Are you a TV binge-watcher? Is your partner? Chances are good that you are. According to Nielsen, 361,000 people watched all nine episodes of season 2 of Stranger Things, on the first day it was released.
I can recall a time, not too long ago, when I would fly through seasons of Sex and the City or Mad Men to Aron’s horror. In his opinion, it went against the nature of an episodic story arc. But then we watched Freaks and Geeks, and everything changed. We watched the entire (lone) season in a day! By the time Breaking Bad came around—and we were one season late to the party, so we flew through season one—we were solidly in the binge-camp. In fact, Aron has so thoroughly crossed to other side of the debate that he will consider this a factor in choosing a new show, saying something to the effect of “We already have to wait so long between episodes of Game of Thrones, let’s find one we can binge.”
It’s a good thing, too! According to Scientific American, this sort of shared media experience probably benefits our relationship: “When watching a favorite show together, couples can enter a new fictional world, creating a shared social experience that brings partners closer.” (“The Hidden Relationship Benefits of Binge-Watching”)
Our favorite together shows, besides those I’ve mentioned above, that come to mind are: The Office, 30 Rock, Homeland, The Americans, Narcos, Catastrophe, and The Sopranos. We’ve also recently enjoyed Stranger Things, Peaky Blinders, Orange is the New Black, House of Cards, Friday Night Lights, The Good Wife, Girls, Downton Abbey, The Crown, Big Little Lies, and Ozark. And of course there are the political comedians like Samantha Bee and John Oliver.
Then there are the shows I watch on my own (but I think he’d like most of them, if he had the time): This is Us, Grey’s Anatomy, Nashville, Casual, etc. These are on the heels of Gilmore Girls, Bunheads, Felicity, etc. He watches Westworld and The Leftovers without me, usually if I fall asleep too early.
What are your watching habits like? Which shows do you watch with someone and which alone?
And, SOS: with most of our favorites on hiatus or ending—or only updating once a week (hello, Carrie Mathison)—we’re looking for what to binge-watch next. Any suggestions? The Handmaid’s Tale is still on our list, as is Transparent and Better Call Saul.
P.S. Ben or Noel? And tips for choosing media for kids.
[Freaks and Geeks Photo by: Chris Haston/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images; found in this story about a documentary coming out later this year!]
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