It was the summer of 2001. I was doing a summer internship in New York, spending the season in the city with my mom while my parents were fighting an insane divorce battle. Neither of us had watched much of The Sopranos, so we decided to watch it from the very beginning. Every day on my way home from the theater where I was working, I went to our movie rental place and picked up the next 3-4 episodes for us to watch that evening. Over the weekend, we’d push for 7-8 per day. When we finished everything they had of The Sopranos, we moved on and did the same with Sex and the City. It was a fantastic summer.
Years later, I was working a painful marketing job based in Midrand. I was the only one in the office working during December, so I managed to grab season 5 of Dexter, the latest season that I hadn’t watched yet. I binged the whole thing, locked in that office, all alone. It made the atrocities of what Lumen went through, and the brutality of her revenge, incredibly heightened for me. Instead of stretching out the suspense over the week, my adrenaline never stopped pumping as I watched episode after episode, back to back.
More recently, Netflix has made series bingeing the norm. Every year when the latest House of Cards or Orange is the New Black releases, there is someone who finishes the whole season in less than a day, bingeing on the whole season without pausing for more than a bathroom break. The platform caters to it, queueing up the next episode as the credits roll on the current one, letting you continue watching without ever needing to push a button.
But is bingeing really the best? I know plenty of people who burn out on series if watched that way. Maybe they can handle watching one episode an evening, or even an episode every few days; if they watch more than that, they burn out and lose interest in the series all together. It even happens to me, a serial binger, with shows that can’t keep the energy going. I stopped watching Daredevil around episode 6, and also lost interest in The Following when it all became a bit silly and samey. Repetition or lack of momentum becomes glaringly apparent when you’re watching episodes back to back.
Despite the rise of “bingeing” culture on Netflix, the majority of shows still forgo this approach and continue to release one episode at a time. From Homeland to Suits, Blacklist to The Grand Tour, weekly episodes are still the traditional and normal way to release a series.
Do you prefer to sit down and watch hours of entertainment all in a row, or do you like having an episode to look forward to each week? Has bingeing amplified your enjoyment of TV shows, or do you prefer portion control?
Last Updated: November 18, 2016
Raptor Rants
November 18, 2016 at 10:31
Bingeing is best. Watch it all together to get the whole experience as it’s meant to be had
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 10:33
Agreed, waiting a week or sometimes more during mid season break might make you miss small things.
Raptor Rants
November 18, 2016 at 10:34
I generally watch all from start to midseason in one go. Then wait it all out until end season and watch mid-end in on go.
Then in the mid season times I watch the ones I haven’t started yet.
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 10:37
I actually tried watching the newest season of Arrow/Flash/Supergirl and LoT as they came out and now I’m as confused as a cat in a tumble-dryer.
Raptor Rants
November 18, 2016 at 10:48
hahahahahahahaahahaha. Kots in ‘n tuimeldroor.
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 10:57
*tuimeldroër
Raptor Rants
November 18, 2016 at 12:06
This guy knows
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 10:49
I went and found a list of episodes in chronological lore order so I knew which to watch when.
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 10:54
I need that list. and then wait for the current seasons to end.
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 11:03
Don’t think I have it anymore after my last format. But I did find it rather easily with google.
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 10:50
I know, I was holding of on Arrow, and started Flash. Then suddenly Arrow is in it xD
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 10:57
You NEEEEED to watch flash/arrow/flash/arrow weekly
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 11:00
I only started the Flash this week. I have not watched a series since breaking bad. I need to catch up a lot
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 11:03
Gotta go fast!
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:10
O__________________________________________________O
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:10
Remember to watch Arrow S1-2 first, then Flash/Arrow/Flash/Arrow
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 11:37
to late now, The Flash is first up. I am 17 episodes in
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:57
/tableflip
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 10:39
Disagree. I binged on Supernatural when it was still good. So in other words Season 2. Got a bit ‘tired’ of the humor. Taking a break now and then does the soul good.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 10:41
Do one season, take a break & watch something else, watch the next season – works for me.
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 10:42
To be fair, I’ll binge on a season. As soon as it comes to going into a next season I also start getting tired of it and need something else.
Original Heretic
November 18, 2016 at 10:35
Depends on the series. Some do become more of the same and it all feels very monotonous.
But a series that is well written, with constant twists and turns, THAT is awesome. Binge away!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:36
I could never watch just one episode of Daredevil. I’d watch as many as possible at night till I fall asleep and continue the next day
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 10:50
Sleep is for the weak!
