Over the past decade, the number of streaming services has increased significantly, leading to a shift in the viewing habits of teens, in particular. On average, a teenager spends 90 minutes a day watching TV. Binge-watching shows has become increasingly popular, leading to rapid shifts in viewer preferences. Therefore, I decided to select a few students who wrote passionately about their favorite shows, explaining why they would recommend them and which streaming service they use to watch them.
To start, Kaitlyn Cable (Junior) wrote about the popular romance TV show, The Summer I Turned Pretty. I asked the following questions: why she likes it, and if she would recommend it. Cable stated, “This show is about a group of family friends who have a beach house in Massachusetts. The main character is a girl named Belly who was in love with both of the brothers, Conrad and Jeremiah, who were the family friends. Conrad and Belly dated while his mother was dying, and they broke up shortly after. And he moved to California for college. Belly then began dating Conrad’s brother, Jeremiah. The show fast-forwards 4 years, and Belly and Jeremiah get engaged. Conrad, however, is still in love with Belly. He confesses his love for her the night before she gets married to his brother. Belly is also still in love with Conrad, but is suppressing her feelings because at this point, she is in a very tough situation. That is as far as the show has gotten.” She enjoys this show, as she also stated, “it’s a messy drama with lots of plot twists and leaves on cliffhangers, making it very engaging.” She would absolutely recommend this show because she mentions how it always has something going on and how you don’t really expect what will happen next. The popular streaming service she watches The Summer I Turned Pretty on is Prime Video.
Next up, Carolina Rhea (Senior) wrote about her favorite TV show, Severance. “Severance is a show that addresses (very literally) what a distinct work-life split looks like. The show focuses on Mark Scout, a ‘severed’ worker for Lumon who underwent surgical procedures that allow him to forget his personal life at work and his work life when he leaves. As new information and debate come to light about his employers, Scout begins to explore the truth behind the severance procedure and what it is that he forgets about every day. The show discusses corporate exploitation with a sci-fi psychological thriller twist.” Rhea explained. She enjoys the show as she states, “I love the commentary the show provides and how it becomes intertwined with religious and psychological messages. It has a unique premise, executed with exemplary camerawork and an impressive soundtrack that makes it a 10/10 watch for me.” Rhea also says she would recommend the TV show Severance, as she mentions, “The show is very entertaining- it mixes comedy, suspense, and sci-fi to capture the audience. You don’t have to think very deeply to enjoy the show, which makes it accessible to everyone, but it has a lot of deeper messages available for anyone who wants to dig deeper.” The popular streaming service she watches Severance on is Apple TV.
Lastly, Faith Davis (Senior) wrote about her favorite TV show, Never Have I Ever. Davis states, “Devi is trying to navigate life as a high schooler, friends, and the grief of her father’s death, all while being caught in a love triangle between her arch nemesis, Ben, and her long-time crush, Paxton.” She stated she adores this show because, “it is made up of lots of drama, and there’s always something new to be invested in. I am 100% team Ben for Devi, and I love watching to follow their story. It is popular because it’s filled with drama and is relatable for teens.” She also remarked, “Yes, I would recommend it. There is just constantly so much happening in Devi’s life, and she is always doing something new and unexpected. Not to mention her constant change between Ben and Paxton.” The popular streaming service she watches Never Have I Ever on is Netflix.
To conclude, numerous types of TV shows are popular among teenagers and young adults. This information from these students shows that romance and thriller TV shows are quite popular in this age group. Many teenagers and young adults are going through major emotional changes, which makes romance shows more intriguing. Also, thrillers are very popular because they draw teens in and create suspense, which many teens are interested in. The streaming services used by these students included Apple TV, Netflix, and Prime Video. Therefore, having a variety of streaming services provides more options for what teenagers want to watch.
