I wrote about the practice of binge-watching in September of last year here on the blog, in relation to the then upcoming fall television season. Nowadays though, the idea of one dominant "TV season" with a beginning, middle, and end is starting to disappear. More and more there are now "mid-season debuts", "spring premieres", and "summer series" (in place of months of re-runs). In our ultra-busy world, full of scheduling snafus and little free time, trying to keep up with your favorite show or checking out a new show can be daunting at times.
Slate recently ran a story that had a great analysis on binge-watching, with some eye-opening statistics illustrating the pros and cons. If graphs and polls aren't your thing, watch the video below for a more casual take on the viewing phenomenon.
Now that spring has sprung, there are a slew of new and returning shows that will be vying for viewers' attention. Head on over to the incomparable TV Guide for complete schedules and coverage.
After you're done over there, check out the below "Friday Five" of returning television series (some for their last seasons) that I'm excited about watching!
 |
Game of Thrones
If ever there was a show that lends itself to binge-viewing, it would be Game of Thrones. With an ongoing and evolving story as epic as the A Song of Ice and Fire series is, watching episodes one right after another becomes a much more cohesive, cinematic experience. The series is full of morally ambiguous and amorous characters, social and royal hierarchy, themes of religion, loyalty, corruption, civil war, crime, punishment... oh yeah, and dragons too! If you have been watching from the beginning of the series, some of you may still be recovering from last year's "Red Wedding" but I won't go any further than that for spoilers sake! Needless to say, season four will cover the second half of the third book, A Storm of Swords. |
|
|
|
 |
Veep
|
|
|
|
 |
Californication
|
|
|
|
 |
Mad Men
What is there left to say about Mad Men that hasn't been said before? The show has been a complete game changer for television series across the board: novel-like dramatic storytelling, complex characters, stylish set design, and innovative cinematography. It's not just a television show at this point but an influential pop culture event. Pretty cool feat for a period show set in the 1960s advertising world. 6 seasons of this show seem to have flown by and the final season of the acclaimed show will be split into two viewing chunks, making the waiting til the finale even more difficult. On the bright side, at least it gives you plenty of time to catch up on the series or if you have been meaning to check out the series, push it to the top of your "to watch" list. |
|
|
|
 |
Orphan Black
|
|
|
|
You can enjoy all of the above television series for free with your library card, so get comfy and binge out!
Leave a comment and tell us some of your favorite televisions shows, past or present!
Have a question for Free Library staff? Please submit it to our Ask a Librarian page and receive a response within two business days.