this is absolutely true and good observations.

i especially appreciate your point about the full experience of the cliffhanger.

this episodic storytelling format is ingrained in us, possibly for a very long time, but at least since the printing press flourished and episodic publications became popular and the illiterate would gather round those who would read aloud the latest episodes as they came out.

then came radio and families would gather around the radio listen to the weekly shows and discuss the possible outcomes of the cliffhanger with their friends and workmates etc. it was already very well ingrained into our society and culture by the time we were experiencing it.

in some ways i do like not having to wait, but it certainly removes layers of the experience as you’ve articulated well.