That 3 episode rule actually killed my interest in a show last night

Honestly, I always heard people say you gotta give a show 3 episodes before you decide. But I tried that with this new sci-fi series on a streaming app last week and it was a total waste of 3 hours. The first episode was slow, the second was confusing, and the third just made me mad with all these random plot holes. I think sometimes a pilot tells you everything you need to know in 20 minutes. Has anyone else found that sticking to the 3 episode rule backfired on them?

3 comments

3 Comments

taylor.amy4d ago

This reminds me of how people talk about giving any new change a fair shot before deciding if it works for them. Its a good idea in theory, like when I tried that new coffee shop down the street three times before admitting their espresso is just burnt. But sometimes your first instinct is right on the money. With TV shows, I think the pilot episode is usually the best they've got, so if it does nothing for you, the rest probably wont get better. The three episode rule feels like something someone made up to justify sticking with a show they already liked, not a real guideline for new viewers.

henrycooper3d ago

Man, my friend Sarah gave a show six episodes once before realizing she hated it... @taylor.amy totally nailed it.

the_nina3h ago

The "pilot is their best" thing works until you hit a show like @henrycooper's friend's six episode nightmare, ouch.