To binge or not to binge. That is the question.
Summary:
- Creators benefit from their shows being watched once a week.
- It's not interesting to watch a slice-of-life or comedy in one evening.
- You can easily forget the details of the big stories if you watch it once a week.
Okay, it's time to answer a very important question. What's the best way to watch anime – one episode a week or a binge? These are two very different viewing strategies, and each has both advantages and disadvantages. Although the choice is up to the viewer, let's try to look at the pros and cons of both binge-watching and weekly viewing.
Studios Advantages
First, let's understand why studios need these viewing models. For both animated and live action series, a weekly release means stable viewership over time. If the show is successful, it will generate far more revenue than a series that releases an entire season at once (like many shows on Netflix). The anime industry works similarly. It's more profitable for the creators if you watch their show once a week than if you binge-watch the entire season.
Viewer convenience
Leaving aside the studios' interests, it's worth speculating about what's better for the viewer. It may seem that binge-watching is more in line with the interests of ordinary anime fans. It allows them to create their own viewing schedule without being dependent on the release dates. If you prefer binge-watching, you can do it whenever it suits you.
However, not all shows can fit this viewing format. For example, watching slice-of-life or comedies in one evening is not always fun, as they are quite monotonous. Watching them once a week can be pleasant to clear your mind and just relax, while binge-watching can ruin the impression of the show. Much better are shows with a fascinating plot like Attack on Titan or One Piece. When you watch one episode a week, you can easily forget the important details of the story, but binge-watching helps you focus on the characters and their drama.
Epic Adventure
Watching weekly also has its benefits. If you have watched an ongoing series at least once, you know this pleasant feeling when each new episode can be immediately discussed with other viewers. The weekly release makes each episode an event that is fun to share with others. This is especially true for outstanding shows like Jujutsu Kaisen or Demon Slayer.
Also, the weekly viewing, which can go on for months, creates a special sense of grand journey. As if the series' events take up as much time as your life. In the case of binge-watching, such an experience certainly can't happen. This works especially well with relatively slow shows like Frieren: Beyond Journey's End (Sousou no Frieren) or Vinland Saga, which have an epic sweep.
So the choice of how to watch anime – binge-watching or weekly – depends entirely on what title you are watching and what kind of experience you want to have.