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

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: ‘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.

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: ‘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

Rapid Insights: ‘The Eternaut’ Shows How Survival Sci-Fi Travels Beyond Borders

Netflix recently released a chilling live-action adaptation of an iconic Argentinian graphic novel, offering up another compelling addition to the current wealth of post-apocalyptic sci-fi dramas. Taking place in Buenos Aires, the show follows a group of survivors fighting back against an alien invasion after an otherworldly toxic snowstorm kills off most of the population.

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

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 new Spanish-language series? 
We’re seeing an audience that’s mostly men (69%) and those 30+ (60%). While most other post-apocalyptic shows aim for the same general viewership sweet spot, The Eternaut skews more toward men than most; the streaming audiences for series like The Last of Us, Silo, Falling SkiesThe Walking Dead and its spin-offs, and The Stand all land slightly lower (55-64% men). The exception in this genre is Fallout, which represents an even more heavily targeted approach (73% men).

What does The Eternaut have in common with other series in this genre? 
Characters fighting to survive. One of the hallmarks of post-apocalyptic storytelling is a protagonist struggling against overwhelming odds in a dangerously hostile environment, and when the planet itself has turned against them, their chances seem increasingly bleak. In The Eternaut, the backdrop is the devastated city of Buenos Aires, and the small group of survivors at the center of the story are in just as much peril (Life in Danger, 133) and have to rely just as much on their wits (Survival Skills, 132) as, for example, The Last of Us’s Joel and Ellie and Fallout’s Lucy. For all of these shows, these survivalist elements are important drivers of longevity.

What’s making this show so compulsively watchable? 
Its unique threat. The series’ most original aspects are driving its bingeability, led by the antagonistic Alien Lifeform (160) taking over Earth and wielding a toxic snowstorm as a weapon of mass destruction (Biological Warfare, 134). Audiences simply can’t look away from the Scary Situations (152) that result, and, with the survivors’ World Turned Upside Down (160), viewers are anxious to see how and if they’re able to reclaim their city from the hostile invaders.

What will help push The Eternaut to a second season? 
Its locale. Though initially a limited series, there’s always a chance for more, and it’s the show’s Non-US Setting (123) that could ultimately open up the storytelling possibilities for American audiences. The survivors’ Dangerous Mission (126) in a novel environment–Buenos Aires rather than New York, D.C., or California–is what will keep viewers interested should the story continue through another season.

What’s driving viewership in the show’s native Argentina? 
The human-alien war. Local audiences are expected to be most drawn to The Eternaut’s intensely thrilling Action & Violence (124) as well as the alien invaders’ cataclysmic Biological Warfare (113). Argentine viewers are looking for even more of an edge-of-your-seat, heart-pounding thrill ride than their American counterparts

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: ‘Ransom Canyon’ Turns Romance into the Western’s Secret Weapon

Several weeks ago, Netflix premiered a buzzy new romantic western that puts a more heightened emotional spin on a classic American genre. The show stars Josh Duhamel and Minka Kelly as longtime friends-turned-lovers against a backdrop of family feuds, power struggles, and the small-town way of life in Texas ranch country.

Here’s what you need to know about Ransom Canyon:

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 dual genres is the audience tuning in for? 
Romance. Ransom Canyon has a viewership that leans heavily toward women (63%) and those aged 30+ (68%)–a much closer match for romantic dramas like Virgin RiverSweet Magnolias, Firefly LaneWhen Calls the Heart, and Cedar Cove (67-77% women) than more traditional westerns like Yellowstone, Deadwood, Lawmen: Bass ReevesGodless, or 1923 (which skew 53-62% men). Still, its rugged western setting tempers the female skew slightly, offering a broader draw than traditional romantic dramas.

