Spring break is one of the few moments during the school year when time feels a little less structured. School is paused, deadlines disappear, and students are left with free time that doesn’t happen during other times of the school year. For many, that freedom means catching up on sleep, spending time with friends, and, most importantly, binge-watching TV shows.
After asking students about their recent viewing habits and the shows they think are most worth watching over spring break, there are a few patterns. Students tend to binge rather than watch slowly, especially during breaks, and they gravitate toward shows that are easy to get hooked on and hard to turn off. Sophomore Lauren Mortimer says, “Once I start watching and get hooked on a show, it is so hard to turn off.”
With fewer academic responsibilities during spring break, it becomes easier to watch multiple episodes in one sitting without worrying about schoolwork. Several students mentioned spending multiple hours a day watching TV during breaks, often finishing entire seasons or even full series.
When asked what TV show is most worth binge-watching over spring break, students recommended a wide range of options, from lighthearted comedies to intense dramas or action-packed episodes. Despite the variety, most of the recommended shows shared similar qualities like engaging plots, strong characters, and episodes that end in cliffhangers.
One frequently recommended show was The Flash, which students described as easy to binge because of how entertaining it is. Sophomores Michael Feretti, Giancarlo Anastasia, and Marko Kyrshtof describe the show as “Fast, emotional, and exciting.” Although watching it can be time-consuming because of how long the episodes are and how many seasons there are.
Students also described different emotional experiences when watching their recommended shows. Some said they preferred relaxing and comforting shows during the break, while others enjoyed more intense or emotional series that fully captured their attention. Michael Ferretti says, “It’s nice to be able to want to watch a show and just kick back and laugh a little bit, but it’s also nice to watch something with intensity because you have to pay attention and be really locked in on it to understand it.”
Lauren Mortimer mentioned the show Sullivan’s Crossing, while Madison Mortimer mentioned One Tree Hill, both because of the cast. While some students are recommending shows because of the episodes, others are recommending them because of how well the characters do.
Genre preferences varied among students, but many said they lean toward light-hearted comedies, also known as feel-good shows, when binge-watching because it just makes them feel good. Anastasia says, “The Flash is just a great comfort show, you sit down, put it on, and it really engages you.”
Depending on how committed you are to binging, depends on what show you start watching, and if you are also looking to finish it before Spring Break is over. If you are looking for something shorter, take Mortimer’s recommendation and watch Sullivan’s Crossing, or if you’re looking for something a bit longer, watch The Flash. Lauren Mortimer says, “It took me like a week and a half to finish Sullivan’s Crossing. It is definitely good for someone who is looking to binge the whole series over spring break.”
Even after finishing the series, these students would still rewatch them just because they were that good. Students reported they rewatch comfort shows the most because they like to return to familiarity and ease. Madison Mortimer says, “I would rewatch One Tree Hill because it has a good plot, and it is long enough that when you rewatch it, you kind of forget some things.”
Whether students are looking for something relaxing, intense, or emotional, the shows they recommended all share one purpose: making spring break feel like a true break. Kryshtof says, “Just getting to lie down and rot for as long as I want is such a nice break from all the stress I am carrying on my back during the school year.” For many, binge-watching isn’t just entertainment, but a way to reset before returning to the demands of school.
