Life goes by fast, but it takes a special moment to realize it, and for me, that moment was seeing the Looney Tunes’ Coyote finally catch up to the Road Runner, Acme, in the film Coyote vs. Acme.
Seeing the 77-year-old chase come to an end made me pause and reflect, asking myself, “What am I doing with my life?’
Many viewers become attached to the iconic storylines they see on TV, from Ross and Rachel in Friends to John Cena’s historical farewell tour on WWE. Decade-long narratives grab viewers’ attention and hold it until the very end, but what compels us to pause and reflect when the credits roll?
Research shows that viewers develop parasocial relationships with fictional characters or internet personalities because their content is so easily accessible. When viewers feel alone, they can press play on their favorite TV show or song to feel connected, triggering a dopamine rush that sparks enthusiasm and makes them crave more content. When the storylines we invest our time and emotion in end, we can experience what researchers call Post-Series Depression (PSD).
PSD extends beyond television. Concert-goers have a similar experience widely referred to as Post-Concert Depression. Experts explain that no matter what we grow attached to, the higher the dopamine rush, the harder we fall, but that doesn’t mean we will never recover, even if it feels that way.
My concert-loving friend received a mass email sent by Harry Styles’s team with a statement from Harry that read, “Being an artist is the only life I’ve ever known really, I have been doing this since I was 16 years old, and I feel like the luckiest person in the world to still be sharing these moments with you.” The quote nearly brought my friend to tears.
“It just made me think about how quickly things change in my life, and how I never know when it’s going to be my last time doing something that I love, like seeing Harry in concert,” she said. “He’s been doing it for 16 years, and that’s all he’s ever known, and that’s exactly how I feel.”
When the one constant in our life suddenly disappears from every solemn night and upbeat morning, it forces us to recognize how little we know about what lies outside our comfort zone. While a future without a routine check-in with our favorite celebrity may be daunting, it dares us to rely on ourselves more than ever, strengthening our resilience and self-trust.
However, the beauty is that where there is uncertainty, there is also opportunity. We may not be ready to say goodbye to our favorite parasocial relationship or watch our favorite character’s story come to an end, but we must remember their chapter is only a small part of the novel of life we write for ourselves. Maybe the ending to their story is just what we needed to write our own.