What is it that makes binge-watching so magical? Is it the feeling of excitement of watching a series for the first time and needing to know what happens next? Or is it, perhaps, that feeling of comfort watching ten seasons of a series you’ve seen a million times before? Never before have audiences been given such access to the shows they love. Streaming services provide a haven for the biggest series in the world, but also the most obscure of cult classics. However, it’s quite noticeable that when watching a show on any streaming service, they’ll often give you the option to skip the intro. But why would you? And should you?

It’s important to note that TV show intros have greatly changed over the decades since  television’s conception. Nowadays, it’s harder to find shows with lengthy intros; most of the time it will be a quick cut to the logo before quickly jumping back into the action or cutting to commercials. This doesn’t seem like a big deal, but think about something you often do with your friends. How many times have you had a discussion with a couple of your pals  about the theme songs of your childhood? Songs that in some way, shape or form defined our childhoods. Admit it, you definitely have the “Suite Life of Zack and Cody” theme locked up somewhere in your memory. These intros got us excited, and we immediately knew what we were watching even if we were listening from another room. With TV themes now, you find a lot of the music and intros blending together.

Now this isn’t to say that there are no great modern TV themes and intros, far from it. “Stranger Things” has easily the most simplistic intro, but the music and tone it sets makes it hard to skip when burning through the latest season. Across the pond, shows like “Doctor Who” regularly update their intros with each new Doctor to keep things exciting. Essentially, TV intros aren’t necessarily dead, rather the respect for good TV intros is gone.

This is especially apparent with the “Skip Intro” button. Sure, when binging shows for hours on end, the intro might feel repetitive. Hearing the same music and seeing the same names over and over again, but then again, you’ve already made the commitment to watch these shows day in and day out, so what can 30 seconds  change? A lot of work goes into making TV intros great. After all, they’re the hook that’s meant to grab the audience’s attention right out of the gate. And to put this endless amount of work into these intros just feels insulting. 

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