The Blues

Box-Set Blues: it’s a Friday Initiative

On August 28, 2009, in Television, by Rosie

Picture this -

the wind is howling, but you’re not living in Chicago. You’re actually in a town renowned for its four seasons in a day, but rooftops blowing off in August is a little extreme. You glance towards the kitchen and there’s the sight of a pasta pot bubbling with excitement as it awaits the loving sloth of spaghetti to be lowered inside.

There’s a bottle of wine. God, it’s romantic. The bottle of red is lit from behind, taking all the reflection of dimmed light from the living room beyond and looking as attractive as a Jacob Black werewolf. In case you’re confused – the wine is romantic rather than the people around. Okay, for this scenario, they can also be highlighted with romance if needed!

The smell of garlic permeates the air, the quiver of a blanket offsets the neighbouring suburb roof calamities, and the children are almost snug in their beds. They are without visions of sugar-gums* dancing in their heads, however. That’s way too cliched. They’re sleeping in this story, so it’s damn peaceful in their brains.

And, resting atop the jarrah coffee table in front of the quasi-monstrous television screen is the most luscious Friday night extravagance of all – a new compliment of serialized television.

Here’s where you fill in the blanks: is it a large, old-style box set with a episode guide tucked in the front cover? Is it a new slim-line package with your favourite characters onboard and looking sexy? Is it a ramshackle of ‘plain label’ discs, hastily copied from your computer after a downloading frenzy that’s put you over your monthly cap?

Don’t answer that last one – the internet has ears – but however you procure your television episodes, they are here and they’re calling to you: ‘Marathon me, watch me till your eyes pop out of your head. I’m healthier than 50 dollar shots at a crowded, smokey nightclub. I’m less addictive than a gambling spree at a city casino. I can inject your human relationship with episode and character discussion…’

Who are you to disobey the calling of DVDs from your loungeroom?

So you watch. This is where I need to add a personal preference. While my eldest sister – and a friend I got hooked on Six Feet Under – will marathon a show until they receive intervention, I watch an episode (or two) a night. In the way of most men, my partner Mac always wants MOAR, but I like to practise moderation in all things DVD TV series.

I wonder what you’ll watch this night, in your marathon or one episode per sitting? Will it be House S1, The Office (US) S5, The Tudors S3, The Sopranos S4 or True Blood S1? Whatever the outcome, welcome to Box-Set Blues Friday, where the drinks are red, the couch is comfy, the food is plentiful but there is NO talking during the show.

Unless the roof blows off.

*sugar-gums are non existent in botany. However, they are the Aussie equivalent to sugar plums