Ah, the beauty of Netflix, Hulu and all other entities of instant streaming. These sites provide the population with the opportunity to indulge in our generation’s latest craze: binge-watching. With a little bit of focus, a lot of fast food and a slight neglect for personal hygiene, one can ingest years of television in a matter of days. However, with the trend of cerebral television dramas on the rise, I have grown curious of the negatives surrounding binge-watching. Shows like “Breaking Bad,” “The Wire,” “Lost” and “Game of Thrones” are perfect examples of the intricate and intense plot lines now instantly available in their entirety to the general public.  
    Collin Llewellyn, a writer for WhatCulture.com, brings to light several interesting points on the detriments of binge-watching in his article titled, “Pros and Cons Of Binge Watching.” Llewellyn’s first con is the loss of “the water cooler effect,” meaning that when television shows are not watched at the times they initially appear on network television, the sense of social community is lost. There are no planned weekly gatherings to watch the newest episode, no post-episode discussion about the dramatic twists or what next week’s episode will hold. By allowing the public to watch entire seasons with the click of a mouse, instant streaming humors the slothlike creature that rests within all of us that would rather wallow reclusive in its bed with a bag of chips than invite over enriching company.
 Llewellyn’s second binge-watching con is one that nearly everyone is familiar with: the dreaded spoiler. Because shows are available from beginning to end and because social media is, well, a thing, there is essentially no sanctuary to protect a viewer from the onslaught of a potential spoiler attack.  I will admit, spoilers are also a possibility when watching a series week to week, but ordinarily these spoilers reveal smaller details rather than the climactic finale of the entire show. Binge-watching allows entire shows to be ruined before an innocent bystander can even watch them. For example, because of the careless words of two devious and evil individuals, I know the endings to “Lost” and “Dexter,” and now no longer have the desire to watch them. Yes, I am bitter. Down with spoiler alerts. Now, moving on.
   Llewellyn’s third con, and, in my opinion, the most important, “the emotional connection from years of dedication.” There is no way to verbally explain the emotional release one gets from watching an amazing television series, week by week, to completion. The only relatable comparison that comes to mind is this: binge-watching is a new friendship in which you spend copious amounts of time with one another for a few weeks, maybe months, and you enjoy every minute, but in reality you haven’t been together that long. Watching week-to-week is a lifelong relationship, a real personal bond that endures difficult times (breaks between seasons or poorly-written episodes) and flourished at the high points.
    I feel that a healthy relationship with your television (oxymoron?) consists of a blend of week-to-week viewings and its bingey counterpart. The ability to binge-watch is an amazing phenomenon, and in times of indulgence, I highly recommend it. However, there is satisfaction in making the sacrifice to watch a show for weeks on end that should not be overshadowed or forgotten.