Is your brain stuck thinking, Which last episode did you watch? We’ve all experienced it—looking forward to watching shows but can’t recall where you left off the last time you watched it. Binge-watching a compelling drama, rewatching a beloved sitcom, or catching up on a suspenseful anime—it can be infuriating to forget where you left off. But don’t worry! Well, we have just the solutions you need to never lose your position again.
Why do we forget what episode we are on?
Readers, you’d be surprised: more than one of you gaggles has slipped up and simply forgotten what episode you were on. Here are some of the key reasons behind it:
- Binge-watching fatigue—If you watch so many episodes in one sitting, they may blend into one another.
- Long breaks between viewing—If you take days or weeks off from a show, it can be hard to remember where you left off.
- Different devices—You could be streaming on various platforms or devices, which can lead to some confusion on what you actually watched and where you left off.
- Repetitious episode formats—Some series have such similar structures in each episode that the episodes all start to feel the same.
But fear not; there are a handful of strategies and tools that will keep you organized and ensure you never lose your place again!
Best Ways to Track Your Episodes
1. Utilize Watch Histories on Streaming Platforms
You have to take the time to create your account for tracking on all services, while most streaming services do the tracking automatically for you. Here’s how you can use them:
- Netflix: Look in your “Continue Watching” row, or go to “Viewing History” from account settings.
- Hulu: Displays the last watched episode in the Keep Watching section.
- Amazon Prime Video: Check the ”Watch History” to find the most recently watched episode.
- Disney+ & HBO Max: Offer resume features that allow you to pick up where you left off.
If resetting or you can’t count the watch history, then there’s no need to panic; we have more ways for you.
2. Keep a Manual Watchlist
If you want the low-tech version, you can always keep a paper diary. Here’s how:
- Notepad—Write down the name of the show and the episode you finished watching.
- Spreadsheets—Google Sheets or Excel keep track of many different shows all at once.
- Sticky Notes or Whiteboards—Ideal for fast updates (great for a multi-purpose family TV)
3. Get an app for tracking TV shows.
If you watch several shows, a single-purpose TV series tracker app can simplify things somewhat. Here are the best ones:
- TV Time—Progress tracker, reminder system, connects you with other fans.
- Trakt.tv—Syncs with streaming services and provides in-depth tracking capabilities.
- Hobi—A simple tracker that notifies you of new episodes.
- SeriesGuide—Best for Android users who prefer offline tracking capabilities.
Saves your place as you watch, so you never lose your spot again.
4. MyTVShows—The Best Show Tracking App For You
For those searching for a complete tool to track your TV shows, look no further than My TV Shows. It allows you to:
- Tracking Watched Episodes—Monitor what you have seen and what you have left to watch.
- Never miss an update on your show—get notified about new episodes.
- Discovering and evaluating series and episodes—give feedback and compare to other programs.
- List TV Shows—Have your friends, family, and community see what you are watching.
MyTVShows keeps track of your episodes in an organized fashion and helps you keep the binge-watching going!
Credits
- Development and web design: Ivo Gomes
- Before (left) and after (right): Hoc Vu & Jack
- Logo design: Quodis
Special Thanks & Sponsors
- TheMovieDB (API)
- FreeTools (Filter API)
- Vercel (App Hosting)
- LenosTube (Video Partner)
- YouTube (Trailer Source)
5. Use Smart Assistants & Reminders
Engage in tracking via smart technology to keep you aligned:
- Say to Alexa or Google Assistant, “What was the last episode in [show name] that I watched?”
- Use Your Phone Alerts—Create an event title with the show or episode number.
- Leverage Calendar Apps—Plan when to watch next and the episode number.
6. Add Episodes to Browser Bookmarks
If you’re watching through a web browser, bookmark where you left off with whatever episode you were watching last. You can:
- Make a folder for your favorite shows.
- Add the season and episode number to bookmarks (i.e., Breaking Bad S3E5).
- You can also use a browser extension called Session Buddy to get back the pages you visited earlier.
7. Use social media and community platforms.
Numerous fans participate in the shows on Reddit, Twitter, or, a place I will not thank, Facebook groups. Here are a few ways to utilize these platforms:
- Share the last episode you watched via post or comment.
- Join fans and get a recap of every episode.
- Search for hashtags such as #EpisodeTracker to know the hype and take part in discussions, etc.
8. Enable Viewing History on Streaming Services
If you share a streaming account, make sure you have viewing history tracking enabled in settings. For streaming services such as Netflix, you can also create different profiles so as to manage who is up to what.
Bonus Tip: Mark Episodes on IMDb or Wikipedia
TV series have comprehensive episode lists on IMDb and Wikipedia. You can:
- Mark episodes that you have watched on your IMDb profile.
- Use Wikipedia to jog your memory about where you stopped with previously aired episodes.
- For this, you should refer to reviews written by regular users to remind you of what happened.
Final Thoughts
It is truly frustrating to lose track of your episodes, but recovering from this can be really easy with these simple solutions you can look at regarding how to keep up with your favorite shows in no time. However you track your watch history, whether by streaming service history, an app devoted to keeping track, or pencil and paper, there is an option for all types of viewers.
So this next time you settle in for a binge, try one of these tricks and never ask, “What episode was I on? again!