Jovialis
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Recently, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly creator Joss Whedon aired his grievances about the post-Netflix trend of binge-watching. More specifically, he argued that the release of full seasons of TV series in one big lump is narratively problematic and can bastardise the viewing experience. On the topic of gorging on a narrative, he opined, “It loses its power, and we lose something with it.”
It would be over-simplifying things to whittle down Whedon's many-hued opinion into a black-and-white objection. It's obvious the cult showrunner isn't squarely in the anti-binge brigade, but instead is still negotiating his feelings on the future of episodic television.
And his concerns aren’t without merit. Here are some of the ways binge-watching is (and isn’t) messing with television.
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Speaking of suffocating, as Breaking Bad didn’t reach the height of its popularity until four years into its run, many latecomers caught up by devouring Walter White’s transformation in a condensed time frame. For every rabid fan, you’d find another who felt their emotional receptors tire and fizzle — unable to handle the show’s unrelenting zip-line towards tragedy.
When watched as released, over the six years it took to tell the tale, Breaking Bad registered as the saga it was intended to be and allowed White’s transformation to feel earned. Again, the deliciously frustrating week-to-week and year-to-year anticipation became a coveted part of the viewer’s journey.
https://www.sbs.com.au/guide/article/2017/03/20/does-binge-watching-ruin-tv
I don't think binge-watching is a bad thing at all. As a matter of fact, it may help put the quality of the show into better perspective.
Some shows have "filler-episodes", that may be "excused" by loyal fans. In hopes of the following episode to redeem their interest in it. Perhaps forcing themselves to watch the show, because of the time they've invested over the years. It's almost like rooting for a team that doesn't play very well, and hoping they will win next time.
If I can binge watch a TV-series; odds are it's worth my time, and the majority of the episodes are riveting. For example, it took me two weeks to finish Breaking Bad, and I thought it was an excellent show. I felt invested in the characters, and the story. I was completely satisfied with the viewing experience.