What is resonating most with viewers? 
Surprisingly, the high school drama. Though the show’s headliners are its two adult stars, the fact that Ransom Canyon also explores Teen Life (148) in its rural Texas setting, showcasing the football players, cheerleaders, and troublemakers that make any small-town story relatable, ultimately carries more weight. This element is the top driver for ratings, longevity, and social buzz and the second-highest for bingeability, outstripping both of the lead characters’ storylines in each area.

Why else are viewers adding this show to their queue? 
To watch the messiness of Falling in Love (137). In the town of Ransom Canyon, Emotions Run High (137) as various characters become locked in romantic entanglements and bitter feuds, torn between their desires, traditions, and responsibilities (Inner Conflicts, 118). Central to this set-up are old friends Staten and Quinn, who reconnect just as Quinn is growing close to another man (Love Triangle, 114). Audiences are eager to see the pair’s complicated love story play out–especially as they begin to act on their Sexual Desires (121), which aids with bingeability.

What type of emotional experience are audiences looking for? 
A sweet and loving one. Through Staten and Quinn as well as various other couplings, both teen and adult, that take place in the town, viewers are leaning in to feel the heady rush of new love and emotional vulnerability They want to relish feelings of Awe (137), Amazement (137), and Anticipation (137) right alongside the characters and imagine themselves in similar moments of Distraction (137)Submission (137), and building Trust (137).

What will help propel Ransom Canyon into future seasons? 
The clash between ranching dynasties. The series explores the rising friction among several of the town’s most influential clans (Family Tension, 120) as they fight to preserve their Family Legacies (119) and protect their rural way of life from outside forces. This broader backdrop, combined with the show’s exploration of the town’s teenaged generation, will serve as a crucial story engine 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: ‘Lazarus’ and ‘Devil May Cry’ Fuel Anime’s High-Stakes Evolution

Earlier this month, two compelling new anime series premiered within a few days of each other, and both offer up plenty of the action, excitement, and fantastical creativity for which their genre is known. From the creator of Cowboy Bebop, Adult Swim’s Lazarus follows the search for a lifesaving cure after an evil professor sells a lethal painkiller to the unsuspecting masses. Netflix’s Devil May Cry, based on the Japanese video game franchise, tracks a demon hunter-for-hire as he battles a demonic terrorist seeking revenge on the human race.

Here’s what you need to know about these two new anime series:

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

Are these shows competing for the same audience? 
Mostly. For Lazarus’ cable premiere on Adult Swim, we’re seeing a viewership that’s heavily men (61%) and roughly age-balanced (49% <35 / 51% 35+); for its next-day streaming on Max, it’s even more male (75%) and younger (61% <30). Devil May Cry’s Netflix streaming release hits the same SVOD gender sweet spot (71% men) but is aged up just a bit (52% <30). This general audience profile is similar to other action-based, adult-focused anime series like Attack on Titan and Terminator Zero, but it skews significantly older than more kid-friendly titles like Pokémon.

What do these two series have in common? 
Sky-high stakes and a ticking clock. Both shows position their protagonists in a crucial Race Against Time (111) as they embark on a heavy and Dangerous Mission (119) at great personal risk (Life in Danger, 122) to save the lives of everyone on earth (Saving the World, 122). Their gripping, can’t-look-away core storylines are grabbing audiences and keeping them glued to their seats with intense emotional reactions like Terror (119)Anger (120), and Surprise (115).

What’s making these shows so watchable? 
Their fantasy elements. In addition to suspense, both series offer up plenty of nourishment for fans who love their genre’s typical fantastical aesthetics and world-building: anime-style Stylized Action & Violence (123) and expansive, well-drawn Distinctly Realized Worlds (133). These aspects primarily contribute to the shows’ likely longevity.

What’s making Lazarus stand out as unique? 
The Lazarus team. At the core of the show is a small, capable team of criminals tasked with tracking down an evil professor and the lifesaving antidote he’s hiding. This specialized group–five teens and adults with nefarious skills assembled for the occasion, led by a charmingly cocky escape artist (Charisma & Confidence, 121)–promises a dynamic ride, with viewers leaning into their complicated Team Dynamics (124) and Strong Female Leads (133). This protagonist group is what’s driving the show’s bingeability.

