Ditched my usual crime dramas for a slow-burn sci-fi series and it changed my whole binge habit

For the longest time I was all about those fast-paced crime shows like Mindhunter or True Detective. I thought slow episodes were a waste of time. Then about 3 months ago a buddy at work kept pushing me to watch The Expanse. I finally gave in one Saturday and holy cow, I was hooked by the third episode. The world building and character depth made me realize I was missing out by just chasing cliffhangers. Now I actually prefer shows that take their time to build a universe. Has anyone else made a similar jump from one genre to another and found it totally changed how you watch?

2 comments

2 Comments

richard_dixon1mo ago

Got into a similar thing with British panel shows after years of only watching action flicks. Started with a random clip of QI and now I can't watch anything that doesn't have at least one middle-aged comedian rambling about obscure history.

claire_walker1mo ago

Oh man, the thing that gets me is how those shows basically reprogram your brain's reward system. You go from "action scene = dopamine hit" to "someone explaining why the Romans had pee in their mouthwash = dopamine hit." It's like a different kind of adrenaline rush but for your brain instead of your gut.