Photo courtesy of Netflix.Let’s face it: Binge-watching has become one of the main ways to watch shows. A 2013 study by Netflix said that 61 percent of its users binge regularly. With more shows popping up on the service and Amazon as well, those numbers are definitely increasing. Both sites have caught up to the trend, dropping full seasons of original shows without a second thought.
People have plenty of reasons to binge-watch. Here are five of the most common.
“It’s five in the morning”
You got home from work at 6 p.m., and turned on "Agents of SHIELD" for the first time. You should be in bed by 10 p.m., but between Melinda May’s martial arts and Coulson’s love for Lola (not to mention the plot twists), you’re wired up for another episode as the sun rises. Good thing you watch in bed.
“The Cliffhanger”
For those moments of: “Is he dead?! What happened to the bridge?! Why did the dad leave?! When can I find out?!” What's great about this binge is that answers are usually right around the corner, ceasing the need to dig around for clues for a whole week.
“The Test”
Say you’re unsure about "The Blacklist." It’s in your list, and your friends have been raving about it constantly. You’ve avoided it on basic cable so you can pull the trigger on it online. But you’re scared that a darker James Spader might not be what you want. Great thing about this binge is its ability to run a test. Watch three, maybe four episodes to see if it’s worth your time (author's note: it is), and if not, drop it and move on.
“The Boredom Killer”
Miraculously, you’ve got a whole weekend to yourself with nary a distraction to deter you. And what luck! Either your friends are busy, or you live in a bit of a dead town with little to do. It is best to queue up a show or two and while away the days watching "Auction Hunters" or "Transparent," if Jeffrey Tambor in a wig is a point of interest to you.
“The Party”
You know those times where a whole theater is in sync together if a movie is that good? (see: "Avengers") If you know people with similar tastes, you can do the same at home. Grab some drinks, food and crash on the couch to see Frank Underwood break the fourth wall again and again in a binge. Things like these are best shared with friends.
“The White Noise Effect”
Maybe your boss left homework or paperwork on your desk so that he could play a round of golf to schmooze with the CEO. You’ll need something to break the monotony. Queue up a show that won’t be distracting, something that you’ve already seen, and get to work if you hate the silence of the background. Trust me, it’ll take some of the edge off your work.
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