Our premise has been simple: That online video in both short and long form is the future, and its development is important to pay attention to.

OK, it is a little weird, but you might take a gander at “Butterknife,” an unusual online series that looks at both the life of a private investigator and his life at home with his wife.

Shown on the Spout site, there is a little too much of the very hairy chest and shoulders of the protagonist, played by Ronald Bronstein (his real-life wife, Mary, plays his wife), but it kind of grows on you.

Here is the first episode (there are eight so far):

BUTTERKNIFE 8: Smelly Elly