6 Signs You’re a Binge TV watcher
Hi, my name is Rosie, and I am a binge TV watcher.
Netflix and iTunes have been my saving graces since I stared binge watching my freshman year of college. It all started with Dexter. That was the beginning of the end. Since then I’ve been watched everything from Breaking Bad, Louie, Sons of Anarchy, Mad Men to The Real Housewives of New York and Miami. And of course I have my to-do list. My binges to-do list consists of Shameless, The Sopranos, Twin Peaks, The Wire and Game of Thrones, but currently I am binging on Oz. It’s been intense to say the least. Since getting very involved in binge watching, I’ve learned the tell-tale signs to tell if you’re a binge watcher. The first step to recovery is admitting you have a problem.
Here are 6 signs you might be a binge TV watcher:
1) When the binge watch is over, or the season has ended, you miss the characters as if they are your family
When I finished five seasons of Sons of Anarchy in a little over two weeks (if I remember correctly), I was aching to see the Teller-Morrow clan again! Seriously, it was as if I had just spent two weeks at a beautiful lake house with my entire extended family and all of a sudden had to leave them all behind. So what did I do to soothe the pain and longing? Decided to binge watch yet again…this time with my mom. Yep, now she feels exactly as I do about the SAMCRO gang. September and season six cant come soon enough.
2) You direct any conversation toward the show
It’s over – your binge has ended until next season begins… or possibly forever. But huzzah! You’ve found someone else who has your passion for the show. So naturally, you try and steer any conversation with them to the show. Coming up with theories on next season, discussing character development, quizzing each other, just LOVING AND REMINICING!! Too bad if others are around that have no idea what you’re talking about – this takes precedent.
3) You dream about the show
This might seem extreme and obsessive, but my fellow binge watchers know what I am talking about. It’s really only natural. Watching three hours of a show right before bed and depriving yourself of sleep just to squeeze one more episode in? The characters are so present in your mind at the time of REM, how could they not pop into a funky dream or two?
4) You need to detox when it’s over
It’s like a drug; you are chomping at the bits for more. Please, just one more season! Okay, too much? Just one more episode! Can’t this episode be just like 10 minutes longer, please? Cold sweats may or may not be included.
5) You find yourself tracking the stars
Okay, you’ve officially become obsessed with the stars of the show you’ve been watching. You know all their trivia on IMBD, you’ve Wiki-ed them and now it’s time for more. Time to go way way back and watch all of their old credits. Your Netflix and iTunes accounts are about to get real busy with all actor searches from one show!!
6) You’ll do anything to keep the joy going
Well, here is the dilemma. The show is over. You have nobody to discuss it with. Time to get a buddy hooked. Precisely what I’ve done. I have become not so much a drug pusher, but an American Horror Story pusher. Hey, I needed someone to discuss it with and I needed to re-watch seasons one and two! Don’t give me that look, might as well spread the joy of a great show! I’ve gotten two friends hooked and we are watching four episodes a night sometimes, blowing right through season two! You’re welcome, Kira and Hannah!
