Saw a huge difference in how I watch shows after I stopped using my phone during them

I used to always have my phone out while watching stuff, scrolling through social media or whatever. About two months ago I tried a no-phone rule for a week with Severance and realized I was missing so many details. Like subtle background stuff and character reactions that totally add to the story. Now I keep my phone in another room and I'm way more into whatever I'm watching. Has anyone else noticed how much more you get out of a show when you're not multitasking?

3 comments

3 Comments

abby_morgan185d ago

Shit, that's wild to me. I honestly can't imagine making it through Severance without my phone, that show is so dense with clues and weird details you'd miss half the plot. Good on you for breaking the habit though, I bet it makes the show way more intense when you're actually paying attention the whole time.

bailey.jennifer5d ago

Wild to me too" is the part that stuck out, because I actually think the show is designed so that if you're on your phone, you miss the stuff that makes it creepy on purpose. It's not about clues, it's about the dread you feel when you're alone in a room with nothing to do.

the_eric5d ago

Honestly, the whole clue hunting mentality is what's ruining a lot of modern TV. Everyone's so busy trying to solve the puzzle they forget to actually feel the scene. But your point about dread being the real payoff makes me think - do you feel like that slow burn dread actually hits harder BECAUSE you aren't looking for clues? Like, when you're not trying to piece together a mystery box, you're just stuck with the uncomfortable silence and the weird camera angles that make your skin crawl. That's the stuff that sticks with you after the episode ends, not some hidden name in a background prop. Ngl, I think the show runners specifically put those boring long shots of Mark just walking around the empty office to test if you're actually paying attention or just waiting for the next big reveal.