I think there's a danger to giving up on a show with promise too quickly. Here is where I use the obligatory example of Star Trek The Next Generation, whose first two seasons aren't just mostly forgettable, they're mostly terrible (save for a few bright lights like "The Measure of a Man"). The writing was dictated by Roddenberry, and most of it was utopian nonsense. In the 3rd season, due to poor health, Roddenberry was forced to step away and other voices came to the fore. Voices like Ronald D. Moore. Not only was the writing so much better, but they got rid of the ridiculous spandex unitards, too.
However, there is also a danger for sticking it out with a show that you like that takes some time to click with other viewers. The danger there is it may start out beloved, but then become a smash hit that has to stretch out its run about 3 seasons too long and then finish with the absolute worst series finale in the history of television that retroactively makes you hate the entire show, making it impossible for you to go back and watch reruns of the early seasons that were so good, and rueing the day you spent a single minute of your life devoted to such a show that could leave you crushed and bereft in this way. Yes, I'm speaking of How I Met Your Mother.
You're stuck between a rock and a hard place; damned if you do, damned if you don't. I can recommend Star Trek Picard, which seems to be extremely promising in the early-going, unlike Discovery or Short Treks, which were mostly terrible. Stewart's deft hand is felt in that show, which feels like Star Trek, even if it's more a DS9, no humanity is not perfect, vibe. The other show and the shorts feel very much like they're written by people under the age of 30 who have no idea how good Star Trek can be.
There's so much these days I can't even keep up. I used to be able to juggle multiple shows at once but now I really can't. I can kinda keep up on sitcoms these days, like Superstore and Brooklyn 99 and Blackish. But I can't do dramas more than one at a time. Mainly bc of how much time I got in a day. And I also would rather watch an hourlong drama on my TV at home with the 4K going full force, where I'm cool with watching a sitcom on my iPad on the train to work. So I'm slowly working my way through the witcher right now. What's after that, who knows. And I'm working through Clone Wars at night before bed. At this point, there's so much and no need to keep up for conversation's sake that I'm good with just taking my time with everything.
These days, I tend to give a new show two episodes. I understand that is often not enough time for an adequate estimation of possibility. And if I hear somewhere down the line that ‘it gets great later’ or something to that effect, I’m always happy to try again later. But we’re all so spoiled for choice in this era of entertainment that I feel like that’s enough for a first look. If there isn’t enough there to hook me after an equivalent time investment of the average full length movie, I’m perfectly at peace with letting it go. As it is, I don’t have near enough time to watch everything I want anyway.
I'm probably the worst person to comment on this, considering I couldn't even get 5 minutes into the first episode of Community when it originally aired, but stuck with the first (and only) season of Alcatraz. Hey, we all make mistakes and move on, right? Well, I also stayed with True Detective Season 2 and that's a stain I'll never be able to wash out.
Looking back, I feel like Better Call Saul took a little bit to come together, but I held in there because I loved the characters and writing, and that show has only grown stronger and richer with each season. I was expecting Servant to be a real mess and instead immediately loving it.
When I'm starting a new series, I go with my gut and if there isn't enough to keep me hanging on week-to-week, or to press "play next episode", I tap out and rarely go back. Daredevil on Netflix and the first season of Fargo were exceptions where I watched the first ep, left it for a month to let it all settle in, then returned to them and never regretted it.
Sticking with it because of the pedigree and because I really like some of the cast. Given that I got Apple TV+ with my phone for free, it’s low risk, but I wouldn’t be paying for it. Maybe it’s just a matter of getting their sea legs. Netflix has a relatively slow start with originals as well and Apple can certainly afford to experiment.
Probably the biggest issue with media today. With soooo many games, books, movies and shows there is not enough time to watch all of the things that you absolutely love and want to let alone find the time to sit and let a show grow and develop. It is rare that I am able to find the time to do this now. It puts more pressure on other peoples voices as you wait for a season to end, read the reviews and then decide whether it gets a shot. I am still trying to go back to Halt and Catch Fire which I stopped after 3 eps but then heard turned into a brilliant show.
