Just finished binge-watching a great show? Here are 7 ways to help you overcome post-series blues

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Feel a gaping hole in your heart after having finished that impeccable series? Here are some tips to help you overcome the inevitable void that follows

Just like all good things, all great television shows, too, must come to an end. We all have those pangs of stress around the last few episodes of our current favourite TV show, about the junction where there will be no “Next Episode” button to click. For many hours, days, and weeks, we invest ourselves in the plot, characters, and the world of the show, only to realise that it—after all—exists inside a screen. And if it’s a truly captivating show, the reality can be as jarring and disorienting as a romantic separation. Winter really came for Game of Thrones fans when the eight-part saga ended, and they flooded Twitter with memes of existential angst. Yes, you can break up with fictional characters and yes, post-series blues are real and valid.

Luckily, there is more than one way to cope with the ensuing listlessness. From joining online communities to finding similar content, here are all the ways in which you can keep post-binge withdrawals at bay.

1.Watch all the accompanying content around the show

Becoming a virtuoso on the show can often help you gain closure from it. We’re talking interviews, behind-the-scenes, bloopers, cast reunions, memes and more. The digital world is endless, and if you’re willing to dig a little deeper, there are high chances you will stumble across related content that fulfils you in the same way that the show did. This may also help spam your brain with the show till it can take no more, eventually causing you to willingly step away from your screen.

2. Join a Reddit community

Anyone who’s dealt with post-series blues will know the itch of discussing your obsession with your friends. Enter Reddit—a digital platform that hosts communities for people with similar interests. The scope of the site is vast, with many sub-communities existing even within a single television show. It doesn’t matter if your interests are mainstream or niche, Reddit will indulge you with fan theories, interpretations, reviews, and memes for practically all kinds of genres.

3. Find a similar show to watch

Now’s probably a great time to do some introspection and identify what really moved you about the show. Is it something about that particular genre that interests you? Do you gravitate towards character-driven series? Is it the way the show has been directed? This exercise can be your guiding light for the looming question that’s bound to follow—what to watch next.

4. Read fanfiction around the show

Did you know that over the last 20 years, more than 60 billion words of fanfiction have been written and posted on Fanfiction.net, the world’s most extensive reservoir for that genre of content? Whatever it is that you’re fanatical about, there’s a range of spin-off literature created by ardent followers that exists around it. Apart from Fanfiction.net, some popular sites you might want to check out are Commaful, Archive of Our Own (AO3), Tumblr, and Wattpad.

5. Watch shows and movies of the same cast

Sometimes, it’s the characters of a show that you get attached to, and more often than not, you’ll find that actors have a penchant for certain genres. So if you haven’t gotten enough of Lena Heady as Cersei, you’ll be pleased to know that the actor has starred in several other historical fiction works including both the instalments of 300, The Brothers Grimm, and more. Watching your favourite actors in different contexts can give you the reassurance that there’s an ocean of arresting content out there that awaits you.

6. Schedule a rerun

When it comes to the evergreen light comedies like Friends, The Big Bang Theory, or The Office, there is no such thing as too many reruns. For more immersive undertakings, timing is key. You might be in need of an escape, craving comfort and stability (hello COVID-19!), looking to understand the show at a deeper level, or simply looking for something mindless. All of these more than valid occasions to press replay on that all-time favourite series of yours. Don’t cave into the need for exploring the limitless world of Netflix when you’re not emotionally ready for it.

7. Keep the legacy alive

Use reverse psychology, lie, or emotionally blackmail your friends, family, or your SO if you have to, but get them to watch that show you’re obsessing over. If they’re anything like you, chances are they’ll thank you for it. Not only have you now recruited companions to relate your emotional journey, but you’ve also successfully contributed to the legacy of this deserving show.

This article originally appeared on Vogue.in