Disney Plus Is Going to Kill Binge Watching — And That's a Great Thing

News
By published

Let's go back to 1999

The interface of Disney+ streaming service is displayed on Apple Inc.'s AppleTV at the D23 Expo, billed as the "largest Disney fan event in the world," on August 23, 2019 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. - Disney Plus will launch on November 12 and will compete with out streaming services such as Netflix, Amazon, HBO Now and soon Apple TV Plus.
(Image credit: ROBYN BECK/AFP/Getty Images)

We're in another golden age of TV, as long as you can chug a whole season of Stranger Things in a weekend. Which is why I'm elated with the news that Disney Plus will buck the binge watch trend that took over TV. 

A report from this past weekend revealed that Disney+ will release seasons one episode at a time, not all in one giant cannonball splash into the streaming pool. To which I say, "amen!"

Let's start with a familiar moment to the Tom's Guide office: the Monday morning after a new season of a show has been released (Friday is the standard release day at Netflix, Hulu and others). Did you devote at least a day of your waking hours to finishing that show? Sorry, you've got to cover your ears or wear headphones to make it out without getting spoiled.

Disney's decision will help those who struggle to stay focused on a single episode, and possibly help us regain our ability to focus on a single show. It's a lot easier, I've found, to put down my phone for a single hour or two at the Alamo Drafthouse, than it is to do the same for a whole season.

Henry T. Casey
Henry T. Casey

Henry was a managing editor at Tom’s Guide covering streaming media, laptops and all things Apple, reviewing devices and services for the past seven years. Prior to joining Tom's Guide, he reviewed software and hardware for TechRadar Pro, and interviewed artists for Patek Philippe International Magazine. He's also covered the wild world of professional wrestling for Cageside Seats, interviewing athletes and other industry veterans.