I typically watch TV by streaming shows on my laptop and watching them on Netflix or Hulu while in the comfort of my own bed. There are some shows, like The Bachelor, that I will watch with a group of people because it’s more about the experience and the wine and cheese girl’s night aspect of the show. If it’s a show that I’m interested in or have never seen before, I am very engaged and try to not be on my phone, so I don’t miss any important details. Same goes for movies. I am always engaged and actively paying attention when I watch a movie as opposed to a TV show. If it’s a show that I’m not that interested in or that I’ve seen many times and just re-watching for fun, I am more of a passive viewer and will usually be on my phone the whole time with the TV show as just background entertainment.

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When I first watched Game of Thrones, I would call myself an active viewer because I had to really pay attention and remember things that happened several episodes before that now connected to the plot in the current episode. I could not be on my phone or zone out during any part of the episode, otherwise I would miss crucial information and would not understand what is going on. I was captivated by the action and the drama and drawn into the story of Jon Snow and Daenerys Targaryen. I sadly took advantage of HBO’s first month free offer and watched all seven seasons in the span of one month, in order to go to a season finale watch party, leaving me to wait a full two years before the final season airs. Since the plot of Game of Thrones is so detailed and twisted, I will probably have to watch all seven seasons again shortly before the final season airs, so I can remember every detail and fully understand the final season.

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Typically, when I watch comedy TV shows or sitcoms, I am more of a passive viewer and spend the duration of the episode on my phone. These types of shows are less engaging and don’t require constant attention to understand what is going on. I usually feel like I only watch these types of shows to check them off my list as seen and remain relevant if they are brought up in conversation. They do not usually pull me in with the drama and romance like Grey’s Anatomy or Gossip Girl. Shows like The Office or Friends, that I have seen many times all the way through, I will usually watch as background noise or just when I need a laugh. They’re shows that I no longer have to watch every episode in order and can randomly select my favorite episodes to re-watch at any given time. Now when I watch an episode of The Office, it’s usually after watching a scary movie so I can sleep at night.