I like TV shows but I don’t watch them anymore; Are you

There was a time, in the early 10’s, when I was obsessed with TV series. I followed the news of each event, read reviews and leaks and predictions and knew which pilots were approved and which ongoing shows were canceled at the moment of announcement. I was following lots of comedy, method and drama every week. New episodes, which spanned several months each season, were part of my weekly routine. No more.

Of course, something has changed in my personal life. I’m older, I’m married now, and I have a full-time job. But these are not the only ones – not even the main ones – because that’s why I stopped airing TV shows.

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The Industry-wide switch from just TV to streaming The first sign was that I probably couldn’t indulge in the same way. Over the years, we’ve gone from dozens of dozens and dozens of streaming services from a few large networks, all with their own shows and styles. Streaming fatigue is real and it’s not just about deciding what to watch now or next, but also about keeping up with a steady stream (heh) of trailers, teasers, news and developments across multiple platforms.

It was too much, and when something that was supposed to be entertaining and fun turned out to be too much trouble, you simplify it. Since some of the shows I was watching started to go off, I didn’t look for a replacement. I’ve dropped my “must see” list from 15 or 20 shows, well, nothing. And it felt free.

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Outside of being on top of the shows on streaming services, I also had to consider The financial side of all these subscriptions. Should I Spring for Netflix or Disney Plus? How about Apple TV Plus? Or dozens of other local and international options? Eventually, I decided that I would not continue to pay unless the service paid off outside of TV. I subscribe to Amazon Prime for free shipping and returns, so I also have Prime Video. I also have a Family YouTube Premium subscription with my husband because we hate advertising and we want to support the creators.

It leaves my wallet free for Netflix or Disney Plus for a month or two when and only when I want to see something there. I don’t have to have a passive subscription to a service that I’m just going to use every time.

Once I created this system, the next logical step was to switch after the binging shows were over. I know – I’m a heretic. I don’t know how many years have passed without seeing a glimpse of Game of Thrones. I still don’t know what Stranger Things or Peaky Blinders are. And I made it intact with the obsession of the great squid game of 2022. I’m not part of the cultural conversation around them, but I don’t mind.

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Why? Because beyond financial savings, the benefits for me are innumerable.

For one, Watching TV is no longer work, A-cancel-all-plan-and-see-this-assignment tonight, lest I be surprised by the spoilers tomorrow. I can freely scroll through my news and Twitter feeds and observe common sense around an event, but no details are stuck. If I see enough enthusiasm, I make an emotional note. And once that show is over, I decide if I want to pull it off the line, when all the spoilers and discussions have faded from my brain.

For two, I no longer insist on a possible cancellation My favorite show or surprise when it happens. I’ve been burned enough by it – hey, I still couldn’t cancel Happy Ends nine years ago, right? Now, that feeling of defeat and sadness is gone. If I know a show has been canceled, I skip it altogether, or I get into it because I don’t enjoy the right ending. I’m ready in advance to deal with an unfinished story, a stupid cliffhanger and all the heartbreak. Sure, it can take suspense from the whole work of watching the series, but there’s enough suspense to get started in shows these days, right?

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And best of all? My poor memory doesn’t have to be on top of multiple characters across multiple shows, including dozens of storylines and backgrounds. You don’t have to remember what happened in last week’s episode before the start of this week, or get stuck in faded narratives and scenes between one season and the next. There’s so much content to consume, so many stories to keep track of, and at an age where we can easily forget what we ate for lunch yesterday, I can focus my attention on one and only world And enjoy it to the fullest. I choose an interesting show, I immerse myself in it and I don’t let it go until the last episode. I can often take a new episode after a long day of work without taking a break and trying to remember why or what or when to tie the loose ends in my head.

Plus, I’m binging on my own terms, which means Cliffhangers are dirty. After the heartbreak of the previous episode is over, I can go straight to the first episode of the next season. Yeah Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like Al that sounds pretty crap to me, Looks like Al that sounds pretty crap to me. (Seriously, as I get older, my brain doesn’t work as well as it used to.)