To binge-watch, or not to binge-watch? In this case, that’s not even a question. We’ve all been there. You log onto Netflix and start scrolling through the popular TV series. You just got out of a committed relationship with a TV show and you aren’t really looking for anything serious — just a now and then show that can fill your time when you have an extra hour to spare. But then you click on what has to be one of the best shows you’ve ever watched, and you’re immediately hooked. You spend every waking second of your day glued to your laptop, not even hesitating to click on the next episode after you finish another hour of the series. Yeah, you could be doing something productive with your life, but you just have to know if your OTP finds their way back to each other! It’s safe to say that you’ve started the cycle of the stages of binge-watching.
1. Curiosity
Maybe you click on the show because you’ve heard your friends talking about it. Maybe you’ve seen a lot of memes on social media and you want to see what all the hype is about. Either way, something is pushing you to hit that play button.
2. Excitement
You start to question why you didn’t watch this show sooner. It has everything it needs to be an amazing show and more! Drama, action, romance—this is no doubt the beginning of a beautiful friendship!
3. Honeymoon
Everything about your show is perfect. You couldn’t be happier with how things are going, and you wouldn’t ask for anything more.
4. Betrayal
Just when you thought everything was happily ever after, things go horribly wrong. How could the scriptwriters have her say that? How dare that lying piece of garbage cheat on his girlfriend! Can someone please tell me why no one has shot this cold-hearted monster?
5. Investment
Your heart was played with and now you just cannot give up on this show. You need to see that everything turns out okay again. Sleep is sacrificed, and your bed becomes your own personal movie theater all in the name of watching as much of this show as fast as you possibly can.
6. Obsession
The show is all you can really talk about anymore. You eat, sleep and dream about all of the characters, and you often find yourself scripting yourself into the show. I wonder what it would be like to be BFFs with Brooke Davis.
7. Dread
Just when you really get into the show, you realize that you’re five episodes away from finishing the series. This can’t be happening already, can it?
8. Devastation
The day you hoped would never come finally has and now you just don’t know what to do. You find yourself staring at the wall with no purpose. Even your favorite food doesn’t taste the same anymore. You just feel empty.
9. Recovery
It was a big hurdle to overcome, but eventually, you come to realize that everything will be okay. You miss your show, but you’ll always have the memories.
10. Self-destruction
Just when you’ve pieced your heart back together, you find yourself back in front of the laptop screen with your mouse hovering over the play button of another show. I suppose just one episode couldn’t hurt, or could it?