Binge-Watching vs. Binge-Racing: What It Is and Why You Should Try It

Everyone knows about binge-watching, which is where you watch lots of episodes of a TV show in a row without a break. These days, mainly thanks to streaming, binge-watching is a mainstream activity. Because binge-watching lets you finish a show before any spoilers hit the internet.

However, have you heard of binge-racing? Which is one step up from binge-watching. Binge-racing is a competition to complete a TV show within a certain amount of time. And in this article we explain exactly what binge-racing is and what the pros and cons of binge-racing are…

What Is Binge-Racing?

Binge-watching is when you watch lots of episodes of the same TV show back-to-back. It’s long been a concept, but was really popularized with the boom of streaming services such as Netflix.

However, for television fans, binge-watching just isn’t enough any more. Now, there’s the next level, and it’s called binge-racing.

Binge-racing is where fans commit to finish shows within 24 hours of their release.

You probably think that sounds mad. How can you possibly finish an entire TV show in 24 hours? The truth is, you can’t, unless it’s a new show with not many episodes. However, what you can do is speed through one season of a show as soon as it gets released on Netflix in your region. That’s what binge-racing is all about.

When Did Binge-Racing Begin?

Netflix coined the term in 2017. In a press release at the time, Brian Wright, Vice President of Original Series, said:

“There’s a unique satisfaction that comes from being the first to finish a story—whether it’s the final page of a book or the last, climactic moments of your favorite TV show. Netflix allows you to watch in a way you never could before, and there’s nothing better than seeing a show engage our members and ignite a passion for viewing.”

Between 2013 and 2016, the amount of people binge-racing increased more than 20 times. With Netflix now offering a wider range of content, and there being lots of other great streaming services, there’s no doubt that the amount of people binge-racing will have increased.

Binge-racing is a global phenomenon and brings a spirit of competition to proceedings. Binge-racers don’t just want to skim through the storylines, they want to be the fastest to do it. For them, the speed of watching is an achievement to be proud of. Similar to how some people speed-run their way through video games.

The Pros and Cons of Binge-Racing

If you have ever marathoned a show before, you probably know what’s good and bad about binge-watching. So let’s take a closer look at binge-racing and discuss the pros and cons of the practice.

Pro: You Get a Show Watched Quickly

If you choose to binge-race a new show, you guarantee only spending one day (and one night) on it and not an hour longer.

When you’re facing a choice between watching a great TV show or doing something productive, the chances are you’ll go for the first option. With the amount of great content available on streaming services, it becomes all too easy to procrastinate and keep choosing TV over completing work.

It might seem odd, but by choosing to take a break and watch the whole season in one go (and in under 24 hours), you’re choosing to be more productive. Rather than being distracted by this interesting show for weeks, you can get it over with quickly and get back to your normal schedule afterwards.

Pro: You Don’t See Spoilers

We all have that one friend who spoils shows and movies on social media, even when they know you haven’t seen it yet.

It goes without saying that if you’re the first one to finish a new show, you no longer have to worry about spoilers. Plus, if your friend turns out to be a binge-racer too, they’ll probably be a little too busy with their own viewing deadlines and won’t have time to spoil things for you.

Con: It’s Easy to Miss Crucial Details

One obvious downside of speeding through new shows is that you risk missing the little things that might be crucial to the plot.

In order to avoid that, we recommend taking your binge-racing seriously, planning your sessions, and being fully prepared for them. Stock up on snacks and make sure you get plenty of sleep the night before. And of course, one sure way to avoid missing small details is to have a binge-racing buddy that you can discuss the show with when you’re finished.

Con: It Can Make You Less Social

Unfortunately, if you don’t find anyone who shares your passion for binge-racing, it might make you a little less social in the long run.

You’ll become that person who has already “seen it all”. Which means that while your friends are discussing the first few episodes of that new amazing show they’ve started, all you’ll be able to do is nod and smile as you don’t want to spoil any important plot twists for them.

However, if you do happen to find yourself a binge-racing buddy, it’s hard to imagine an experience more fulfilling. Being stuck on that same couch together for 24 hours is a great chance to bond. As long as you both have the same policies about talking (or not talking) while watching TV.

Why Become a Binge-Racer?

First, “binge-racer” is a great name. If you’re already a fan of binge-watching, why not take it one stage further?

Second, binge-racing is perfect if you want to watch more TV and can’t afford to spend too much time on all of the shows. Binge-racing will help you bring more organization into your TV viewing habits. You’ll have to be aware of new shows prior to their release. Plus, you’ll probably have to plan every single session of binge-racing in advance.

And of course, you get to be a part of a growing trend which everyone will probably be doing in the future. Especially when the robots take our jobs and leave us with more free time on our hands!

How to Find the Best Netflix Shows to Binge-Race

According to Netflix, in the past four years, the number of binge-racers all over the world has grown from 200,000 people to more than 8 million.

In 2017, the top 10 binge-raced shows included Gilmore Girls, The Defenders, and Stranger Things. However, it varied by country. For example, Club de Cuervos was most binge-raced in Mexico, while Ecuador were all about Fuller House. Interestingly, Canada had the most amount of members of the binge-racing club.

If you decide to jump on the bandwagon and become a binge-racer, you just need to find the right show to kick start your habit. Binge-racing is all about watching a whole series as soon as it drops, so your best bet is to keep an eye on shows coming soon to Netflix and other streaming services.

However, if there’s a show you’re keen to binge-race that has already aired, you can always watch a previous season over a weekend and still consider yourself a binge-racer.

What Shows Should You Binge-Race?

Have we managed to get you excited about this emerging television trend? Now that you know what binge-racing is and why you should consider trying it, the only thing left is to pick a show to watch.

If you need help deciding what to watch, here are the best TV shows to binge-watch when stuck indoors.

Image Credit: jameschipper/Depositphotos

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