In an age where streaming platforms compete for viewers' attention with increasingly dark and disturbing content, one TV enthusiast makes a compelling case for seeking out shows that push emotional boundaries to their absolute limits.
"When I choose a TV show, I need it to make me feel more depressed than I've ever been," declares self-proclaimed prestige TV aficionado Audrey Farnsworth. "I want it to make me feel so bad that I literally see hell itself."
This may sound extreme, but Farnsworth isn't alone in her pursuit of emotionally devastating television. The rise of critically acclaimed series like Game of Thrones has created an appetite for shows that don't just entertain, but emotionally devastate their audiences.
Farnsworth describes her ideal viewing experience as one where she becomes deeply invested in characters, only to watch them meet horrifically tragic ends. "I want to relate to them in a way that helps me realize something about myself, right before they die in the most disturbing way possible," she explains.
The psychological impact of these viewing choices is intentional. "I want to go straight to bed after watching, letting the stress seep into my brain and take over my dreams," says Farnsworth. "Best case scenario? I wake up more exhausted than when I went to sleep because my brain has been marinating in misery soup all night."
As streaming platforms continue producing increasingly dark content, viewers like Farnsworth remain hungry for shows that push the boundaries of emotional distress. "They keep making really depressing shows that upset me deeply, but I love them," she admits. "What a rush."
This phenomenon raises questions about the evolving nature of entertainment and our relationship with fictional trauma. As audiences seek more intense emotional experiences from their media consumption, the bar for what constitutes "devastating television" continues to rise.
For now, Farnsworth remains committed to her viewing philosophy: "I want to feel so bad it's as if I took an elevator to hell itself. This is what I like. This is how I watch television."