The TV Experience

If you are like me, then over the past year in quarantine, you learned a lot about the role that television can play in your life. I learned that sometimes the length and tone of a show is as important as the actual content. So, rather than recommending a specific formula for what to watch next, I suggest you think instead about how you want to consume television.

What I mean is that while some people seek out specific genres of shows, true crime or comedy for example, others watch shows based on the rhythm and how that rhythm fits into their lives. Are you looking for a show that has an easy-to-follow formula and twenty seasons or a mini-series that covers one plotline extensively? How much attention you want to pay and how much commitment you’re prepared for should play in a role in what you choose to watch next.

It can seem daunting navigating multiple streaming services, particularly when shows you enjoyed are no longer available on the platforms you came to rely on. This is, of course, the dilemma that The Office and Parks and Rec, fans faced when those shows were removed from Netflix for American viewers. If these are shows you watched in the last year, you might be thinking, "What next?"

As a fellow survivor of these trying times, I am here to help.

Because the formula for what to watch next doesn’t have to be Similar Genre + Common Actor/Producer = Recommendation, although that formula will certainly lead you to some gems. Think about the texture of a show, how long it takes to chew and swallow and how complex you want the experience to be. A new show will be the background to your next month, or year, or even decade, of your life, particularly if you’re a repeat watcher like me.

Don’t just let the streaming services decide for you, take this decision into your own hands, along with the remote control (once you find it of course).

Think about what how much time you want to spend watching: If you’re watching during your lunch break, consider a short 20-25 minute episode show that will pair well with your sandwich. There are hundreds of light-hearted shows that fit this bill, shows that include fun and lovable characters in relatable situations and come in a bite size package of comedy, like Superstore. But if you’re watching every night to wind down and have about an hour to spare, consider a show with a longer run-time and a predictable formula, such as the classic The X-Files. These are shows with a slightly more serious tone that are usually wrapped up in a satisfying resolution.

Think about how much energy you want to spend on your show: Do you want something more cerebral that requires you to focus? Consider shows that have longer running plots and stories that take whole seasons to resolve, like Broadchurch. Don’t mind keeping you attention on the screen to read subtitles? Consider a show in another language with plenty of intrigue, like 3% or Dark. Then again, if you want to spend very little energy, there is always the reality TV genre to take your mind of your own concerns, and with shows that have 30+ seasons like Survivor, you can write in your journal or take a nap and when you tune back in, you won’t have missed too much.

Think about whether you want television to be a social experience: If TV is an experience you want to share with friends, this is where the streaming service algorithms can be relied upon. You can count on them to tell you what is trending, which is a likely predictor of what shows people will be talking about next. Recommendations often include reality TV shows with current seasons, shows that were recently acquired by the streaming service, or shows produced by the service itself. Don’t count these out as good options, especially if you don’t want to put your thumb to work scrolling through pages and pages or spelling out your search letter by letter to find the exact show you want.

The point is that it’s worth thinking about how you want to spend your TV time. The decisions you make can lead you to stories that move you, make you laugh, or help you think through problems in your life. So think carefully about the role TV will play in your life and choose shows that meet your needs.