The number of episodes in a TV season varies widely depending on the show and the production model:
- Traditional U.S. network TV seasons often had 20 to 26 episodes, sometimes up to 39 in older times, to fill the broadcast season from September to May
- Cable and streaming shows tend to have shorter seasons, often between 7 and 13 episodes, focusing on quality and creative energy rather than quantity
- Some British-style series have very short seasons, sometimes as few as 3 to 10 episodes, depending on story needs and actor availability
Examples from recent shows:
- The Last of Us Season 2 has 7 episodes, shorter than its first season which had 9 episodes
- Poker Face Season 2 has 12 episodes, two more than its first season
- The series Episodes had seasons ranging from 7 to 9 episodes each
- The show From Season 3 has 10 episodes, consistent with its previous seasons
In summary, a TV season can have anywhere from about 7 to 26 episodes typically, with streaming and cable shows often opting for shorter seasons around 8 to 12 episodes, while traditional broadcast seasons historically had more episodes
