Watching Alone
What to do when you and your partner don’t like the same shows
When I first visited Emily’s house when we were dating I was shocked by one thing: there wasn’t a TV on the main floor anywhere. To my relief there was one in the basement (though it was small and pitiful) and she assured me that she wasn’t an anti-TV snob. Now that house is my house too and you better believe that that basement home theater setup has been massively upgraded.
What hasn’t changed is the fact that Emily and I don’t really like the same shows. I enjoy prestige dramas, dramedies, sci-fi and big franchises (think Disney+). Emily mainly enjoys stand-up comedy, reality and the occasional sitcom. The only show that we are able to watch together consistently is SNL, though we had a good run with Schitt’s Creek for a while. Fortunately my son and stepson enjoy watching the big franchise shows with me, so I do get to enjoy communal entertainment with them.
All of my other shows I watch alone. At this point I feel like I’m giving the impression that I spend all of my free time watching TV, in truth I generally watch about one hour a day, though I’m not above the occasional marathon. I binged Tiger King (with Emily!) just like everyone else.
For some shows I miss the discussion that often follows watching with someone else. Fortunately I have an ongoing group messenger thread with a couple of my closest friends (going back to 3rd grade) who enjoy many of the same shows that I do. When we’re all watching the same show, we notify each other when we’re done watching (no spoilers!) and then discuss what we thought about it and point out various tidbits that the other two may not have noticed.
I also often seek out podcasts that go deep on a show episode-by-episode. This is especially valuable for complex shows that have a lot you may have missed; for example I’m currently listening to podcasts on Succession and Foundation. This allows me to get more out of a series without spending more hours at a screen.
The difficulty with podcasts is that there are so many that cover TV, and most are of very mediocre quality, so when I find a podcaster that I like I tend to be very loyal. Also it’s easier to listen to companion podcasts for shows that drop week-by-week, otherwise it can be hard to keep up listening to a podcast for a show that I’m binging.
Fortunately Emily and I have a lot in common that makes our relationship work, even if taste in entertainment isn’t on that list. Thanks to my virtually connected friends and podcasts, watching TV alone doesn’t have to feel lonely.
