If you're one of those unfortunate people strapped with the daily burden of traditional employment, that leaves you just a few hours each day to slide into the warm bath that is a good binge-watching session on Netflix. But what makes a particular show, be it the masterful slow burn of Mad Men or the frenetic Shakespearean vibes of Breaking Bad, truly binge-worthy?
Netflix analyzed the viewing habits of more than 100 TV series across more than 190 countries between October 2015 and May 2016, resulting in this hella handy Binge Scale:
"As The Binge Scale indicates, the viewing experience of a series can range from the emotional to the thought-provoking," Cindy Holland, Vice President of Original Content at Netflix, said Wednesday. "Netflix helps you to find a series to binge no matter your mood or occasion, and the freedom to watch that series at your own pace —whether that's to appreciate the drama of Bloodline or power through Orange Is the New Black."
More irreverent fare, like the super underrated BoJack Horseman or Arrested Development, are consumed at a more relaxed pace. Politically charged shows like House of Cards and historical dramas like the Pablo Escobar bio Narcos are consumed in a similarly relaxed manner, with slices of superhero action (Daredevil) and crime dramas (Better Call Saul) falling somewhere near the middle of the scale. As the emotional stakes and general suspense increases, i.e. Breaking Bad or American Horror Story, so does the desire to finish the entire series as fast as possible.
Based on these figures, the aforementioned BoJack Horseman is the most savored series on the streaming platform, while The Fall, starring Gillian Anderson, is the most devoured. When dedicated viewers really double down on frantically devouring a series, Netflix found they spend "a little over two hours a day" racing to the finish line. That's great news, of course, because it means less time spent enduring horrendously awkward family dinners.
Happy binging.
