02 Nov 2017

I’m a big fan of binge watching. A lot of my time is spent under a pile of blankets, smashing through eps of the latest show that’s dropped on Netflix.  With no recommended serving sizes, I can’t discipline myself when I hit the Netflix buffet. But the latest stats from Netflix tell us that even binge watching isn’t good enough anymore–you need to binge race and I’m calling it–it’s ruining our favourite shows.

1. You can’t remember anything

I’m not sure if this is because there’s literally so much happening in most episodes that I’m not giving my brain enough time in between to truly absorb what’s going on, or if it’s because, in my desperate attempts to finish shows as soon as possible, my viewing time stretches into the early hours of the morning when my brain is telling me I should be asleep. Either way, while I can remember the big, important events in a series, the little details are often long forgotten and if anyone asks me about a specific episode of something I’ve binged, I won’t be able to tell them what happened.

2. You have to race to finish it

Like I said, binge watching has turned into binge racing and I constantly feel like watching something new has turned into a competition on who can get through the fastest.

3. We’re constantly avoiding spoilers

There’s a fine line between when it’s okay to start talking about a show publicly and when it’s not and most of the time I have no idea where it is. The whole point of streaming services like Netflix is to be able to watch content when it suits you, but it has blurred the lines when it comes to spoilers. Is a week too soon? Can I talk about Stranger Things 2 in the office even though it was only released last week? How much leeway do I have to give someone who is planning to watch a show but hasn’t gotten around to it yet? Not to mention how difficult it is when you’re the person who needs to catch up and it seems like everyone else has already polished off the series and is talking about it–in person and online.

4. Post-binge blues

Post binge blues, post binge watch depression (PBWD) or the Netflix hangover. Whatever you want to call it–it’s a legitimate thing and people are reporting feeling anxious or empty when their fave show finally hits the end. The massive drop of all episodes, from start to finish, means that when we finally do reach the completion, it can be kind of heartbreaking.

5. There’s nothing left to watch

That’s a lie–there’s a massive selection on Netflix to choose from but I don’t know what to watch. When my favourite show ends I’m suddenly overwhelmed with the amount of choice put in front of me and can’t decide what to watch…until the next overhyped show drops and I jump on the bandwagon along with everyone else.