TV Tuesday: Dropping Shows

[yourlibrarian]

This article from 2022 talks about how much content we now have.

"The number of available series on broadcast, cable and streaming has increased every year since 2008 save for 2020’s pandemic-impacted production slowdown, with 2021 setting a new record of 1,923 series. Streaming now accounts for over half (51.5%) of all original series in the U.S., a monumental jump from the 12.9% share in 2016."

Even if the number of new shows dropped since 2021, that's still a LOT of new shows. How often do you finish a series?

Poll #29840 Dropping Shows

Open to: Registered Users, detailed results viewable to: All, participants: 30

View Respondents

How many of these are true for you?

View Answers

I usually finish any show I've watched a season of
12 (40.0%)

I will give up on a show no matter how much I've watched of it
24 (80.0%)

I watch a lot of shows only in bits or individual episodes
7 (23.3%)

Finishing a show depends a lot on whether I have continuous access to it
17 (56.7%)

Which one of these MOST applies to your viewing?

View Answers

I usually finish any show I've watched a season of
6 (20.0%)

I will give up on a show no matter how much I've watched of it
14 (46.7%)

I watch a lot of shows only in bits or individual episodes
1 (3.3%)

Finishing a show depends a lot on whether I have continuous access to it
9 (30.0%)

Which one of these MOST applies to your viewing in the past 5 years?

View Answers

I rewatch a lot of shows
11 (36.7%)

I hardly ever rewatch anything
18 (60.0%)

Most of my viewing is rewatches
1 (3.3%)

How many shows does it often take to keep you watching?

View Answers

I will give a show one episode to grab me
5 (16.7%)

I will give a show 2-5 episodes to grab me
19 (63.3%)

I will give a show a whole season to grab me
6 (20.0%)

Which of these applies to your viewing?

View Answers

I will stop watching if a show changes substantially in tone from its first season
6 (20.0%)

I will stop watching if a show changes substantially in cast from its first season
8 (26.7%)

I will stop watching if a show changes substantially in premise from its first season
7 (23.3%)

I will stop watching if a show does not deliver on the storyline it began with
10 (33.3%)

I don't mind a lot of changes as long as I still like the show
25 (83.3%)

Comments

[jo]

I am increasingly short of patience with new shows. I will try to watch at least a couple of episodes, but also have zero qualms about not even making it through the first episode if I'm just not feeling it. I remember back when Black Sails started, it took me 2 or 3 attempts before I made it through the first season (which I think most will admit is a bit of a slog). I doubt I would do that today. I also used to pretty much stick with a show to the bitter end, no matter how bad the seasons got. Not anymore. There's just too much good stuff out there to waste time with something that's just not working for me.

[yourlibrarian]

I've found much the same. A lot for me depends on how well regarded it is, either critically or by someone I know. I also have no compunction about forwarding through stuff that doesn't interest me. I did a lot of this recently with Severance, though I finished the season.

I find that even if I gave up on a show a while ago, provided I watched several seasons I am still curious to know how it ends. That's all that got me to watch the endings of SPN and The Good Fight.

Out of curiosity, did you ever watch the rest of Black Sails?

[feurioo]

How did you like TGF's ending? Never finished it (and probably never will) but I always wondered if it was satisfying re: Diane.

[yourlibrarian]

I would have to say that with both shows the endings simply proved I was right about giving up on the shows. I would say Diane's decisions were not clearly resolved.

[shadowkat]

Thank you, that's good to know. I made it through one season of TGF and I'm not going to get through the rest...I was mainly watching for Diane.

[jo]

Oh yes, I totally devoured the rest of Black Sails. It just took me several tries to make beyond the first 2-3 episodes. There are shows I've given up on, but haven't even bothered to google how they ended. The Walking Dead is one of them. I watched the first 8 seasons, but nothing after that. Gave up on Manifest once it moved to Netflix.

I find now that any show I hear about/read about that sounds like it might interest me, I try to find out as much about it as I can -- reviews, news stories, etc. But even then, there are a number of critically acclaimed shows that I've just not been able to get into at all, e.g. Succession, The Bear, Reservation Dogs, to name a few recent ones.

And then there are shows that just sound so horrible to me that I don't even attempt to watch even for 5 minutes. Sex and the City is one of those.

[yourlibrarian]

I've had that same response to a few shows -- ended up enjoying it but didn't take to it at first.

Funny, I found the same about Succession and Reservation Dogs. I never even tried out The Bear as I didn't think I really wanted to spend time on it.

Your comment about Manifest reminded me that I only watched it because it was on Netflix! I'd missed too much of it by the time that happened 🙂

However it points out what I'd call a reverse aspect of my streaming on and off practice. And that's that I start to explore stuff I previously didn't bother trying out, exactly because I have time before the subscription runs out to watch other things.

[shadowkat]

I had the same problem with Black Sails - I think I made it through the first season but lost track of it, and didn't get through the rest. And it took 2-3 attempts to do that. And I admittedly don't do that any more...either. If it doesn't work for me - I will usually give up, unless it works as background noise or I get curious.