There are a lot of important, pivotal moments that help define a person's life: the realization of one's own mortality, the decision to take out massive student loans in order to pay for college, the act of bringing new life into the world, etc. But perhaps none are as significant nor as poignant as finishing a T.V. show that you were binging. The high amount of television squeezed into a small space of time makes the characters suddenly feel like members of your own family. Therefore, the sudden and often unsatisfying ending to a show can be a truly traumatic experience for the viewer. Just as someone who has undergone great tragedy passes through the five phases of grief, so too does the watcher.
1. Denial
Denial is a powerful thing; I once convinced myself for months that the only reason that there weren't any more episodes of 30 Rock on Netflix was because the website was in a contentious legal battle with NBC over the rights, and that there would be new episodes soon enough. That's why even though denial can be nice and comfortable, eventually you're going to have to get over it and move on. If you spend to much time in denial, then you'll find yourself living in a fantasy. There are no more episodes and there will never be any more new episodes. So stop wasting your free time scouring the dark web for unaired episodes and move forward.
2. Anger
There's something about the end of a show that brings out the primal, animalistic side of us. We forget all the norms and behaviors instilled in us by society and instead resort to violence and name-calling often directed towards inanimate objects. But picture that for a moment: a haggard, unkempt adult with bloodshot eyes yelling and screaming at a glowing box. There's almost something poetic and poignant about the whole situation, but my brain is too fried from all the binging to figure out what it is.
3. Bargaining
Bargaining is where the griever attempts to make some sort of deal in order to bring back their loved one or, as in this case, show. And I think we've all been there. I remember a time when I thought that if I just got enough people to sign a petition, that I could get Zach Braff to come back for a ninth season of Scrubs. Well, 2 months and 3 signatures later and only then did I start to realize that there was nothing I could do to bring the show back. I may have even appealed to a higher power for help. After all, everybody else is probably asking for cures to diseases and ending world hunger. I figured my simple request of bringing back a T.V. show would be easy for The Big Man Upstairs, but alas, it was to no avail.
4. Depression
Depression is one of the more simple stages, and just needs the right amount of time spent with a spoon and a bucket of ice cream to get through. What's important here is just to remember that your favorite character wouldn't want to see you cry. Buffy didn't save the world from monsters seven different times just so that you could start sobbing. Draw on the strength of some of your beloved protagonists, and you'll get through it eventually.
5. Acceptance
Acceptance is the final stage; you have come to terms with the fact that it's over. But that's the beauty of television. A good show will leave you with memories and laughs that you can think back on for a lifetime. And let's face it, there are too many shows waiting to be watched for you to focus on the past. That's why the best way to really prove that you've moved on is to jump right back in with a new show. And who knows? Maybe this one will last you a little bit longer than a week.