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 11:05
True, I’m at my weakest when I’m at work
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 11:08
Hahahaha
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 10:52
You are obviously not married.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:54
I have a cat okay 🙁
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 10:55
http://i1.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/000/107/432/i_hug_that_feel.png
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 10:55
I have three. And nine rabbits. And a bunch of fish. Whats your point?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:58
My point is I got ninety nine problems but a women isn’t one
*Drops mic
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 10:58
*woman
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:59
Gaaaaaaah
*Kicks mic
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 10:59
XD
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:00
Believe me. Sometimes I envy single dudes. Especially when have to ask for permission and state reasons why I need Titanfall 2.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 11:03
Yeah, but that’s a teeny perk compared to being married
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:11
o_O Why would you wanna be married?
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 11:14
For food?
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 11:15
But won’t it raise suspicions if I’m getting married every week?
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:16
Good point.
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:18
How long have you been married?
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:18
We have been together for 10 years, married for 4.
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 12:33
Single life is overated.
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 10:56
HA! I have two. Wait… 🙁
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 10:57
You have a cat??????
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:58
From my failed engagement yes
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 11:01
Funny how that tends to happen.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 11:03
Ah well, what is one to do?
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 11:03
At least the cat is better company.
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 11:03
ROFL
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:09
WAIT WHAT
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 11:10
This happened a long long time ago in a galaxy close to home XD
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:11
WAIT WUT???????????????????????
I thought I knew you
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 11:36
XD
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:55
MY LIFE IS A LIE
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:35
Improve, no more next time on Dragon Ball Z
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 10:36
Did you hear about Dragon Ball Super?
…There is a next time. Dun DUn DUUUN
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:37
NO! Not unless I wait for the complete saga XD
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 10:38
Hahaha i am doing the same xD
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 10:35
But Lazygamer is a gaming site! Not a TV site!
Boo! Boo I say!
HvR
November 18, 2016 at 10:37
Binge playing all the COD SP campaigns in one day. Good or Bad?
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:37
*In one lunch break
😛
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 10:37
It takes you a full day? 😛
HvR
November 18, 2016 at 10:39
Only if you do not rush it and take some time to admire the fish AI
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 10:45
Those FISH! They had more intelligence than a South African President.
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 10:47
If you have 4 hours to spare, maybe
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 10:42
Never heard of TV games?! 😀
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 10:37
I just binge watch all series. Except for Game of Thrones and Vikings. Since people love spoiling those.
HvR
November 18, 2016 at 10:39
Nobody can spoil Vikings.
OMG did see someone died in Vikings?
Who?
Kara…ghds …something or other
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 10:40
Funny enough I don’t have a problem remembering names in Vikings.
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 10:46
Hagar and Lucky Eddie. Helga. There. All the Viking names you need to remember!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 10:40
I’ve come to the conclusion that portion control is the best for me – 2 or 3 episodes max on any given day (usually a weekend) for a show I’m “bingeing”. It helps with burnout, which is a real thing when seasons are long and you have multiple seasons to boot. Knowing all the episodes are there & I can watch at my own pace is very convenient, not a big fan of waiting for a weekly episode since the advent of that, but I do that too for some of my favourites.
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 10:50
I know it is not the greatest of shows, but I so wish to get to the end of Supergirl Season 1! And all I can do is 2-3 episodes a week if I am lucky!
Useless bit of information: Supergirl in disguise as Kara is about the only “secret identity switcheroo” I can believe could fool people.
Also, Melissa Benoist is so pretty…
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 10:56
I’m loving season two, only had 1 bad episode so far.
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 10:57
Nice! Laste episode I saw was the Flash crossover one. Brilliant one that!
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 10:58
Yes, BUT SO MANY PLOTHOLES!
Basically SG is in it’s own little universe currently
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:05
I tend to let go of logic and all that when I get to the TV at the end of the day. My brain needs the break.
Some nights I feel like the Genie from Aladdin: Poof! What do you need! Poof! What do you need!
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 10:59
Yeah that one was very cool. They’ve got a major crossover between all 4 DC/CW shows in the week after next.
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:06
I saw that! Can’t wait to get to that. Also have not seen a what is that show Legends of Tomorrow? The one with Brandon Routh basically being Iron Man of the DC Universe?
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 11:07
Skip season one. Just… skip it. It’s not good. Season two is way more fun & you can always read a synopsis if you want to know what happened in season one.
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:09
S1 of DC Legends was……..mediocre at best, with a few decent episodes inbetween
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 12:55
Calling it mediocre is generous.
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 10:56
SG S1 was really shit in the middle, TERRIBLE.
Near the end of the season it was good. Start of S2 was really good, but now just dragging on again
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:07
Please no spoilers: Callista Flockhart’s performance in that show is its saving grace in some episodes.
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:08
Ok, I REALLY want to share something about Ally McBeal, but I won’t
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:10
I just loved the part where Ally married Han Solo!
