With the advent of streaming services available, the days of gathering around the television to watch the latest episode of a TV show are mostly in the past. Now, viewers have the opportunity to enjoy series at their own pace and at their own convenience.
The popularity of binge-watching has had a huge impact on the way today's television series are written. Rather than ensuring the episodic narratives are compelling enough on their own, writers focus on the overarching story. This allows the series to unfold slowly rather than highlighting the key premises early on. Though some shows still thrive with the weekly-release model, others are better enjoyed when binge-watched.
10 Schitt's Creek Has A Tough Start
The Canadian sitcom Schitt's Creek enjoyed huge critical and commercial success for sixth and final season in 2020, setting a new record for the most number of Emmy nominations for the final season of a comedy series. Despite the massive success it achieved later on, the series takes a bit of time to truly find its footing, and binge-watching the series is the best way to appreciate the story.
The Rose family's excessive greed and overall out-of-touch nature are a bit off-putting at first. However, by the end of the first season, Schitt's Creek begins to prove its prowess in character development as the arcs of each character begin to take shape.
9 Stranger Things Builds Its Mystery Slowly
Netflix's Stranger Things thrives on its suspenseful storylines and '80s nostalgia. After its fourth season, the bigger picture behind the bizarre events in Hawkins is wrought with unanswered questions.
The first season can be pretty confusing, and the endless questions that arise can be a bit overwhelming for viewers. However, by watching several episodes at a time, the series' strong points become apparent, even when the answers aren't clear. Stranger Things' heartwarming elements, nostalgic elements, and the creepy science-fiction aspects drive its appeal. As a result, the series has enjoyed immense critical and commercial acclaim.
8 Fleabag Is Made Better By Its Finales
The British dark comedy Fleabag was adapted from Phoebe Waller-Bridge's one-woman stage show of the same name. With this in mind, it makes sense that the series is stronger when it's binged quickly.
The story's complexity is not obvious until the end of the first season, which adds an unforgettable emotional gut punch. Fleabag's second season significantly elevated the series, earning critical praise and six Emmy wins. With just six episodes per season that are each under 30 minutes, Fleabag is the perfect binge-watch.
7 Mare Of Easttown Is A Complex Thriller
HBO Max's critically-acclaimed mystery miniseries Mare of Easttown is an entertaining binge-watch. Starring Kate Winslet, the series centers around a detective named Mare as she investigates the tragic murder of a teen mother in a suburb of Philadelphia.
As Mare of Easttown unfolds, the storyline grows more complex and the complicated relationships within the town become more evident. Though Mare of Easttown keeps viewers engaged with each episode, it is perhaps best enjoyed in quick succession, allowing the viewers to become caught up in the complex plot.
6 Parks And Recreation Finds Its Stride Later On
Like Schitt's Creek, the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation struggled to find its footing in its first season. Though the first season is undoubtedly hilarious, it pales in comparison to the comedic quality of the later seasons of the series.
The addition of Adam Scott and Rob Lowe as Ben Wyatt and Chris Traeger, respectively, significantly strengthens Parks and Recreation's ensemble at the end of its second season. The storylines also improve along the way. Amid its critically-acclaimed comedy, Parks and Recreation also has great heart.
5 Gilmore Girls Is Best Enjoyed As A Nostalgic Binge-Watch
Gilmore Girls has become something of a cultural staple since it went off the air in 2007. The show follows young mother Lorelai Gilmore and her teenage daughter Rory as they navigate life in the quaint suburb of Stars Hollow.
The series' quick and witty dialogue and heart-warming story have made it a fan-favorite comfort show. However, Gilmore Girls struggles to stand on its own when fans just watch one episode at a time. Binge-watching Gilmore Girls allows fans to quickly get through the show's extensive run without focusing too much on the less-important storylines.
4 Daredevil Focuses On The Larger Narrative
The first Netflix Marvel series, Daredevil, brings the titular vigilante to the small screen. The show boasts deeply compelling storylines and a dark tone. The first season pits Matt Murdock against the villainous Wilson Fisk, also known as Kingpin.
Daredevil's first season is undoubtedly a slow-burn. Having been released all at once by Netflix, the episodes blend into each another, leaving some to feel a bit more like filler than a strong stand-alone entry. The season's overarching story becomes apparent about halfway through, and the tension is perfectly built for an epic finale, making it the perfect binge-watch.
3 Moon Knight Reveals Its Truths Slowly
Moon Knight introduces the titular hero to the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a six-part series starring Oscar Isaac. The series is markedly different from other entries in the franchise, presenting a complex narrative that leads viewers to question nearly everything they are seeing.
Each episode of Moon Knight is a useful piece of the series' overarching puzzle. Binge-watching the series is an effective way to understand the storyline as a larger narrative, as it can allow viewers to appreciate all the small clues that build toward the climactic finale.
2 The Book Of Boba Fett Finds Strength Halfway Through
Fan anticipation was immensely high for the Disney+ Star Wars series, The Book of Boba Fett, ahead of its release in early 2022. Starring Temuera Morrison, the series marked the return of the fan-favorite bounty hunter following the events of Return of the Jedi.
Unfortunately, the series initially struggled with slow episodes, which fans and critics found disappointing. However, The Book of Boba Fett found strength in including other characters, including the Mandalorian, Grogu, and Luke Skywalker. The payoff is worth the slow start, but it shows that Boba Fett is much better as a binge-watch than as episodic viewing.
1 Normal People Is The Ideal Emotional Binge-Watch
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Normal People, Hulu's adaptation of Sally Rooney's novel of the same name, stars Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar-Jones as Connell Waldron and Marianne Sheridan. Over the course of the series, the pair navigates a complicated romantic relationship from adolescence through to young adulthood. With just twelve short episodes, Normal People is the perfect binge-watch.
Normal People's episodes slowly develop a larger narrative that poignantly discusses the pain of first loves, lost time, and miscommunication. Thus, the episodes are best enjoyed together, rather than watched in individual sittings.