Having a partner means you get to do a range of things with someone else. It’s great because you can catch a movie together, go out for dinner, or even have a nice cozy night in front of the TV. The problem comes when you two must decide on what to watch and even what to eat. And let’s not forget when to watch your favorite TV series. Couples often receive advice on what to watch but not how to choose something both parties would enjoy. But you do not need to worry because we have some tips on how to choose a TV series as a couple.
What is your genre?
Every single one of us has our own preferences when it comes to consuming television. And this can also become quite stereotypical. It’s assumed that women ONLY prefer romantic comedies and drama. While men only prefer action and comedies. This could not be further from the truth. And there is also so much more variety. Genres include:
- Drama
- Comedy
- Romance
- Action
- Science fiction
- Horror
- Thriller
- Fiction
- Western
- Fantasy
- Narrative
- Crime fiction
- True crime
- Satire
- Anthology
- Fantasy fiction
- Dark comedy
- Legal drama
- Police procedural
- Mystery and more
This is a wonderful place to start before you decide on what you want to watch. Discuss your favorite genres and how they make you feel. And make time to understand why each partner enjoys the particular genre. And be open to watching something your partner likes but you might not.
Research
Once you have your favorite genres down, it’s time to do some research into them. A suitable place to start is to check how popular this genre has been throughout the ages. Let’s take horror as an example. We know that horror pioneer Alfred Hitchcock gave us the original Psycho, Vertigo, and The Birds. And we are still thinking about the epic yet scary bathroom scene in Stanley Kubrick’s, The Shining – the Jack Torrance character was complex yet frightening. Looking into some of the popular movies and TV shows will give you a great idea of why this genre does so well and why your partner might like it so much. Another notable example to consider here is Netflix’s Stranger Things. It is categorized as a horror fiction series. And it’s been popular ever since its first episode dropped in 2016 – the 5th and final season is currently in the works, with very few details shared otherwise. People who hardly ever watch horror enjoy it, so that’s some food for thought.
Time to choose
After you’ve picked your favorite genres and researched them, you can now look at what to watch. Do you know how streaming services’ algorithms choose the content you like based on what you’ve watched before? Sometimes there are some excellent choices – including shows you might not previously have been interested in. However, you and your partner can now create a must-watch list based on each of your preferences. To help you along, here are some of our picks of what you can watch with your partner:
You
Joe Goldberg seems like the average guy just trying to find the love of his life. But Joe has a deep and dark secret; he will do quite literally anything to be with… YOU. Starring Penn Bagley as Joe, you are in for some twists, turns, and screams.
Seasons: 3, with season 4 slated to release on 10 February 2023, set in a new location. So exciting!
Genre: Thriller
The Umbrella Academy
In 1989, 43 babies were born to mothers who displayed no signs of pregnancy. But one man made it his mission to adopt as many of them as he could. Sir Reginald Hargreeves eventually adopts seven of them and forms The Umbrella Academy. Each child has a unique power, and with this power, they protect the world against a range of threats. But things become super complicated once they grow up.
Seasons: 3, with the fourth and final season right around the corner.
Genre: Action, Adventure
The Good PlaceStarring the hilarious Ted Danson, Jameela Jamil, and Kristen Bell, The Good Place is all kinds of fun and chaotic. Eleanor Shellstrop (played by Bell) is a rude and obnoxious woman who never cared for anyone besides herself. When she one day wakes up dead (watch the series, and you’ll understand why this makes sense), she finds herself in a heaven-like afterlife called the good place. However, it’s a case of mistaken identity, but Eleanor is on a mission to earn her spot in the good place.
Seasons: 4
Genre: Sitcom, TV comedy