Binge-watching

5 MINUTE READ

Finding a box set worthy of a binge-watch can take almost as long as watching the damn thing.

I spend many an evening flicking through Netflix as I ponder whether I fancy a murder or maybe a bit of infidelity or perhaps something foreign, and then it’s time for bed. The problem is too much choice. Back in the olden days (when ten year olds were sent up chimneys), you only had BBC 1, BBC 2 and ITV and there was always something good to watch. And if wasn’t good you watched it anyway, and were bloody-well grateful for it, and then, it was out your life – you didn’t have to watch as further 103 episodes in the next two weeks. Nowadays a binge watch will eat up days and days of your life, so before I make that commitment I spend nights and nights searching.

But, when all that flicking is rewarded and you find The One – Jessica Jones, House of Cards, Bloodline –it’s like the early stages of a love affair.  It’s all you think about. Friends glaze over at the mere mention of it. You find an excuse to leave the party early; you cancel arrangements; you throw a sickie. You just want to be with your new love. Nothing else has any meaning.

My favourite box set is Dexter, that lovable, conflicted, serial killer, who saw me through a two week flu bug, when the most exertion I could manage was pressing pause and play.

I watched all eight seasons – that’s 96 episodes – that’s four whole days of my life!! But it was worth it. I loved it. I lived it. I was part of the Morgan family, I cheered (well croaked) when Dexter killed off another well-deserving victim.  But I knew it had to end and when it did (little bit disappointed in the ending actually) I was heart-broken. I missed him. Sometimes I’d dip in to the middle of episode 43 just to see him again, but it wasn’t the same. There was no going back.   So after a few weeks of licking my wounds, eating too many Revels, drinking too much wine and boring my friends about him, I picked up the remote and got flicking again.

Any box set recommendations?

THE END

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