I wasted my morning clicking Binge's Surprise Me button

Recently I’ve been playing around with the Surprise Me button on Australia’s latest streaming service Binge. It’s a fun feature that just scrolls through and picks a show or movie at random from the catalogue. 

The thing is that there’s a lot to watch on the platform - like A LOT. For the most part the Surprises are content that I haven’t seen or heard or before. It almost feels like channel surfing, just clicking through until I land on something that can tame my interest in less than 5 seconds.

So in that vein, I’m going to be reviewing the first 5 seconds of my next five Surprise clicks. Enjoy.

If you'd prefer a more curated compilation, check out the best movies and best TV shows on Binge.

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Click 1: Blink (S1, Ep1)

5 second review: The still loading shot is of a serious looking cop? I think. Some downtrodden, Law and Orderesque music plays as a red sun sets over a silhouetted cityscape.

As a huge fan of Brooklyn 99, I tend to be attracted to cop shows even if it’s just to compare them to Peralta and the gang.

Snap rating: - Would probably watch

Click 2: Vikings vs, Byzantines (S1, Ep1)

5 second review: Immediately there are two people, in full suits of armour fighting. On screen text reads “The following features expert fighters competing in skilled violent combat,” all while the clang of swords and axes against steel ricochet in the background.

I’m hooked.

Snap rating: - This exists? YES!

Click 3: The Sale (S2, Ep1)

5 second review: Okay we’re coming in at season 2 here, so i’m concerned that I may not have enough context to just jump in. Upbeat British 70s pop plays against an animated sky, seagulls gliding through golden tinted clouds while our featured cast names scroll across the screen. John Cleese is among them.

Always a fan of British TV, especially featuring John Cleese so I’d give this one a go.

Snap rating: - Didn't have me until I saw Mr Cleese's name, touch and go.

Click 4: As You Like It

5 second review: This is the first film to appear and it doesn’t do itself any favours. The first 5 seconds are simply the HBO logo. Don’t get me wrong, I love HBO as much as the next person but not enough to commit to two hours based only on those three letters.

Snap rating: - Thank you, next.

Click 5: Hopalong Rick (S1, Ep1)

5 second review: This is HGTV vibes coursing through the opening sequence. Judging from the retro car and the quick flash of three burly men standing around a rusted hunk of junk, it looks like we’ve got a reno or a restoration on our hands.

Shows like this are another guilty pleasure of mine so I’m in.

Snap rating: - I wonder what’s under all that rust…

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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