If recently you have found yourself scrolling on streaming platforms in search for a new show, which viral show did you choose? The Bear, Industry, Succession, and Big Little Lies? Besides being some of the most popular TV shows available at the moment, there's something about them that has really grasped our attention – the way our pulse thickens as the plot thickens. These shows aren't a light watch – and yet we willingly dive into shows that spike our heart rates, tighten our chests, and leave us on the brink of anxiety. It's a paradox of modern life — a primal urge, this desire to dance with our fears, to feel that rush of excitement, even if it’s from the safety of our sofas.
So, why is it that we're so obsessed with TV shows that stress us out beyond belief? We try to make sense of it all, below.
View this post on Instagram
Controlled chaos
As someone who’s personally navigated The Bear, Boiling Point, and is now dipping into Succession (yes, a bit late to the party), I can confidently say these shows are the crux of the anxiety I experience in my life. Like many, I succumbed to the rave reviews, but I stayed because the storylines hooked me — the sense that this could actually happen. There’s a certain catharsis in experiencing intense emotions without real-life consequences; the fear, excitement, and suspense offer a release. Where stress and uncertainty often feel overwhelming, these shows provide a space where we can engage with our anxieties in a controlled environment. The stakes are high, the tension palpable, but we know we’re safe. This paradoxical blend of fear and security allows us to confront our deepest fears without leaving our comfort zones.
View this post on Instagram
Escapism with a twist
We become so engrossed in each scene, with the camera guiding our eyes and minds, that there isn’t time to predict or wonder. These shows aren’t just viewing experiences; they’re visceral, as if we’re not watching a TV show, but rather witnessing someone cheat on their partner or a family dinner unravel from bad to worse. They’re a testament to how simplicity, paired with the right execution, can place you at the heart of everything. In a world where everything is fast-paced and attention spans are short, these shows manage to hold our focus with their plausible situations. They let your imagination run wild, making you feel as though you’re right in the centre of the action. There’s a dopamine hit in the way these scenes let you experience the rush of danger, to flirt with the unknown, all while knowing we can switch off the tension whenever we choose.
View this post on Instagram
Is this normal to be obsessed with these shows?
There’s contradiction here, but there’s also science behind our love and obsession for stress-inducing TV shows. Sociologist Margee Kerr, who researches fear and its effects, has found that watching something that causes stress or fear can actually increase adrenaline and make you feel less anxious. After a stressful day at work, or a bad day you couldn’t fully process, voluntarily putting on The Bear, watching Carmy have a meltdown in his workspace kitchen can be cathartic. It’s like channeling your own emotions through these characters, leaving you feeling oddly satisfied afterward.
And then, finally, the episode ends and the credits roll. We’re left with a curious mix of emotions — relief, satisfaction, maybe even a bit of lingering tension. We can finally take a deep breath. It’s all over. The sense of having faced something intense and coming out the other side. It’s a reminder that, despite the chaos of the world, we’re still in control.
So, night after night, we return to these high-voltage shows, ready to ride the wave of anticipation all over again, knowing it’s not real and we're in control. While familiar and stressful, it can’t hurt us.
