Hands-down, one of the best forms of escapism is putting on something to watch. Popping some popcorn for a movie or snuggling up in a blanket for a Netflix marathon helps to press pause on real life. 

“It’s being able to turn off your brain and zone into something that has nothing to do with your own life,” says visual and media arts major Kenny Wood ‘24. 

Yet a growing trend focuses specifically on zoning into programs that you simply don’t like for the sake of enjoyment. 

Hate-watching’s popularity boomed with the rise of streaming services, prompting many to seek out bad content. It’s the consumption of media simply to critique it. This doesn’t necessarily mean in-depth analysis and can instead be full-on nit-picky. The possibilities are truly endless. For example, Wood hate-watched The D’Amelio Show, which follows TikTokers Charli and Dixie D’Amelio and their struggles with their growing fame. While the show aims at authenticity, the melodramatic framing of the story makes it come off more funny than fascinating. 

Emerson College media criticism professor Alexander Svensson, on the other hand, chooses American Horror Story as his hate-watching go-to. 

“The series flies off the rails mid-way through each season, and I end each season disappointed,” he says. “And yet, year after year, I keep on coming back in the hopes that things will get better.”

Disappointment is part of the experience. Rather than being let down, hate-watchers revel in the countless ways they can critique. Over-the-top writing (every Lifetime movie ever)? Horribly random plot twists (the Pretty Little Liars finale)? Undeniably extremist “news” (every episode of Tucker Carlson Tonight)? It’s all just laughable. Rather than watching comedies, many get laughs from content that’s comically, unironically bad. Due to the past century’s media boom and increase of streaming services, there’s almost too much to criticize. Flipping through the channels, you’ll find an unbelievable amount of absurd content—just check out TLC. 

Additionally, many programs advertise hashtags when airing, encouraging viewers to post their thoughts online. It’s a great form of advertising, especially when the hashtags make their way onto the trending pages of Twitter and Tumblr. These hashtags make hate-watching more than an individual experience—it’s a bonding one. 

“[It’s] typically a performative and social act, taking to social media to live-tweet passionate dislike of a new show or movie,” Svensson explains. It’s not just about hating the content, but rather loving the validation your criticism receives. 

When it comes down to it, hate-watching isn’t truly about hate. Rather, it’s about pride. It’s about watching a program that you think that you’re too good for and letting yourself be an outspoken “contributor” to the fandom. You can laugh at the less-than-stellar acting as if you could have taken on the role and won awards for it. You can scoff at the over-the-top writing as if you could have written the script and cemented yourself into film history. 

Really, Wood says it best when talking about why they and countless others hate-watch: “It makes you feel better about yourself.”