When you first think of college, your mind might go to raging parties, all-night library sessions, or weekend benders. But some of the most meaningful parts of college are found in the quieter rituals we rarely talk about. I live with five other girls who are also some of my closest friends, and as much as I love a dayge, date party, or quarterly, some of my favorite memories have been made right on our couch, watching TV together. Here’s why I think sharing a couch with friends might be one of the most underrated parts of college life.
The Beauty of a Shared Routine
Isla Vista, as you may know, is a bustling college town, constantly filled with students coming and going from campus, each with their own schedule. Even though my roommates and I live together, we each have responsibilities that shape our lives. Whether it’s serving on a sorority executive board, navigating a complicated “situationship,” or clocking in for a part-time job, every college girl faces stressful daily tasks. I find it the most comforting and exciting to come home to a full house after a busy day.
There’s no better feeling than seeing my roommates on the couch ready to start a new episode of whatever show, spanning from Euphoria to Company Retreat. Even though we all live together, it’s important to make time for an intentional connection. And I know my house is not the only one that feels this way. College schedules pull us in different directions, so the moments when everyone is finally in the same room feel even more special.
A Low-Pressure Ritual
Unlike finding the perfect dayge outfit or worrying about who you’ll run into on a night out, TV asks very little of us. Some nights, nobody formally plans it. One roommate turns on the TV, another appears with dinner, and before long the couch is full. My house loves nothing more than turning on the TV to decompress after a long day, pajamas encouraged.
Reality TV Actually Requires Intelligence
Of course, not every television show creates the same kind of atmosphere. In my house, reality TV reigns supreme. Despite its reputation as “mindless entertainment,” reality television actually demands more engagement than people give it credit for. My roommates and I are currently obsessed with Bravo’s Vanderpump Rules, which means predicting outcomes, reading personalities, debating intentions, and passionately defending our favorite cast members (somehow we are obsessed with Jax Taylor). Sometimes, our living room feels less like passive viewing and more like a full-on discussion. Reality TV invites participation, and maybe that is exactly why it brings people together so easily.
Downtime Is No Longer Isolation
In high school, I was never much of a binge watcher. My parents didn’t watch much TV, so in my free time I often turned to TikTok or Instagram Reels. In college, it’s tempting to lock yourself in your room after a long day and scroll for hours. However, I found that having roommates, a couch, and a TV became the perfect remedy. For me, decompressing now looks less like endless scrolling and more like reacting to cliffhangers and laughing alongside my roommates. TV gave my downtime a sense of community that social media rarely did.
Comedy Gold
One of my favorite parts of watching TV with my friends is the inside jokes that come with it. I don’t think I have ever laughed harder at some of the jokes and reactions spewed in our living room.
Right now our absolute newest obsession is Amazon Prime’s hit new show Off Campus, focusing on a college campus romance of star hockey player Garret Graham and love interest Hannah Wells. This show has seriously made us laugh like never before due to its incredibly corny, yet strangely endearing writing. Bring on the clichés (we love it).
Some of our most replayed and laughable TV moments include:
- Vanderpump Rules’ Tom and Ariana kissing at the Golden Nugget
- Bridgerton Season 4’s ongoing discussion of “The Pinnacle”
- And, honestly, pretty much any steamy scene in Off Campus that leaves the entire room either screaming, laughing, or both!
What we’re excited for next
One of the best parts of having shared shows is that the experience never really ends when an episode does. Right now, our house is fully locked in for what’s coming next. We are fully hyped for Love Island USA’s return starting on June 2nd!
So yes, maybe I am arguing that watching TV with your roommates deserves recognition as the most underrated “college experience.” Between Euphoria Sundays and Vanderpump Rules debates, I’ve realized some of the best parts of college aren’t always what we post on social media; sometimes it’s as simple as hanging out in your living room. In a world of packed schedules, it’s comforting to know you can still find your roommates piled onto the same couch at the end of the day! In fact, community isn’t always a grand event. Sometimes, it’s just a couch.