TV satellite feed than interacting with the team) contributes to the show’s overall comedic sensibility.

How is the show’s social buzz? 
Stellar. After the early April trailer produced an “outstanding”-level spike (to 130), the mid-May drop of the first two episodes maxed out our social buzz meter (at 160), where it’s been hovering ever since. This pattern of online activity so far resembles the premiere of Apple’s Silo, currently on its third season.

What will help push this series into a second season? 
Murderbot’s evolution. The cyborg’s twisted sense of humor and advanced security capabilities combine with its social awkwardness, generalized anxiety, and aversion to human interaction to create a uniquely memorable character that can easily drive future seasons of the show as it grows and evolves. Its hilariously Awkward Misadventures (121) in dealing with the scientific team and its Inner Conflict (120) between newly-born personal desires and a strange, budding sympathy for humans are key drivers for the series’ longevity.

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

Stay in the know

Subscribe to get Rapid Insights delivered to your inbox or follow us on LinkedIn

Past Rapid Insights: Miss one? Check out previous issues here

Rapid Insights: ‘Duster’ Reveals How J.J. Abrams Reboots 1970s Noir for Today

Max just released an exciting new crime thriller co-created by J.J. Abrams that represents his first return to TV writing in more than twelve years. Set in the 1970s and named for its protagonist’s sporty Plymouth, the series follows a slick career getaway driver and the FBI agent intent on using him to take down a crime syndicate.

Here’s what you need to know about Duster:

Vault AI uses index scores to describe the impact a given story/theme/element will have on specific KPIs: 
≤79 Disappointing  80-89 Challenging  90-109 Average  110-119 Promising  120+ Outstanding

Does this show appeal to the typical J.J. Abrams TV audience? 
No. For Duster, we’re seeing a viewership that skews heavily to men (66%) and those aged 30+ (73%). Even accounting for the differences in TV platforms, the show appeals significantly more to men than Abrams’ previous series: Lost, Alias, and Fringe all landed best with women (57-62%) in their initial linear broadcast and are now roughly gender-balanced on streaming.

What type of story is Duster telling? 
A freewheeling one. The show is a fun, fizzy, eclectic mix of a broad range of genres, with Western (123) showdowns and Action (120)-packed car chases and shootouts welded onto a Crime (130) Thriller (117) framework and topped off with elements of J.J. Abrams’ famous “Mystery (112) Box”–all wrapped in a stylized 1970s package.

Why are viewers tuning in? 
For the suspense and excitement. When Tough Guy (129) Jim, a professional getaway driver for a growing crime syndicate, is ensnared by a tenacious FBI agent determined to take them down, his life on the edge careens wildly off course. Audiences are eager to watch Jim try and scheme his way out of trouble as things spiral out of control (Scary Situations, 120), the bodies start piling up, and he’s forced to play a life-or-death game with the ultimate stakes (Dangerous Mission, 135). The show’s high octane Action & Violence (117) also pushes its thrills to another level.

What’s making this show so can’t-look-away bingeable? 
Its twists and turns. Jim, as completely at ease within the criminal underworld (Criminal Organization, 116) as working hand in hand with the FBI (Moral Ambiguity, 130), ultimately sets in motion an increasingly chaotic showdown of violent clashes and forceful confrontations between the warring parties. There is plenty of Scheming (124) and Betrayals (112) on both sides. With everyone fighting to come out on top, audiences will be on the edge of their seats.

What will help Duster reach a second season? 
Its central partnership. Opposites Attract (120) in the Unlikely Friendship (116) that develops between the cocky, charismatic lawbreaker Jim and the playfully tough, on-the-rise Fed who forces his cooperation. As the FBI’s first Black female agent (US Federal Agency, 114), Nina is determined to take down a criminal empire and prove her worth, while Jim is hellbent on saving his own neck. The grudging-respect-turned-unexpected-rapport that flowers between them as they find a way to work together sets up a compelling story engine that can easily propel future seasons.

Introducing Genre DNA™


Redefine your understanding of TV subgenres

Introducing Genre DNA™ – TV subgenres redefined by groundbreaking AI analysis to reveal the true drivers of viewership.

See the insights that others can’t

Genre DNA™ goes beyond traditional TV genre classifications by analyzing over 1,000 scripted and unscripted series on both linear and SVOD platforms from the last 5 years.

Each Vault Genre DNA™ report offers a precise analysis of your chosen TV subgenre, uncovering its unique drivers of viewership.

*Publicly released trailers for series are evaluated using Vault’s algorithms – utilizing our proprietary 120K+ story element database alongside viewership performance and other datasets – to identify unique combinations of stories, themes, characters, and genre elements that will drive success.

Stay in the know

Subscribe to get Rapid Insights delivered to your inbox or follow us on LinkedIn

Past Rapid Insights: Miss one? Check out previous issues here

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