This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on March 15, 2016.
NOTE: “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life” premieres Nov. 25. All four 90-minute episodes will be released at once.
Is TV really TV anymore?
With Netflix, Hulu, On Demand and more, it’s no surprise people are overwhelmed with options.
So how do people watch? It depends. But binge-watching has become a norm.
I just got into watching Netflix. I know, I’m really behind. But the main reason definitely has something to do with “Gilmore Girls.”
“Gilmore Girls” is one of many shows getting the reboot/revival treatment. Four episodes, each centered around a season, will come to Netflix sometime soon.
Amy Sherman-Palladino, one of the creators, doesn’t want to release the episodes all at once, which made me consider how I want to watch these new episodes.
I’ve wanted to see more “Gilmore Girls” for years, so I’m conflicted about having to wait any more than I already have. But I also think it’ll be nice to savor the episodes.
As with most things in life, there are two sides to this story:
3 ADVANTAGES OF BINGE-WATCHING
More continuity. You can clearly see how events, relationships and more unfold throughout a show if you binge-watch.
Easier to follow. Watching episodes one after the other makes you less likely to forget something since it stays fresh in your mind.
Satisfaction of finishing a show. There’s something rewarding about finishing a show after days of binge-watching … or even making it through a season in a weekend. Though there might be other things to do …
3 ADVANTAGES OF WEEKLY WATCHING
Builds suspense. Cliffhangers stay cliffhangers when you have time between shows. You can think of all the possibilities and then be surprised when something changes.
Satisfaction of waiting. Waiting for something gives it more value. Nothing is spoiled, it’s cherished. Plus you’ll have time to do other things. I mean, really, 30 minutes of one show weekly vs. four hours of one show in one day … you do the math.
Less chance for spoilers. If you’re binge-watching a show, chances are it aired in real time a while ago. Which likely means there are lots of articles and social media posts and friends who can spoil the plot for you. Watching in real time lessens the chance of spoilers because you’re watching plots unfold as the show airs.
When it comes to “Gilmore Girls,” I’ll take what I can get … as long as it’s sooner rather than later. In the mean time, I’ll keep binge-watching and watching shows weekly.
Which do you prefer: binge-watching or weekly watching? Why?