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:11
He shot her though…
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:16
She did stab him through the heart when she had that affair with Tony Stark…
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 10:48
Waiting a week is ok with me
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:55
I can wait months, till the season is done
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 10:55
Next week on Dragonborn: Does the Listener confess his allegiance to the Dark Brotherhood to Aela the Huntress and risk her throwing the Amulet of Mara in his face? Tune in next week for another spell binding episode of Dragonborn!
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 10:57
I need my DAILY fix of Skyrim/Warframe to keep balance in the Force
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:13
Skyrim… Oh my dear Sweet Skyrim. How I miss you! But how can I play you when you are so far. So far from sweet, sweet Bruce…
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 12:38
Dragonborn Z*
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 10:49
I love binge watching a series. I mean, seriously, who wants to wait.
konfab
November 18, 2016 at 10:55
The hallmark of a good series is if you can binge out on it.
I highly doubt people would binge on Isidingo.
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 10:55
I won’t even watch ONE episode, so you have a valid point
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 10:56
I’d rather watch the ads in between
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:00
I’d rather watch my dog licking his scrotum for 5 hours on end…
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:01
Dog has STAMINA
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:12
Dog is Boston Terrier. I think when God designed this one, He was like all “Let’s give this one energy to power a small town for 32 years.”
Hammersteyn_hates_Raid0
November 18, 2016 at 11:02
Hahaha reminds of this scene
Brian Cox is a legend
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:09
That he is. I loved him in….. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/07084a7b0326971c13151bbb4d4f57e9234e5123e1e8e0c89e102b4b55f8adb9.jpg
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:17
Second slated for next year.
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 11:01
Depends on person. I can binge and absolutely love to binge watch Anime. I binged Stranger Things the other day and it was superb yet I have a friend who hates watching too many eps one after the other. Also don’t binge more than 1 season at a time.
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 11:02
Good anime I never binge watch, I usually have a 4 episode per day limit for them. But the usual standard plot anime that have 13 episodes I binge watch in one sitting.
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 11:07
I hate this new 13 episode half season trend. It’s torture
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 11:08
As long as I can remember. Anime is either 13 or 24 episodes 😛
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 11:18
Normally 24 – 26 per season. But for the last few years the strategy is to release a 13 episode ‘cour’ as a market tester. If the response is good they make a second cour to complete the season. If not they scrap it leaving me with a cliffhanger
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 12:40
drives me mental aswell
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 11:16
I wanna see someone binge watch like Naruto or Dragonball (everything) or any of the other 700 episode anime floating out there. 😛
Could be quite a scientific undertaking.
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 11:17
I’d rather drink Bleach…..
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 11:20
I see what you did there. 😛
I can honestly say most of the shows I tend to watch stick to the 24,26,13 episode packages. The longest running show I really love is Slayers and that has 6 season (and like 7 movies) spread over like 15 years.
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 11:23
I also just stick with those, there are just to many anime I want to watch ever year.
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 11:23
Yeah If it doesn’t end in 2 – 3 seasons, I’m gonna skip it as a rule. With the exception of any Gundam series. I want to watch Slayers, but I can’t force myself to watch low res anime.
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:29
What about the Lego movie?
EVERYTHING IS AWESOME!
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 11:36
GO AWAY YOU BLACKMARSH LIZARD MAN!
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 11:55
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL
It’s cool when you are part of a team
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 12:00
You are cruel….
Admiral Chief Argonian
November 18, 2016 at 12:11
For remembering something about you?
How rude…
😛
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 12:26
Anime snob. 😛
Slayers is worth it.
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 11:17
No way in hell, the fillers will kill me
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 11:19
The fillers or the 10 episode power ups with the 1 episode fights filled in by the 5 episode exposition. 😛
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 12:44
I did bleach 1-224 in a week.
I could give you my notes if you want.
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 12:47
No thanks. I would rather sit through a season of Telletubbies.
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 12:49
Hah, and you called Lu an anime snob 😛
was the first anime Id watched, still have a soft spot for the mindless punchy mc punchface type anime.
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 13:36
Lu does not like old anime due to the resolution. I dislike a series that was way overhyped. Don’t get me wrong. I watched 10 episodes before I knew in my heart of hearts that this show ain’t gonna cut it for me.
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 23:33
Oh yeah bleach is pretty overhyped and the pitfalls in both the story and the structure are blatantly obvious, but it was the first real subbed anime I watched, so it will always have a spot in my heart.
the end of the first arc and the last arc, would actually almost be worth the grind for pretty much any anime fan.
The main antagonist is one of the best Ive seen.
Naruto and One piece were both overated AF though.
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 12:41
I binge watched 224 episodes of Bleach in one holiday once.
It was a pretty great holiday.
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 11:06
I always binnge on an anime, only to be left empty afterward. Still waiting for 7 Deadly Sins S2….
