Thanks to the online movie streaming services, I have subjected myself to hours and hours of bad movies and TV shows, but not too long ago, something changed. TV got good again. We are truly In a golden age of television and I have spent a fair amount of time binge-watching entire series in just a few days.
My latest obsession: True Detective. This show was soooo good — even the opening credits were amazing — I was riveted from the moment it came on the screen. Following along as Marty and Rust delved into the mystery of the Yellow King was fascinating to watch, even if the finale was a little too neat for my liking.
The previous week had me rewatching Band of Brothers, which is somewhat of an annual tradition for me (RIP Wild Bill Guarnere). Before that, it was season two of House of Cards and the first season of Arrow. I tried Orange is the New Black but bailed after five episodes — maybe I’ll go back to it someday. The latest season of Boardwalk Empire was before that, and the list goes on and on…
Currently, I’m in the second season of Battlestar Galactica — for whatever reason, I took a break from that one after the cliffhanger ending of the first season.
I’m a big fan of long movies and a great television show is basically a really, really long movie. Writers can do things with a TV series that are impossible with a 2-hour long movie. Next month, Jack Bauer makes his return in 24. If I wasn’t afraid of it being spoiled, I would really prefer to wait to see all the episodes back to back. There are so many great shows being produced right now. The formula is simple — make a good, compelling story with fully-developed characters — easy, right?
Binge watching is a bit of an obsession of mine, and I only wish there were more hours in the day. I’m actually at the point where I want to rewatch Deadwood and the Wire, but that would be a serious time commitments! What series should I check out next? What’s your latest obsession?
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This week, the League of Extraordinary Bloggers is taking about their obsessions. Binge watching is mine, but others are obsessed with WWE wrestling, Spider-Man, The Fantastic Four, action figures, scary stuff, scary puppets, and more!
I remember in college how I binged watched “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, though this was out of necessity rather than intent. It took an average of six months to get the latest DVD box set on hold from the library, then you only had five days to watch all of the episodes that were important to the season’s arc before I had to take it back.
Netflix streaming was a new thing at the time and while I’m sure there were plenty on pirate TV sites at the time, I probably wouldn’t have been able to get that the work with what little wifi I had at the time.
Last summer I was a marathoning a number of cartoons, usually one to two episodes a day of Batman Beyond or Justice League Unlimited but thats as close as I’ve gotten to binging to a while.
Not too long ago, I watched six or seven episodes of Buffy season 1 and just couldn’t get into it. I guess I’m probably over the age limit, because it didn’t hook me. 😉
I’ve seen a few animated series with the kids. Right now, we’re watching the Clone Wars from the beginning.
I keep hearing that I need to watch True Detectives, so maybe that’s what I’ll binge watch next. My husband and I just binge watched Community in an embarrassingly short amount of time, then moved on to Rick & Morty. Both really worthwhile if you’re in the mood for something ridiculous and short (unless you watch it all in under two weeks… oops)
–Linz
If you like shows with powerful dialogue, and brutal dramatic sequences, it doesn’t get much better than True Detective. It just gut punches you in the best possible way.
I’m embarrassed to say I’ve never even heard of Rick & Morty — gonna have to check that one out! Ridiculous is always good. 😉
Since we do not get modern TV down here we have to rely on DVD’s….Wifey and I just completed our third time around on Sex in the City.
I can’t get my wife to binge watch anything. She’s just wired differently I guess. We tried watching Friday Night Lights together but burned out after season one.
Wifey and I did a BSG binge last years. We watched about 2 episodes a night till we got done. We also did an all-day Firefly/Serenity binge. We just finished a Game of Thrones binge (via DVD) two week ago and we started an Elementary (UK) binge on Monday. Netflix… good or bad? I don’t know. I’ll get back to you after these next few episodes…
Firefly is the perfect series to binge!
I love Game of Thrones but certain episodes would have been MUCH better if I hadn’t read the books. 😉
Married with Children. You’ll never need another TV series.
wellll… I caught that when it aired live, so I’m good. 😉
The wife taught me how to binge watch. Its always been her thing and she dragged me into it when we started dating. Lot of long Netflix marathons. Now some shows are a chore to watch weekly but a blast to knock out a whole season in a weekend.
Even with the kid?! It’s almost impossible for my wife and I to align our schedules anymore to the point where we can sit for any extended period of time together. Kids have a way of doing that. 😉
Battlestar Galactica is a great show to binge watch. I’ve started watching classic Doctor Who and have reached the late 1970s episodes. I’ll be busy for a while.
Some suggestions:
The Returned
Misfits
Life on Mars
In the Flesh
Moone Boy
Sherlock
Orphan Black
The moral to my story is that I watch far too much British television.
I admire your dedication to the good Doctor, but that’s a show i just can not get into. I’ve tried, but really, really don’t get the fascination. I’ve never really cared for this sort of sci-fi (i.e. Terry Pratchett, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, etc.) but every now and then I’ll give it another go, only to leave with the same opinion.
I’ve heard nothing but good reviews for Sherlock and Orphan Black and will have to look into the other ones on your list. Thanks!
Doctor Who is not for everyone. I’m still trying to pinpoint what it is about it that has me hooked. I’m usually not into that sort of sci-fi either.
I was fascinated by Doctor Who as a kid. Watching the 4th Doctor with my dad brings fond memories. It was also my introduction to British TV. But it’s true that it is not for everyone. Especially some of the older Doctors. It is definitely hit or miss.
Funny you should mention the binge. A few weeks back I was snowed in for a few days and watched my way through both seasons of “House of Cards”. So good! I too gave up on “Orange is the New Black”. I’ll add you to the growing list of people in my ear telling me how awesome “True Detective” is. Looks like that’s next on the binge list 😉
True Detective is only 8 episodes, so you can burn through that one in a day. If it hooks you after the first episode, you’ll have a hard time stopping.
Man, I’ve binged watched so many shows over the years! BSG, Farscape (twice because it rocks) X-Files, Firefly, Breaking Bad and the list goes on. It helps when you work at a computer most of the day.
I love doing it but it’s more engrossing than waiting a week or 2 for the next episode. Being able to blow through a season or 2 a week makes it that much harder to deal with when it’s over!
I always feel like my dog died or something at the end of a binge. 🙁
I know that feeling well. Ending a show after a binge either feels like a big loss or a big relief! 😉
Farscape and the X-Files are on my list.
I have been mainlining these shows:
CANADA’S HANDYMAN CHALLENGE
THRIFT HUNTERS
SALVAGE HUNTERS
Matt Frewer SHERLOCK HOLMES movies
I love Thrift Hunters, but those other two are new to me. Salvage Hunters sounds pretty good.
every ones taste in shows is differant when it comes to even binge watching to catch up espically british shows like what i did for the last season of doctor who and sherlock .plus also binge watching means if you miss an episode by watching some other show on at the same time you can always catch up