TV Tuesday: Getting Into It

[yourlibrarian]

When you are asked for show recommendations, do you find that you tend to recommend watching chronologically or do you pick the best episodes to tempt them? Does it make a difference which show or genre it is?

Comments

[china_shop]

I don't think there's anything I'd recommend individual episodes of, but there are some shows that shift tone after the first episode or season, where I'd advise skipping ahead. For example, the first season of Parks & Recreation is a much harder sell than season 2, imo; and I hated the pilot of Firefly (the way everyone treated Simon) and would have bounced hard off the show if we'd started with that.

For other shows I can think of with stand-out episodes, the episodes often work based on familiarity with the canon generally. Bojack Horseman's "Fish Out of Water" is one example.

(Of course, as soon as I post this, I'll think of half a dozen counter examples. ;-)

[yourlibrarian]

Oh that's interesting to hear about Parks and Rec! It's such a beloved show for so many but I watched the first 2 or 3 episodes and I just found it ok. I still have it in my watchlist to give it another try but I think I'll go straight into S2 next time.

Yes, some of Buffy's most lauded episodes, like the musical, really work better if you'd seen the previous season at least, and are already familiar with the characters.

[china_shop]

Yeah, season 1 of P&R is very awkward, and IIRC Leslie is kind of incompetent? It flips over to make her annoyingly competent and give her more wins, which works much better for me. Also, the team coheres better from season 2 on. (I'm saying this with confidence, but I haven't watched in over a decade, so...)

Yes, some of Buffy's most lauded episodes, like the musical, really work better if you'd seen the previous season at least, and are already familiar with the characters.

Yeah, the narrative weight of the season arcs adds so much, too. (Aww, your icon!)