My friend Ginger and I go a long time between in-person visits as it is: she’s in Illinois and I’m in Virginia. So we’re used to not hanging out face-to-face except once a year or so. Our next visit was planned for, well, literally right now. And, unfortunately, we knew months ago that this would probably not happen.
The ability to socialize—with each other and with closer-to-home friends—is only just now showing signs of becoming a reality again. But we weren’t content to wait that out. We knew we had extra time on our hands, and we wanted to make up for the visit we wouldn’t be getting. So we finally did something we promised each other we’d do for, well, ages: we did a show trade.
It doesn’t sound like a big change, right? We’re all nerds, and half our hangouts or more already consist of watching stuff together. But this is somewhat different. We each had a big favorite show the other hadn’t seen. We each felt the other would like it a lot. So the trade became something of an event. And if you’re looking for a way to burn off this time, or even something to do with friends in person later, it’s worth it.
Sharing Shows at a Distance
If there’s one good thing about our current situation, it’s that technology has our back. We have video conferencing, screen-sharing, and all sorts of other things to allow us to be in the moment, even at a distance. So we really can watch and discuss “together.”
If you’re not already plugged into Netflix Party, I highly recommend it. It’s a third-party Chrome plugin that allows you to create a chat room with an embedded Netflix video. You can also give pause and play privileges to anyone you want, so there’s freedom to take a break as necessary. I’ve been using this to watch Hilda with one group of friends, and F1: Drive to Survive and The Repair Shop with another friend.
Netflix doesn’t have everything (sadly), but there are other options. If your connection is strong, you can screen share on Zoom or platforms. Failing that, you can do what Ginger and I do: queue up our respective streaming services and do the ol’ “Ready, Set, Go.” Hey, it works!
What Should We Watch?
Right now, burning through that “to-watch” list is one of the most productive things you can do. But when we decided to do our show trade, we went for stuff that we really felt strongly about.
In my case, I picked Life on Mars and Ashes to Ashes (which readers will already know I love for a lot of reasons). For starters, I had a feeling Ginger would like it because it has writers and actors she knows from Doctor Who (which we’re both fans of). It has some character and relationship dynamics we bond over in other shows. Plus, it’s meaningful to me as a writer because its pacing and storytelling have influenced how I tell my own stories.
And for me, Ginger picked Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood. Her main reason was because I’m an anime journalist and, honestly, I should have seen it by now. But beyond that, she knows the sort of stories I like, and it’s a major part of her anime fandom and her influence as an artist.
Do your decisions have to be that deep? Of course not. But picking shows like this and sharing them with each other has been really rewarding.
The Perks (Besides the Obvious)
The primary rewards of sharing shows like this are obvious: social time and great entertainment. But we’ve discovered a lot of other bonuses along the way.
First off, dividing up our shows like this—one episode of Mars or Ashes to two episodes of Brotherhood, making a two-hour block—means we’re taking our time rather than just barreling through. We have a little while to really digest what we’ve seen, and events of each episode aren’t lost in the blur of binge-watching. Each of us has already discovered a lot we missed on the first several viewings of our own shows.
Another perspective, especially a friend’s, also shows us new things. Each series we’re watching has a mystery and a long game, characters who aren’t what they seem, and plot points that won’t be revealed until the bitter end. It’s fun to observe each other’s reactions, but also gain new insight into the things we already love.
As a bonus? You can watch your friend meme your favorite show. And is there any greater reward?
If you’re feeling creatively blocked—and I get the feeling we all are—this could also be the jump-start you need. Fanart, fanfics, and even a podcast have come out of our show trade. Whether or not that happens is irrelevant, though, as long as you’re enjoying yourself.
In a time when we’re used to binge-watching, or meaning to watch things and never getting around to it, it’s helping us to reset how we consume our media. It’s thoughtful, it’s fun, and (at least on my part) it will likely influence how I watch things going forward, with friends or on my own. I’m remembering what it was like to take things in instead of speeding through them to be done and on to the next thing, and I may not be able to give that up.
Comments are closed.