In the English-speaking world, Japanese TV in 2018 was celebrated for how boring it could get. But it was anything but domestically, where viewers questioned norms and helped nudge forward programs with progressive politics.
However, no production from Japan was bigger overseas this year than "Terrace House." The reality show, which follows several young people living together and sometimes juggling relationships with one another, managed to become an international hit on streaming service Netflix. That's a rarity for Japanese TV creations, save for anime and viral game show clips.
But "Terrace House" won praise for being calming, not crazy. The latest in the series, "Terrace House: Opening New Doors," generated a consistent drip of online content, nearly all parroting the same idea that, unlike the messy drama of Western reality shows, it offers something more real and inviting. It reached a point where coverage of the show went beyond creatively bankrupt introductions and inspired person-ranking lists, odes to panelist fashion and explorations of the season's toxic moments. Its international success provides clues as to how Japanese media can make gains abroad, primarily by being easy and convenient enough for the average viewer to consume.