I think there's a danger to giving up on a show with promise too quickly. Here is where I use the obligatory example of Star Trek The Next Generation, whose first two seasons aren't just mostly forgettable, they're mostly terrible (save for a few bright lights like "The Measure of a Man"). The writing was dictated by Roddenberry, and most of it was utopian nonsense. In the 3rd season, due to poor health, Roddenberry was forced to step away and other voices came to the fore. Voices like Ronald D. Moore. Not only was the writing so much better, but they got rid of the ridiculous spandex unitards, too.
However, there is also a danger for sticking it out with a show that you like that takes some time to click with other viewers. The danger there is it may start out beloved, but then become a smash hit that has to stretch out its run about 3 seasons too long and then finish with the absolute worst series finale in the history of television that retroactively makes you hate the entire show, making it impossible for you to go back and watch reruns of the early seasons that were so good, and rueing the day you spent a single minute of your life devoted to such a show that could leave you crushed and bereft in this way. Yes, I'm speaking of How I Met Your Mother.
You're stuck between a rock and a hard place; damned if you do, damned if you don't. I can recommend Star Trek Picard, which seems to be extremely promising in the early-going, unlike Discovery or Short Treks, which were mostly terrible. Stewart's deft hand is felt in that show, which feels like Star Trek, even if it's more a DS9, no humanity is not perfect, vibe. The other show and the shorts feel very much like they're written by people under the age of 30 who have no idea how good Star Trek can be.
There's so much these days I can't even keep up. I used to be able to juggle multiple shows at once but now I really can't. I can kinda keep up on sitcoms these days, like Superstore and Brooklyn 99 and Blackish. But I can't do dramas more than one at a time. Mainly bc of how much time I got in a day. And I also would rather watch an hourlong drama on my TV at home with the 4K going full force, where I'm cool with watching a sitcom on my iPad on the train to work. So I'm slowly working my way through the witcher right now. What's after that, who knows. And I'm working through Clone Wars at night before bed. At this point, there's so much and no need to keep up for conversation's sake that I'm good with just taking my time with everything.
These days, I tend to give a new show two episodes. I understand that is often not enough time for an adequate estimation of possibility. And if I hear somewhere down the line that ‘it gets great later’ or something to that effect, I’m always happy to try again later. But we’re all so spoiled for choice in this era of entertainment that I feel like that’s enough for a first look. If there isn’t enough there to hook me after an equivalent time investment of the average full length movie, I’m perfectly at peace with letting it go. As it is, I don’t have near enough time to watch everything I want anyway.
I'm probably the worst person to comment on this, considering I couldn't even get 5 minutes into the first episode of Community when it originally aired, but stuck with the first (and only) season of Alcatraz. Hey, we all make mistakes and move on, right? Well, I also stayed with True Detective Season 2 and that's a stain I'll never be able to wash out.
Looking back, I feel like Better Call Saul took a little bit to come together, but I held in there because I loved the characters and writing, and that show has only grown stronger and richer with each season. I was expecting Servant to be a real mess and instead immediately loving it.
When I'm starting a new series, I go with my gut and if there isn't enough to keep me hanging on week-to-week, or to press "play next episode", I tap out and rarely go back. Daredevil on Netflix and the first season of Fargo were exceptions where I watched the first ep, left it for a month to let it all settle in, then returned to them and never regretted it.
I’m with you on Mythic Quest. I’m
Sticking with it because of the pedigree and because I really like some of the cast. Given that I got Apple TV+ with my phone for free, it’s low risk, but I wouldn’t be paying for it. Maybe it’s just a matter of getting their sea legs. Netflix has a relatively slow start with originals as well and Apple can certainly afford to experiment.
Probably the biggest issue with media today. With soooo many games, books, movies and shows there is not enough time to watch all of the things that you absolutely love and want to let alone find the time to sit and let a show grow and develop. It is rare that I am able to find the time to do this now. It puts more pressure on other peoples voices as you wait for a season to end, read the reviews and then decide whether it gets a shot. I am still trying to go back to Halt and Catch Fire which I stopped after 3 eps but then heard turned into a brilliant show.
I 100 percent thought this was going to be about The Witcher. A Season "witch" I finished. But...