c/binge-worthy-shows

The math on how many times I've seen The Office is actually embarrassing

I was bored last weekend and actually counted up how many full watch-throughs I've done of The Office (US version). I figured it was a lot because my wife always gives me a hard time about it playing in the background while I work from home. Turns out I've seen the whole series from start to finish 17 times since 2018. That is roughly 3,400 episodes or something like 1,500 hours. It really hit me when I did the math that I've spent almost two entire months of my life watching one show. There are episodes I can basically recite word for word like the fire drill one or when Michael leaves. Has anyone else ever actually counted their rewatch numbers or am I just the guy who needs a new show?

I used to fast-forward through every intro until last week

I was watching The Expanse and skipped the opening credits like I always do, then my wife asked if I knew the ship names were in the sequence. Turns out the intro changes each season with hidden details about the plot, and I missed all of them for 5 seasons. Anyone else realize they've been skipping something important the whole time?

Why does nobody talk about how season 3 of that crime show fell apart

I was binging "The Bridge" on Hulu last night, got to season 3 episode 5 and something just broke. The whole plot went sideways, characters started acting weird and the pacing got all messed up. I ended up skipping to the finale just to see if it got better but it did not. Has anyone else had a show totally lose its magic partway through like that?

Caught myself watching 8 episodes of a Norwegian crime drama in one sitting

Last Saturday I was supposed to just watch one episode of 'The Bridge' before bed, but next thing I knew it was 4am and I had finished the whole first season. My delivery route the next day was brutal and I almost fell asleep at a red light on Broadway. Has anyone else had a foreign show totally wreck your sleep schedule like that?

Saw a huge difference in how I watch shows after I stopped using my phone during them

I used to always have my phone out while watching stuff, scrolling through social media or whatever. About two months ago I tried a no-phone rule for a week with Severance and realized I was missing so many details. Like subtle background stuff and character reactions that totally add to the story. Now I keep my phone in another room and I'm way more into whatever I'm watching. Has anyone else noticed how much more you get out of a show when you're not multitasking?

Tried a 3 episode rule and it backfired on a 23 episode show

I usually give any new show three episodes to hook me but I pushed through 8 episodes of this one because people online swore it got better. Turned out the whole season was slow and the payoff never came. Do you guys stick with a show hoping it gets good or cut it off early?

Binged all 8 seasons of The Office in one week and now I feel weird

My friend at the library made me rethink my whole watchlist

She said I only watch shows about people being awful to each other and asked if that was really relaxing. Now I'm wondering if I need to switch to something lighter like baking competitions.

My buddy swore I'd hate Silo on Apple TV but I gave it 3 episodes anyway

Last month my friend Mark kept saying the pacing was too slow and I would quit after one episode, but I stuck with it through those first three. By episode 4 I was totally hooked and ended up finishing all 10 episodes in two nights. Anyone else have a friend who tried to talk them out of a show that turned out amazing?

Binged all 8 seasons of That 70s Show in 2 weeks and now I talk like Kelso

My girlfriend threatened to leave me after I called the pizza delivery guy a 'dumbass' in Eric Forman's exact voice, has anyone else's vocabulary got completely hijacked by a show before?

That one comment that made me stop skipping the intro

I used to always skip the opening credits on every show, thought it saved time. Then my sister said I missed a bunch of hidden clues in the Westworld intro that changed the whole season. Now I watch every intro at least once, especially for mystery shows. Anyone else pick up on little details in the credits?

Found my new comfort show while stuck at the laundromat last night

I was waiting for my clothes to dry and the place had an old TV playing Netflix. Some random show called The Great British Sewing Bee came on and I got totally hooked. I watched three episodes back to back while folding socks. Has anyone else discovered a show in a random public spot like that?

Found out The Wire only had 60 episodes total and it blew my mind

I was looking up something about The Wire on Wikipedia after my third rewatch and saw it only ran for 5 seasons with 60 episodes. That felt small for a show this big. I always thought it had way more episodes because of how deep the story goes. Has anyone else been surprised by a show's episode count like that?

