Is it considered cheating?

The secret to building a close bond with your partner

I would like to start this article by stating that this is not about having any type of sexual relationship with someone who is not your partner. In fact, this is not about any sexual relations at all.

Let's get a bit more specific about what we are talking about here. Over the years, I have developed a deep bond with my partner, and we are very much in love.

I wrote about this topic today as Sapphire said, “Watching a series by yourself that you have been watching together is practically cheating.”

I admit this made me laugh when she first said it to me, just in case we have any passionate relationship series binge-watchers out there. Do not worry, I did not break this vow; I just asked her if it would be okay if I watched a few episodes of “Originals” without her when she goes out next Friday with her friends. Considering she will be out for a fair few hours and I will be bored at home, I felt like I had earned the right. Apparently not, haha.

Seriously though, as I'm sure you all know, with work life and just the general responsibility of being an adult, it can be difficult to find time to watch T.V, and sit down and relax. I bloody look forward to watching those episodes on a Friday night, and now I will have to wait another entire week.

Let us start our dive into this topic.

If we think about the question, "Would it be okay if I watched a few episodes of Originals without you Friday night?" It seems silly to think someone could compare this to cheating. (She does not classify this as the same violation as cheating; it is just a fun comparison for my more serious readers out there.)

If we look at the conditions of the relationship for binge-watching,

1. We both look forward to watching the TV series together.
2. We started watching it together at the same time, and we both do not know what happens next.
3. We both come up with fun theories, trying to guess what happens next.
4. We are both unable to accidentally drop spoilers.
5. Would it ruin the fun if your partner knew what happened next?

It appears to me that when you start watching a TV series with your partner, it would actually be pretty shitty to go ahead and watch more episodes by yourself. It’s kind of like when you get older and realize Santa is not real. It kind of kills the buzz of Christmas. It just does not feel as magical anymore. If I knew what was going to happen, then it would probably ruin the excitement for me, and I would not be as interested in the moment. Watching TV series together brings a certain type of energy; by watching it by yourself, you ruin that energy, so waiting that extra week together would only increase that suspense.

The second question I ask myself when thinking about what Sapphire said is to actually ask myself. “How would I feel if she watched some episodes without me?” To my surprise, the thought of it really ticked me off. I cannot even fully understand why or find a way of putting the exact feeling into words. It does, in some way, feel like a violation. I would actually be mad over this, and this is something I originally thought she would not be bothered about.

Watching a series together puts you in a fictional world in which you both feel involved. A good series can make you feel like you are actually one of the characters in the show. It's hot gossip, and it stinks to miss out.

The more I think about this, the more it feels like cheating on my TV series buddy, which is something I never imagined myself saying.

Having a cuddle and watching TV can definitely be intimate. Let’s be honest, we have all sat down with a friend or someone visiting before and put a film on, but it doesn't feel the same; it can feel awkward and cold. It is very different from sitting on the sofa with your boo; it feels much more warm and cozy. It is actually one of the simple joys in my life. After having some more deep thought on this, I don't think I would enjoy watching the TV series without her.

From now on, I will never even think about watching a TV series we were watching together alone, because for one, I would not be able to lie about it; I would feel dirty and guilty; and for two, as I said above, I would not even enjoy it as much.

To conclude, don't cheat on your partner; watch the TV series together.

I would love to hear your comments on this article. It would be interesting to see if anyone could justify watching a TV series you started together without your partner because I honestly cannot come up with one valid argument as to why it would be okay, which is funny because before diving deep into it, I suggested it in the first place.

Let me know in the comments how you would react if you found out your partner watched TV series episodes without you.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article.

Until Next time...