My personal theory is that genuine mass media reflects the internal unconscious understanding/desires of the audience. So in that context the gritty dark realism reflects the collective view of the grinding pointlessnedsnif the forever war. As that slowly slipped away we were left with the looming fear of the unknowable but terrible future, hence apocalypse and capeshit, the fear of the future and the heed for a savior. Now that we have covid and climate change us really setting in with the long predicted droughts and catastrophes we will see what sets in. If we start seeing media depicting a positive collective struggle that would be a good sign. Catastrophe has a way of sharpening the mind and bringing out the best in people. Which is where our duty as communists comes in to build social power that creates the possibility for believing in a better future.