Why You Should Be Watching Documentaries

Underwater creatures, North Korea, prisons, electronic music festivals, and ballet…what do they all have in common? They’re all subjects of documentaries, along with dozens of other unique topics that we’ve all wondered about at some point or another. As great as Netflix is for binge-worthy shows like Revenge and One Tree Hill, sometimes you want something with a bit more depth.

Once upon a time, documentaries were basically equivalent to those mandatory movies we had to watch in history class with a voiceover that was as dull as can be. Now, not so much. You get a first-glance, real look at whatever the subject is and quality visuals to match. There’s one for literally any subject you could want and you learn something without feeling like you’re learning something.

Docu’s are kind of like background music when working on a paper or project because you don’t have to be actively listening and watching, yet they’re a nice compliment to getting work done. Yet, at the same time, they're just as easy to get engrossed in as any series. Where else could you learn about the in’s and out’s of forensic science and veganism without leaving the comfort of your couch?!

It can be hard to get out of class and not dive into a Friends marathon, but, before you know it, you’re half a season in and wonder how you let yourself waste an entire day. Kind of like buyer’s remorse, I like to call it Netflix remorse. You feel guilty for giving in to the black hole that is endless streaming. Documentaries solve that problem because they’re *educational*, but in a fun way that’s still a lot easier to pause than the end-of-episode cliff-hanger you get every. freaking. time.

Basically, documentaries are the bomb.com. They’re a break in your crazy day, an alternative to dramas that suck you in and never spit you out, and you might just know answers to a few more Jeopardy questions. It’s a win-win.