Because sometimes, you don’t want to watch a hero save the universe. Sometimes, you just want to watch a baker get a handshake.

There is a visual component to this shift as well. Look at TikTok’s “Core” taxonomy. For years, it was all about "Cyberpunk" and "Goth." Now, the dominant search terms are "Cottagecore," "Boho," and "Retro-futurism."

From the unexpected resurgence of LEGO reality competitions to the quiet domination of The Great British Baking Show , and from the vinyl-record revival to the runaway success of “slow TV” (think train journeys through the Norwegian countryside), popular culture is undergoing a massive de-escalation. After two decades of peak complexity—labyrinthine universes (looking at you, Marvel), morally grey anti-heroes, and algorithmic doom-scrolling—entertainment content is finally taking a deep breath.