Is it possible to watch a show from the beginning and love it all the way through?

[morganlucas41]

Written for month_of_meta's Meta Month of March challenge.

I came to most of my fandoms pretty late in the game - either after they were over completely, or after they’d been on for a few seasons. The few shows I try to watch from the beginning either get cancelled, or I end up abandoning for various reasons. Moreover, I’ve seen a pretty near-universal disdain

Comments

[jlvsclrk]

Excellent question! I have noticed in my fandom of choice (Smallville), particularly with my ship of choice (Clex), that many if not most of the early fans detest the later seasons, and some have even come to detest Clark because of the rift that developed between him and Lex. I've always had trouble understanding the divergence between the way we see various character interactions but now it makes a wee bit more sense. I came into the series as a hybrid viewer (not to mention a Superman fan from way back) so I always had an idea of the end game. And like you said, I tended to be more forgiving of the shows episode to episode hiccups because I had some faith that matters would be resolved satisfactory (a faith shattered in the hideous S8 finale and redeemed in the S9 finale). So like you, I tend to think the hybrid approach works best

[morganlucas41]

Thanks! I've heard a lot of good things about Smallville and it's definitely on my list of shows to eventually watch...though the ten seasons are daunting, lol. It's interesting that that show does have fans that loved it all the way through. I still think that would be a GREAT experience that I'm hoping to have at some point.

They got to experience the early explosive phase of the fandom, while still retaining enough perspective to be able to enjoy the evolution of the show. Not sure if I'm capable of that kind of mental flexibility though.

Yeah - that is what I wonder, how you retain that perspective throughout watching a show. I envy the lucky fans that have found it ;)

[sgmajorshipper]

I absolutely love your meta. It's too true. I've experienced a lot of all three kinds, and I've been in fandom at various times for each. I don't think there is one "best" way to do things, though. I usually tend to wait for a show to finish airing before I get into it, but at the same time, some of the best experiences of my life have been in the fandoms of shows I watched in the hybrid way.

[morganlucas41]

Thank you! Yeah, I think it definitely varies from show to show. I guess the hybrid way makes sense because then, it's a show that has lasted a few seasons, and probably already has a decent fandom, if you've heard enough about the show to watch it. And it does have the best of both worlds. But you're probably right that there isn't a best way.

[x_varda_x]

Nice work! I'd never even thought about this before :)

[morganlucas41]

Thanks for reading! I thought about it in some of my closed canon fandoms first, where people hated the last seasons but I really didn't. Glad you enjoyed it :)

[lunabee34]

This is a really interesting question you've posed.

I've watched shows all three ways, and I now I'm wondering how that viewing experience has affected my enjoyment of the show. I can think of personal examples that both contradict and support your ideas here, but I think you're on to something.

I have gotten so irritated and bored with Supernatural, and I wonder if I had been watching it closed canon if I would feel better about the show because I'd know that season six could be watched in a matter of days and my friends would have hinted that season seven gets better again.

[morganlucas41]

Thanks! Yeah, the question itself is so subjective, and obviously everyone's viewing experiences vary. But it seems like some broad generalizations can be made.

As far as SPN goes...I recently started watching the show (in mid-S6). SPN is definitely a show where I feel like later viewers of the show like the later seasons a lot more. It seems like they like the more complex plot and the larger cast more, too.

But even as a newer fan, I've had my own issues with S7, too. Which is pretty unique for me. So, I don't know. Maybe once S7 is over I'll be able to appreciate the big picture; I hope so, anyway.

[lunabee34]

*nods*

I do like anything that expands the cast of SPN. Yes, please. :)

I think that's part of my problem; I can't really appreciate how season 6 contributes to the overall story arc of the show. I'm liking season 7, but season 6 felt like a waste of my time. I really hope this is the last season of the show, but we'll see.

[morganlucas41]

Agreed. I'm torn between wanting the show to go on forever, because I love it, and wanting it to end before they run out of story to tell. Which it sort of seems like they have already :/

I mean, I'm pretty much going to keep watching it. But more and more it seems like the story they had to tell is over. I don't really know what the big picture looks like anymore...yeah, it's confusing. :(

[morganlucas41]

Thank you! Yes, I agree completely with what you've said here, especially this:

The thing that kills a show for me, more than any other, is the anticipation of what's to come being dashed on the rocks of badly thought out plot points or poor writing or simply the showrunner and I never being on the same page about a character and this not becoming apparent until late in the show's run.

and this:

I think this is because I've formed an idea of certain characters early on and when the writers don't stick to what I think they should be doing I gradually become more and more disillusioned.

I wish there was a way to start a show at the beginning and have this NOT happen...but I don't know. I'm just not sure you can gain that perspective without watching it all at once.