The short story here is that I’m going to test-run this free trial of Netflix, so you don’t have to! The long story here is that I’ve got a full time job, a mild social life and access to other, free-er streaming services, so I’m going to let you know if Netflix is “worth it.”
I’ve had the free-trial of Netflix on my radar since my poor college student days, but for some reason I’ve always found an excuse not to bite the bullet and test it out. Every time I magically found myself with enough free time to start streaming something online? Wow, it is finals week – or 3 A.M., or four hours until my paper is due – this is a terrible decision. Seriously, how I didn’t get a gold star for will power when I graduated is beyond me.
Other competing streaming services have also kept me from Netflix as of yet. Hulu offered a lot of past Hell’s Kitchen episodes for free and I will literally watch everything Gordon Ramsay is in, so naturally I’ve seen every season. My parents also pay for Comcast Xfinity and a few of the premium cable channels, including HBO, Starz, Showtime, and Encore. So the summer before my senior year of college, when I was stuck on campus alone interning and working a job, I spent a lot of time binge-watching Hell’s Kitchen and True Blood. Understandably, this combination was some tough competition for Netflix.
However, with the release of Arrested Development’s long-awaited fourth season being exclusive to Netflix and the success of other Netflix-only shows like House of Cards, which I’ve heard nothing but good things about, it might just be time to bite the bullet and test out this streaming service. I’ve signed up today, June 1, 2013, and I have until July 1, 2013 to cancel my subscription without being charged. Here’s what I’m planning for this month.
I would love to binge watch a lot of different series, like Breaking Bad and Battlestar Galactica, that I don’t have access to anywhere else without paying or resorting to illegal methods. I’m going to check out the Netflix exclusive series like Arrested Development and House of Cards. There’s going to be a formula that measures my time versus money versus enjoyment over the course of the month and I’ll be writing some throwback reviews for shows and movies I’ve never seen before. I’m going to try my best to get the most bang for my buck out of this free trial, so keep your eyes peeled for updates throughout the month.
I’m also kidding about that formula stuff – I’m terrible at math. There is going to be a quiz at the end though. And if you’ve got any suggestions I’d love to hear them! Already have Netflix? Love it? Hate it? Let me know!
English