One of the best things about the widespread availability of streaming services today is how easy it is to access entertainment. In the not-so-distant past of the mid-2000s, trying to watch a show on your own schedule was like embarking on a quest that required expert-level Google skills just to find a low-quality video.
Finding cartoons and anime was a bit easier, probably because fans in those communities were more tech-savvy. However, dedicated sites for these genres were scarce. Watching a single episode of a current anime series meant waiting days or even weeks for subtitles to be added to the video, which was often split into multiple parts scattered across obscure websites.
Watching live-action shows was even trickier. If you wanted to catch a show airing on US TV, you had to be in front of your TV at the exact time. Missing it meant waiting for a rerun, or you simply missed out. This rigid airing schedule is something many of us are glad to have left behind with basic cable.
Despite some valid concerns about the saturation of streaming services today, it’s undeniably convenient to have a vast library of content available on our own timetable. I don’t even mind watching ads on platforms like Hulu because I can pause the show, use the restroom, and return without missing a beat. Those frantic commercial breaks are something I definitely don’t miss.
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