Sometimes it's both. You can start watching any show, and to hook you, it has to have some element that you want to see explored further. Maybe it's a character that speaks to you, or that you can relate to. And once they've got you with that, you'll keep tuning in. But then, those stories have to be quality or else you're alienated. It's a tough situation to get through.
Right. After that initial hook, does it keep satisfying. All the pieces can be in place but it doesn't "take."
It really isn't about the show's quality (production values) to me much anymore, assuming that baseline. If the person next to me likes a show and I don't like that one, but I like this other show, chances are both shows have different strengths and weaknesses. It's so very subjective. Kind of like music.
There are objective standards of quality, but I'm not sure those are as important as they seem, in terms of what makes people care about characters.
If only I could share my ability to multi-fangirl. Course I don't spend much time with the fanfic, so that probably gives me more time for the actual watching. But I so feel you about less popular shows. I mean I was an anime fan before it was cool. I really hate that most of the shows I really love are always on the brink of being canceled. VM and Supernatural both have spotty rating (though given it's the CW I don't really have any worry about Supernatural). And god, back when B5 was first airing it was a constant source of worry that the plug would be pulled before we got all 5 seasons (as the show was deliberately finite). As it was it took TNT picking the show up to give it it's last season (of course then they screwed over Crusade...). Oh and of course I recently got into Danny Phantom only to find out that this upcoming season will apparently be it's last. This is getting to the point that I was actually deeply relieved when I got into Avatar that it's a very popular show for Nick, I don't need any more shows getting canceled
( ... )
Why can't I ever fall for a show that's not in danger of being cancelled, or safely on the bubble? Maybe I fall for stuff because it's on the fringe? That this is part of the attraction?
But I loved the x-files and that was popular. Not at first, but I still loved it when it started making magazine covers and suchlike. But maybe liking it when it was truly "cult" got me in. That happened to me with Buffy too.
Or, on the other hand, top 20 shows happen to be a style that's not my cup of tea. I don't *avoid* them because they're popular, though. I try to judge based on the show's own merits.
All this is because I felt like I needed an apologia for not keeping up with the Joneses. Kind of silly, I guess, except not, when you consider who my friends are. :)
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It really isn't about the show's quality (production values) to me much anymore, assuming that baseline. If the person next to me likes a show and I don't like that one, but I like this other show, chances are both shows have different strengths and weaknesses. It's so very subjective. Kind of like music.
There are objective standards of quality, but I'm not sure those are as important as they seem, in terms of what makes people care about characters.
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But I loved the x-files and that was popular. Not at first, but I still loved it when it started making magazine covers and suchlike. But maybe liking it when it was truly "cult" got me in. That happened to me with Buffy too.
Or, on the other hand, top 20 shows happen to be a style that's not my cup of tea. I don't *avoid* them because they're popular, though. I try to judge based on the show's own merits.
All this is because I felt like I needed an apologia for not keeping up with the Joneses. Kind of silly, I guess, except not, when you consider who my friends are. :)
and I still watch ridiculous amounts of TV!
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