So for a long time now, this ‘ere blog has had a USP in terms of recommending shows: The Barrometer, which itself replaced The Carusometer. This takes the long view, requiring a minimum viewing of three episodes before it’s willing to give a cheesy grin and a rousing showtune – and the all-important thumbs up or thumbs down to the show.
But I often wonder if that’s too much or even few. Some shows you sense are never going to be good from the outset, while others genuinely do take a long time to get to the point (I’m looking at you here Rubicon – 10 episodes before you reveal your brilliance? Really?).
All I can do is guess. However, Netflix knows better. Apart from its top secret way to covertly view your every move as you sit in front of your TV screen or monitor (shh, don’t tell anyone), it also can analyse exactly how far you get into a show before you decide you’ve got to watch the rest of it or abandon it altogether. And they’ve just released the results in a shiny infographic (click it to make it bigger):
There’s also a list:
- Arrow — Episode 8
- Bates Motel — Episode 2
- Better Call Saul — Episode 4
- Bloodline — Episode 4
- BoJack Horseman — Episode 5
- Breaking Bad — Episode 2
- Dexter — Episode 3
- Gossip Girl — Episode 3
- Grace & Frankie — Episode 4
- House of Cards — Episode 3
- How I Met Your Mother — Episode 8
- Mad Men — Episode 6
- Marco Polo — Episode 3
- Marvel’s Daredevil — Episode 5
- Once Upon a Time — Episode 6
- Orange is the New Black — Episode 3
- Pretty Little Liars — Episode 4
- Scandal — Episode 2
- Sense8 — Episode 3
- Sons of Anarchy — Episode 2
- Suits — Episode 2
- The Blacklist — Episode 6
- The Killing — Episode 2
- The Walking Dead — Episode 2
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt — Episode 4
Although it’s worth remembering that the Netflix viewing experience is different from watching TV weekly, as you can see, it’s never the pilot episode that grabs virtually anyone, so clearly I’m onto something there.
But there are a few surprises in there. Eight episodes before being grabbed by Arrow? Who waits that long? And episode five for Marvel’s Daredevil, rather than the bravura episode 2? How odd.
Oddest of all: how can anyone get addicted to Sense8?
[via]
