Compared to most people I know, I watch a lot of TV and yet this is often the screen that greets when I visit Netflix.
I’ve since finished Mindhunter and Alias Grace, but I’ve only just begun the sixth and final season of Longmire. Meanwhile Godless, The Crown, the third season of Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, and many more are still waiting in my queue. And don’t even get me started on my “must watch lists” for Amazon and Hulu.
With so much new content debuting all year round, the idea of revisiting or re-watching older TV series seems like a pipe dream. I’d love to check out Cheers but who has time for 11 seasons! Thankfully I can get my Ted Danson fix via The Good Place (both shows are currently available on Netflix). I haven’t gotten around to The Sopranos yet either. And before you start, I know I know, that’s practically a cardinal sin as someone who loves both TV and New Jersey, but with 86 one-hour episodes I don’t know when I’ll be squeezing them into my schedule. After all, I do enjoy leaving the house every now and then.
Idly watching TV has gone out the window too. It’s rare for me to just randomly put something I’ve already seen on, either in the morning or before bed. After all, I’ve got an endless supply of new TV to consume now. And while there’s certainly something to be said for having an endless supply of shows, it hasn’t necessarily made my viewing experience better. I can’t tell you the number of times I’ve fallen asleep halfway through something in an attempt to watch one more episode, either because I’m in the middle of a good marathon or because I’m hoping to stay ahead of spoilers.
So yeah, peak TV looks as overwhelming as it feels. Of course this is all very #FirstWorldProblems, but I still think it’s fascinating to step back and examine how the sheer volume of available content impacts TV addicts like myself, let alone an average viewer. I’m basically behind all the time and have no chance of turning back. It’s only onwards and upwards from here, or at least until I get a rainy day and then maybe I’ll check out one of the many shows everyone is telling me I must watch.
