My friend tried to get me into a show by showing me the 'best' episode first

He made me watch episode 8 of a 12 episode series, which was all a big flashback with none of the main cast. I was so confused about who anyone was or why I should care, it totally killed my interest. Has anyone else had a recommendation backfire this badly, and what's the right way to do it?

3 comments

3 Comments

vals382mo ago

I used to always show people the big action episode of a show to hook them. Then my brother showed me the pilot of a slow-burn drama first, which made all the later payoffs hit so much harder. Now I get that starting at the beginning, even if it's a bit slower, builds the foundation you need. Throwing someone into the middle just leaves them lost, like your friend did with that flashback episode.

lee.diana1mo ago

I read somewhere that the first episode is basically a contract with the viewer, telling them what kind of ride they're signing up for. Skipping that is like starting a book on chapter five, you miss all the little setup details. Don't get me wrong I love a good flashy episode but it hits WAY harder when you've earned it through the slow parts.

casey_barnes2mo ago

Yeah, that's a sure way to make someone give up on a show.