Hey Sitcom Advice Crew. I’ve been following a long-running show for many years, and it feels like it’s been going on for too long. I want to see how they end things, but I am tired of it. I actively dread watching it and then am disappointed every time I do. What advice do you have?
—The Big Bland Theory
Jay: Wow, an actual question about watching a TV show. This is a very meta question. Now for an answer. I’d stop watching. If it’s not bringing you any sort of enjoyment, move on to something else. I once wanted to know how a show I didn’t really like ended, so I went on Wikipedia and read the synopsis of the remaining episodes. If it’s still going, just read a 200-word recap every week. You can still watch the finale if you want.
Eliza: The question is, why are you on this journey? The show may be terrible now, but if you care about the journey, you stick with it. It’s kind of like a two-week vacation where I realize after the first week that the vacation is too long, but then I’m stuck. I don’t end the vacation—even if it keeps getting worse. I like being invested in the characters even if they aren’t doing a lot for me right now. Trainwrecks are some form of entertainment after all. Two-week trips to Duluth are a form of entertainment too.
Gene: Oh wow, this is about me, isn’t it? You’re sick of hearing from me. I knew this was happening. Jay won’t share our viewer numbers, but I know they’re going down. Can you pinpoint what makes you dread me? Can you say how I’m disappointing you? I can change. We can revive things. I’m not ready to be canceled!
Kenny: If you’re not enjoying something right now, I think you should give it some space. I remember watching shows where I thought it was getting worse and then upon rewatch, it wasn’t as bad as I remembered. The expectations may be hurting your enjoyment now, but there may be a time in your life when returning to this show will be like seeing old friends—Ross, Rachel and Joey. Of course, other shows remain truly terrible in their later seasons. So if you rewatch this show down the road and have the same reaction, it’s probably a bad show.
The gang gives lots of advice. Check out previous editions here. Learn more about the Sitcom Advice Crew.