Bond over movies/shows at home

Legs up, stretched or curled, watching movies or shows with loved ones at home. In a world where spending time together for sheer fun is a luxury, bonding before the living-room screen is reconnecting with your tribe 'via media'.

This gathering around the totem pole of movies and shows is a primal exercise, not unlike what settling around a fire in a cave was for our ancestors. It encourages - nay, insists on - banter, camaraderie, happy yakety-yak over plotlines ('Oh. My. God. I did NOT see that coming!'), characters ('God, I    love to    hate him!'), and underlying themes ('They've really handled the horror of teenagehood well'), thereby fostering deeper connections. Laughter, gasps, squeals and tears become a collective experience.

The comfort of one's home enhances the pleasure. Snuggled on couches with familiar faces, this pleasure is safe, without the usual 'politeness' and social niceties expected when among 'outsiders'. The freedom to pause, rewind or rewatch scenes enhances the sense of democratic detail - 'Please go back and check out what she's wearing!' These are petit holidays where we and our loved ones 'go out' far and wide, all the while staying in.