Did Netflix Save The Pandemic?

Did Netflix save the pandemic?

Reflecting on a year made up of navigating a pandemic and trying to do more of the things that felt comforting and feel-good, the words Binge and Binge-watching took on a whole new meaning. With on-demand content at our disposal and instant access to serialized shows, streaming services like Netflix became our new bestie. Nettie would check in on us with prompts like- are you still watching? Not wanting us to lose our place as we binged, which in some small way felt like someone was showing care.

We embraced multiple episodes and seasons of our favourite shows. In fact, they become a topic of conversation between friends and family, rushing to share what moved them or made them laugh. Binging and watching illuminated a shared experience, and our connection to shows a relationship of sorts. Anything beyond the uncertainty around us was welcome.

Weekends were changed with the release of a new series to deep dive into. When it was time to switch gears, one could seek out the shows that evoked a sense of wonder and wander- travel and nature documentaries that took us to pockets of the world we’ve only dreamed about. Mountains and global warming, narrated by iconic voices like David Attenborough. Captivating nature footage, visits to tribes in Indonesia, and watching the wildlife and marching emperor penguins of Antarctica.

“Oh, Ozark. That drop made things feel lighter this time last year. And let’s credit Jason Bateman’s wit and signature facial expressions, shall we? Sells the joke every time.”

One of my favourite parts about movies and television are the characters. The most successful TV series rely heavily on strong characters. In books, with some guidance from the author, you get to create the character in your mind’s eye and dream up the nuances. In movies and television, the writers and the director do their best to provide a 3-dimensional view for you of the character with physical traits and quirks and tones. Again, I give you, Jason Bateman.

When you’ve connected with a show, the characters become a part of your psyche for a short time — laughing at a joke from the night before, recounting a scene with a loved one, identifying with the pain of heartache and feeling the fight of a hero — their story lands.

There’s an unwritten rule that if you start a series with your partner, you finish a series with your partner — line in the sand people. Jumping ahead an episode is blasphemous to some. I have only successfully done this a few times as my poker face needs work, and well, I’ve never been good at concealing my emotions. However, I was impressed with my acting ability as I sat through the episode jumping with surprise at the unimaginable and accessing my canned laughter at the funny parts.

Many are feeling like there’s hope on the horizon. Something has shifted this month as the light springs forward today. I urge you to keep doing whatever it is that comforts you until we make it to some version of the other side. And if that happens to involve episodes of ‘The Office’ on repeat? “Everybody stay calm! Stay f*&#!#% calm!”