What sets apart the Devil May Cry? 
Its lone wolf protagonist. Rather than a team, Devil May Cry features a brutal One Man Army (133) in the form of demon hunter Dante, who brings a special set of skills into his fight against a vengeful demonic terrorist called the White Rabbit. Their match-up delves into the realm of Myth & Fantasy (118) and concepts of heaven and hell as the White Rabbit attempts to usher in the apocalypse, and the fact that it’s based on a popular video game (IP Extension, 127) makes it all the more compelling. As with Lazarus, this series’ unique elements are what’s keeping viewers watching.

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: ‘MobLand’ Blends Prestige Talent With Classic Gangland Tropes

Though released only three weeks ago, Paramount+’s newest series–a dark, gritty, star-studded crime drama partly directed by Guy Ritchie–has proven to be an offering that can’t be refused, netting the biggest global series premiere week ever on the platform. The show stars Pierce Brosnan and Helen Mirren as the married couple head of an at-war London crime family, with Tom Hardy as their slick and dangerous ‘fixer’ tasked with eliminating the rival clan that’s out to overthrow their empire.

Here’s what you need to know about MobLand:

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 new crime drama appeal to the typical Paramount+ audience? 
Largely yes. With a viewership that skews heavily to men (68%) and those aged 30+ (72%), MobLand hits the same sweet-spot audience quadrant as the bulk of the streamer’s most popular recent dramas, including Tulsa KingMayor of KingstownLandmanLawmen: Bass Reeves1923The Offer, and Star Trek: Strange New Worlds (all 60-71% men, 72-78% 30+). (A major exception is the just-released Happy Face, which pulls in 60% women.)

What’s the show’s big draw? 
Its mafia trappings. MobLand’s deep focus on the high-stakes and very dangerous criminal underworld inhabited by its characters is acting as an irresistible pull for viewers curious to see Guy Ritchie’s version of The GodfatherCriminal Masterminds (130) Conrad and Maeve Harrigan, the power couple leading the family syndicate (Criminal Organization, 160) that dominates the London gun and drugs scene (Committing a Crime, 138), set the stage for a gripping saga of life-or-death loyalty and ruthless retribution.

What about Tom Hardy’s character? 
He gooses the ratings. Fixer Harry Da Souza is actually MobLand’s protagonist, with the events largely unfolding around his role as the Harrigans’ extremely effective problem solver. Though not related by blood, he is the family’s prized Protector & Guardian (128), for whom brutal Action & Violence (128) comes easy when taking care of business. Though prone to taking Vengeance (119) when friend or foe crosses the line, his role when the show opens is actually one of peacemaker (Tranquility, 118), working to quell the flames of war as enmity builds with rival clan the Stevensons. Da Souza leans right into the show’s top crime-related ratings drivers while adding a few of his own.

How does the show’s online situation look? 
Incredible. After the early March trailer drop spiked social buzz to the very top of our meter (at 160), the pilot’s premiere repeated the performance, and the series has sustained that “outstanding” level of online activity ever since. Viewers are responding to the High Stakes (112) and Scary Situations (112) that are built into the life of a successful mafia family.

What will help push the show into a second season? 
Its focus on a Multigenerational Family (111). In addition to Conrad and Maeve, MobLand’s central clan includes several Harrigan children and grandchildren, all of whom exhibit varying levels of suitability for the violent and ruthless family business (Crime Family, 133). The Harrigans’ interfamilial dynamics, as well as their tumultuous reign over London’s criminal underworld (British Culture, 123), drive the story engine that will keep viewers coming back for 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

Processing...
Thank you! Your subscription has been confirmed. You'll hear from us soon.
Subscribe
Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates.
ErrorHere