Serial watching is serious business.
Just ask my Ma.
It needs
multi-tasking (switching between channels and also doing other work at the same time),
time-management (between the same),
dexterity (with the remote),
hand-eye co-ordination (knitting and watching TV simultaneously),
an understanding of melodrama and human psychology (rightly guessing who will do what next, and also guessing what had happened in case she misses one/more episodes),
and, of course, an elephantine memory.
My Ma manages efficiently to keep abreast of all the prime-time serials in all the channels. And her 'Prime-time' extends from 7 p.m to midnight. And she manages to simultaneously cook uo delicious fish-curries for us.
When I asked her what was the secret behind her being such a SUPER SUCCESSFUL SERIAL-WATCHER, she placidly said:
"Ad breaks help a lot. When ads come on Star Plus, just switch to Zee. Then to Imagine. Then to Colors...
And, if you miss out for some reason, watch the rerun very late at night or next afternoon."
WOW!!! At least, serial-watching has a well-planned technique. Unfortunately, the never-ending serials themselves do not seem to have any such science or strategy.
