Maybe that’s part of why streaming services are going back to weekly (i.e. Handsmaid Tale) or split-season (i.e. Stranger Things) releases. It’s not just for profit…the suspense between the episodes can be just as, if not more, valuable and enjoyable as the episodes themselves.

I’d say so. If nothing else, consider what a proper episode-end cliffhanger is to experience in that scenario. It’s a radically different thing.