It’s the summer before my freshman year of college and, like most summers, sleep is nonexistent. Or if it does exist, it only starts around 2 a.m. But the other night, I found myself sitting in my room at 11 p.m., too tired to do anything, but still awake enough to function. Naturally, I tell myself that I’ll just watch one episode -- only one -- of "Grey’s Anatomy."
Well, it’s suddenly the next day. See, when I watch TV I don’t just watch the characters -- I become the characters. Their problems are my problems and if one of them decides to die I have to know all the details. Basically, once I start watching a show, I become obsessed and stressed for a number of reasons.
1. Cliff hangers.
Don’t do this to me, TV, don’t do it. Don’t you dare leave me questioning what’s next and cue the music as the actors’ names scroll up the screen. I am devoted and I am invested and I don’t need that inner chaos after the episode ends. Oh, and teasing me on Netflix with the next episode? That’s just taking it too far.
2. Character deaths.
As much as I’m attached to people in real life, I get attached to fictional characters pretty easily -- so attached that when one of them dies, I’m crushed. Why kill McDreamy and hit me with another blow by killing George? Why? Who decides these things? And pretty soon, everyone’s dying to the point where I’m not even interested in the show anymore. I mean, if all the characters I’ve been rooting for are gone, what’s the point of watching?
3. Unrealistic characters.
Now as much as I love my characters, I can’t stand it when they do things no one in real life would ever be able to do. Specifically, female characters wearing makeup. Fell asleep? Makeup’s still there. Sweaty workout in the gym? Makeup’s still there. Just woke up? Makeup’s still there. Action heroine runs 50 miles away from villain? Makeup’s still there and long hair’s still in tact. Seriously, please stop making me feel bad about my life.
4. The holdup.
Once a show announces that it’s leaving for five months, I'm devastated. What am I supposed to do for five entire months? Actually, correction: how could you leave me to get hooked onto the millions of other shows that exist? Soon, I’m part of a never-ending cycle in which I start watching one show, and then another, and another. By the time you come back into my life, I’m conflicted because I still have these other 10 shows to finish.
So, as much as I love living vicariously through fictional characters, I’m still very much annoyed with TV shows. Does that mean I’ll stop watching anytime soon? Probably not. TV shows have a way of irritating me with little things, but somehow bringing me back to watch their characters again and again. It’s terrifying, to say the least.
