I’ve been watching quite a few new TV shows recently, and it’s got me thinking about the phases you go through watching a new show. Not just how you react to one show individually, but how watching one show affects others, and how watching a programme after all the episodes have been released affects your viewing of it.
1: The Stranger. Here is where you first start watching. The characters are strangers to you and each other. Even if the characters knew each other before the show started, the writers won’t be entirely familiar with them, so their relationships aren’t yet fully formed. On rare occasions, this isn’t true, but most writers will have to discover their characters and by extension inter-character relationships as the show progresses. Often this stage only lasts a few episodes.
2: Getting to Know You. You now know the characters because the writers know them (at least better than they did during stage one). You first start being able to predict how a character might react to a given situation, and you’re intensely aware when something isn’t right with one of the characters. Most of the character relationships are fleshed out and there’s only going to be tweaking and shocking plot twists (surprise relationships/fallings-out) from here on out. 90% of the time, it is here that you first know wether or not you’ll enjoy the show in the long run.
3: Us vs Them. The characters are like friends. You start thinking to yourself “classic <character name>” after they deliver certain lines. This is normally after about 20 episodes or so, but could be sooner if the show is written very tightly. You know the theme tune well enough to hum along to at least parts of it. You possibly subconsciously think of yourself as ‘one of the gang’ – the characters problems are your problems.
4: Reclusion. You know the characters intimately. Normally the longest stage, as you begin to enter a monogamy of sorts with the show. Other programmes are pushed to the side (if only mentally, you may well watch other shows too) as all or most of your time is consumed watching this one. You become interested in watching any spinoffs or related material, if only for extra back story. You know the theme tune all the way through, and if it doesn’t have words you’ve probably made some up.
5: Grievance or; The End. Normally this stage begins a few episodes from the end of the last series. All too soon you reach the last season finale. Depending on how much you like the show or how good the ending was, you’ll either be gutted there’s not more, or pleased that there is what there is. If you made it this far, you might as well start watching related shows, renewing the cycle. Otherwise, you’ll probably start again with a few others and one of them will emerge as a leader.
These stages don’t really apply to shows you’re watching as they’re released, but if there’s already a bunch available then you’re more likely to reach the fourth stage.