Why does nobody talk about the mid-season slump in Dark?

I binged Dark in 4 days last week and it was incredible until episode 15, where the time travel rules got so tangled I had to rewind twice just to follow who was who. The whole thing felt like a bad dream where you're running but not getting anywhere, and it totally killed my momentum. Has anyone else hit a wall with a show that started strong but got too complicated to enjoy?

Tried binging Succession after watching Breaking Bad and it felt like a different planet

I finally caved and watched Breaking Bad last month, 5 seasons in 2 weeks. Then I jumped into Succession thinking it would be similar drama. Man, the pacing is so different, Succession feels like 90% talking and 10% action compared to Breaking Bad's constant tension. Has anyone else had that shock switching from a faster show to a slower one?

Friend told me to slow down and actually watch the credits

I used to fly through shows, clicking next episode before the credits even finished rolling. My buddy Matt called me out on it, said I was basically speedrunning stories instead of experiencing them. He dared me to sit through the full credits of Severance season one and just sit with what I'd watched. I did it and it changed how I binge stuff now. The music, the silence, the time to think about what happened, it actually makes the show stick with me longer. Has anyone else tried forcing themselves to pause between episodes instead of chain watching?

Binged The Bear in one weekend and it broke me

I used to watch shows while scrolling on my phone. Half paying attention. Thought I was still getting the story. Then The Bear's episode seven hit me with that continuous take in the kitchen. No phone, no distractions. Realized I had been missing all the subtle acting and sound design for years. What show made you actually put your phone down?

My brother told me to watch 'The Wire' and I finally get it

I was talking to my brother last weekend and he asked if I'd ever seen it. I said no, because the first episode felt slow. He just said, 'Give it four. If you don't like it by the end of episode four, fine.' So I did, and man, he was right. By the end of that fourth one, I was hooked on the whole story and how everything connects. I'm halfway through season two now and I can't stop. Has anyone else had a show that took a few tries to really grab you?

Question about the hype for 'The Bear' season 2

I finally watched it last week after hearing everyone rave, but the 10 episodes felt like a stressful, 5-hour panic attack that I didn't actually enjoy finishing.

Showerthought: I started skipping the 'previously on' recaps and it changed my whole binge

I was trying to get through the first season of 'The Bear' last weekend and felt like I was wasting time on the long recap before each episode. I started hitting the 'skip intro' button on Hulu, which also skipped the recap, and suddenly I was finishing episodes way faster. Does anyone else skip those parts to keep the momentum going?

Just realized I was wrong about skipping the first season of 'The Wire'

I was on my couch in Portland, trying to get into the show everyone raves about. I watched the first two episodes and found it slow, so I jumped ahead to season two based on a friend's advice. Big mistake. I was totally lost with the new dockworker characters and had no clue who anyone was or why I should care. After about 20 minutes of confusion, I shut it off and went back to the start. Forcing myself through those initial slow episodes made all the difference. By the time I got back to season two, I understood the foundation of the whole city and the police work. Now I'm halfway through season three and completely hooked. Has anyone else almost quit a show early and been glad they stuck with it?

My wife and I spent last weekend arguing over whether to start 'Severance' or 'The Bear' and I'm still not sure we picked right.

Rant: I finally decided to watch 'The Wire' after hearing about it for years.

I thought I'd knock it out over a long weekend, but it took me almost two months to get through all five seasons because I kept having to rewind to catch the dialogue. Anyone else have a show that demanded your full attention like that?

Unpopular opinion: I wasted $15 a month for 6 months on that streaming service that only has one good show.

Kept telling myself 'next month they'll add something new' but it was just that same detective drama over and over, so has anyone else found a better service for crime stuff?

My neighbor told me he's watched 'The Wire' three times and I finally get why people do that.

He said, 'You don't watch it for the plot the second time, you watch it for the city,' and that hit different because I've only ever rewatched comedies for comfort.