Revenge storylines, while high stakes and adrenaline-firing, also offer an intense form of catharsis, and it’s this dual purpose which makes for addictive, lose-a-weekend-to-the-binge viewing.

Marnie Dickens, writer, creator and executive producer of Prime Video’s Wilderness, identifies the sucker-punch plot line that kickstarts antiheroine Liv’s fiery determination to take her revenge.

“We meet our heroine, Liv, as she’s been lied to over and over by the man she loves,” Dickens tells Deadline.

“That gut-punch on discovery, the trail of paranoia and suspicion it leaves behind and the difficulty of trusting again [is] enough to tip anyone over the edge.”

Because, let’s be honest, we’ve all given in to our primal instincts and daydreamed about a highly specific multi-step plan for getting back at an ex at some point in our lives.

“Revenge storylines start with a relatable narrative hook that allows us to play out our own vengeance fantasies without consequence,” says lecturer at the University of Westminster and sexologist, Chantal Gautier.

“These gripping storylines provide us with a guilt-free outlet to envision revenge scenarios and explore fantasies without real-world repercussions.

“The relatability provides us with a channel to blow off steam in a safe and secure way.”

For psychologist, psychotherapist and coach Nova Cobban, revenge storylines allow us to explore our shadow selves - the dramatisation of thoughts or emotions we have felt but not acted upon - and this results in emotional catharsis.

“We can watch from afar as a character has thoughts that we have had, too, even if we might not admit it,” she says.

“Being able to explore our shadow selves throughout a fictional character’s journey - and staying safe while we do so - makes for fascinating viewing that has us hooked.”

Because that’s just it. Revenge storylines serve the perfect mix of functions, offering pacy entertainment and pure escapism, along with buckets of emotional catharsis.

Whether you’re looking for light entertainment or to release pent-up emotion, whatever the mood there’s a revenge series that’ll hit the spot.

And you know it’ll make for one satisfying watch, because chaos will inevitably ensue as soon as the scheming and plotting begins. Pass the popcorn already.

A dish best served cold - why revenge storylines are our current TV obsession​

A dish best served cold - why revenge storylines are our current TV obsession