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 11:15
Sins was quite good yeah.
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 11:21
If you’re on Netflix check out the Sinbad anime and KuroMukuro if you haven’t yet.
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 12:27
I am and I have. they are slighty too mainstream. I either prefer deeply weird comedy and/or Dark story. Tokyo Ghoul was awesome till the last episode.
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 12:47
Try reading the manga, the manga was awesome.
Then Tokyo ghoul:re happened and now I have absolutely no idea wtf is going on.
Lu
November 18, 2016 at 13:00
Good anime is unfortunately hard to find these days. Still milling over whether I wanna watch Tokyo Ghoul or not.
Matthew Holliday
November 18, 2016 at 12:54
Sinbad from the magi series?
Quite cutesy and anime by numbersish, but it was the best of the Magi series. Original magi just never went in the right direction.
Zoe Hawkins
November 18, 2016 at 11:12
i also binged on Stranger Things – watched the whole thing the first weekend it was out. it left me wanting more, which was a good thing. i think when there are too many seasons it can get really tiring at a certain point.
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 11:14
Exactly. I loved House but I can’t fathom trying to binge watch it all now even if I had never seen it before.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 11:16
Procedurals are the worst to binge watch.
Kromas Ryder
November 18, 2016 at 11:20
Everybody lies!
VampyreSquirrel
November 18, 2016 at 11:03
For me it really depends on how many seasons there are. For example: if you binge something that’s only 2 seasons in, and you’re not close to being able to see the next season, then you’re only hurting yourself because you’re going to want more, but not be able to get it (f’n addict).
Binging something with a lot of seasons can also be negative, because you can burn yourself out on that series, and then you’re not going to watch it for a while.
So it depends on you, as a person, and on the series too.
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:29
I find that binging on something like Star Trek is something I can easily do. No burn out nothing. You pop in a disc, plop your feet up and watch all episodes you can.
So Captain Picard wants to blow up that evil asteroid making his crew see images of 1950’s style pin-up Klingon women with a photon torpedo reverse engineered to be a device that eliminates Type C proteins in beings with a pink Y chromosome in their 3rd vertebrae and I am all like that makes perfect sense!
CypherGate
November 18, 2016 at 11:12
Bingeing is best. I find that all these awesome series that goes on a break breaks the experience. Also the duration of time it takes for the next season to start sometimes is just too long. Some more than a year or 2 even. By the time the new season comes out then my interest in it has wavered a lot. Perfect example: Humans. First seasons was amazing. Then thought the series ended cause it took so long for season 2 to be announced. Next thing u knew Humans season 2 starts and now I’m not as into it as I used to be. Same with Marco Polo.
Alien Emperor Trevor
November 18, 2016 at 11:13
That’s how I feel waiting for The Expanse season two.
CypherGate
November 18, 2016 at 11:17
I noticed it’s similar to games with me as well. Like Last Guardian. Thought wow this looks amazing. Then years later I’ve lost interest in it cause it’s taken WAY too long to come out. Admittedly it looks awesome but not something I’d break the bank to play.
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:26
Damn. Not one mistake in this article.
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:29
Other than the subject matter! The site is Lazygamer! Not LazyTVWatcher!
Boo! Hiss!
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 11:33
Are gamers not allowed to watch TV?
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:34
We are not going to catch Zoe, bru.
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 11:35
It appears that way.
Lord Chaos
November 18, 2016 at 11:36
I do however they give her an award at the end of today, she deserves it.
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:48
Most definitely.
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:48
*hope
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 11:39
They are. But I was hoping for an awesome gaming debate! I have a new rig! I want to game! Heck, I would even pay our canteen good dollars if he can make me a Sweetroll! I’ll even pay someone to steal my Sweetroll!
I’ll pay someone even more money to walk up to me and say “Let me guess? Someone stoll your Sweetroll?”
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:50
Should I call a medic? Seems like you are stroking out?
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 12:03
Only if that medic carries tonnes of healing potion!
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 12:16
Would a beer help?
Bruce Bielie
November 18, 2016 at 12:19
Only if it is hot and I walked like 15km’s.
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:27
I loved Dexter. One of my all time favourites.
Ottokie
November 18, 2016 at 11:27
Somewhere around season 4 I dropped it. It just started flat lining
Andre Fourie
November 18, 2016 at 11:28
XD
Magoo
November 18, 2016 at 11:48
Depends I guess. I love to watch Mr. Robot once a week, ponder and converse about each episode before the next. Take it apart. But something more light like Chuck, I did 5 seasons in a week and it was an awesome ride. xD
Dave21
November 18, 2016 at 14:10
All good dramas have so many story arcs woven together and sometimes multiple timelines, so for me watching episodes back to back really helps keep continuity and it’s easier to recall details from the earlier episodes.