As the fall season ends and the winter season settles in, students from Edmonds, Everett, and Shoreline are trading their study time for screen time. Finals are coming up, and students are choosing to unwind and dive into new Netflix drops like “Stranger Things” or watch the new upcoming episodes of “South Park.” For some, it’s a guilty pleasure, but for many, it’s a tradition.
For Kareem Boukhari, a student at Shoreline College, bingeing is a way for him to settle down after a long day of classes and work. When asked about his typical schedule after work for this winter season he said, “I usually get home around nine, zone out for a bit, then turn on the TV to fall asleep.” He added that recently, with the new drop of Stranger Things, he’s been able to stay awake to make it through the episodes.
When asked about what other shows he’s been watching, he laughs, “Honestly, anything with a good storyline, but I’ve been falling asleep to these shows, except ‘Stranger Things.’” Boukhari added, “I did finish watching ‘The Witcher,’ but I slept through 30% of the show.” He also shared how he screenshares what he watches from time to time to connect with friends. “When I find the time, we all get together and choose a movie to watch on Discord.” An interesting way to pass the time with friends.
Toan Nguyen, currently attending Edmonds College, sees TV as not only entertainment but a ritual. “’South Park’ recently has been my go-to.” Toan said with a grin, “I don’t know what I could say without it being inappropriate, but I love Cartman.”
When asked about what draws him to “South Park,” Nguyen said, “Well, it’s not really a show to look too deep into, but it’s just funny to me.” When asked about his binge habits, “I’ll usually watch ‘South Park’ on the weekends, but when it comes to other shows, there will be times where I pull an all-nighter at least once a week.”
Julvic Vu, a student at Everett Community College, takes a more relaxed approach to things: “I’ll just put on anything to be honest, I prefer to watch random movies on Netflix to laugh at.”
“As I said, I’ll watch anything, but I mostly watch comedy movies,” Vu said about his watching preferences. “My favorite movie of all time, though, has to be ‘Superbad.’” He added that he’s recently been watching “Hyouka” on Crunchyroll.
The appeal of binge watching doesn’t only apply to the students of Snohomish County; bingeing is a way for many to unwind, relax, and temporarily escape from the pressures of work and college life. For many, these routines are comforting; whether making popcorn or sharing a laugh with friends, it’s a great, low-effort way to relieve oneself.
While students of all colleges face seemingly never-ending deadlines, shows like “Stranger Things” and “South Park” offer a consistent pause button to all that chaos.
“Work and school can be draining at times, but sometimes I really need that time for myself,” Boukhari said.
As winter approaches and the quarter finally starts to wind down, streaming isn’t just a way for students to settle in; it’s a tradition for many students as they adjust to the winter season.
