Abstract
In their newly published study, Television Trends, 2016-2020: Authenticity, Diversity, Sexual Candor, and Retrospection, Yvonne D. Leach and Nicholas J. Natalicchio discuss popular television programs with an eye toward uncovering how they rely upon one (or more) of four tendencies. The trends they discuss include authenticity (that is, relatability and raw portrayal), diversity (the degree to which the programming provides perspectives on different cultures), sexual candor (frankness about sexuality and sexual subject matter), and retrospection (looking backward to understand the present). Alongside these specific tendencies, the authors call attention to some "overall trends during this time period," including the "many effects of the pandemic" (citing that production was halted and then "resumed with Covid restrictions"), the surging popularity of miniseries and limited-run series, and a thematic preoccupation with mental health issues (4–5). With these concerns in mind, Leach and Natalicchio examine a range of television shows, including Euphoria, Normal People, Atlanta, Ramy, Vida, I May Destroy You, Stranger Things, and Lovecraft Country, in an effort to make comparisons among them.