Once We Had Mr. Cranky

It was a thing, back then when you were young.  It was like a thing that came before, sure, but Mr. Cranky was goofy and fun.  Now we have this, which is a lot like the stuff that came before, except not as fresh and not as fun and not as smart.  Why?  Is it because we are all dying, getting slower and weaker and dimmer every day?  Is it because the universe is grinding itself into cold and dark and death?  Sure.