All of us are guilty of binging on a season (read: entire series) of a box set. Whether it’s because of a plotline that keeps you hooked, or you become attached to feel-good characters, it’s easy to watch ‘just one more episode’ until you find yourself awake in the early hours of the morning. Trust me, I do this every Friday, I start a new series at 8pm then wonder why I am still awake at 4am…While we can argue over the most binge-worthy and best box sets of all time, how do you decide which to watch? What drew you to your favourite box sets and what do you consider when selecting your next one?
Those All-Important Ratings
First thing’s first, when deciding if a series is worth watching, many of us head straight to Google – seriously, how did we manage without Google? Thanks to the wonders of modern technology, you can instantly find out what others thought, from IMDB scores to Rotten Tomatoes reviews – I’m a big fan of the non-critic reviews on RT as people are brutally honest. After all, what’s the point in getting invested in a series, only to be disappointed by the ending, when a quick search could’ve saved you hours of important viewing time?
The Length of Episodes
Some of us love nothing more than spending hours immersed in our favourite shows, while for others, they prefer being able to easily dip in and out of a series, as and when they have the time. Considering episode length can be helpful. While you can pause and come back to it, if you’re someone with a shorter attention span, stick to something shorter. Because there’s nothing worse than forgetting what you’ve already watched and having to restart an episode.
So Many Seasons
It’s exciting, looking forward to the new season of a show you’re obsessed with. But what about if you plan on starting a series that’s already been out for ages? For example, if you’re yet to get swept up in the Game of Throne hype, you’ll have seven seasons to catch up on – that would take you a whole 2 days, 14 hours and 24 minutes! That’s a serious commitment – def worth it though, trust me. Plus, it’s just in time for the new season to air in April 2019 – CAN U SO EXCITED MUCH?!
Nostalgia Versus Newness
As amazing as it is to discover a new box set, we’ve all got those series that we just can’t resist re-watching. This means you’ve also got the choice between immersing yourself in a brand-new show, or revisiting old classics like Friends or Parks & Rec. Do you get into something new and enjoy the unfamiliar storyline, or turn to the nostalgia of your favourite series? Decisions, decisions. There’s nothing better than finding a good box set. Hopefully this helps you choose your next one – perfect for all that spare time you’ll have over Christmas.
What shows and box-sets have you been binging lately?
