spoilers don't matter?
- Thread starter Temis the Vorta
- Start date
I'm watching through all of Trek with my girlfriend, and there are things that I don't want her watching. I mean, she had no idea that tasha died in season 1. She had no idea that Spock died, or that he'd come back. Imagine if she knew spock was gonna die but they'd bring him back. The emotional chain of events she felt would have been ruined! As it was, she was sobbing, which is exactly what the film makers intended. So I am very much against spoilers.
I also encountered a spoiler in Harry Potter, when I opened up OoTP near the end and it had Harry thinking that at least he'd be with Sirius again. So that told me going in that Sirius was going to die. Took away the shock of the moment.
I also encountered a spoiler in Harry Potter, when I opened up OoTP near the end and it had Harry thinking that at least he'd be with Sirius again. So that told me going in that Sirius was going to die. Took away the shock of the moment.
(note: this post contains untagged spoilers for season 3 of nuBSG and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows parts 1 and 2; possibly mildly spoilery references to A Feast For Crows and A Dance With Dragons.)
Overall, I usually like looking at spoilers, but there are a couple instances I can think of where I was either happy I wasn't spoiled or was angry that I was. With nuBSG, I was thrilled that they saved Katee Sackhoff's credit for after "Crossroads, Part 2" ended, since otherwise it would've given away her appearance in the final scene. (I mean, I could've figured she was in a flashback/hallucination/etc., but I would've been waiting for her appearance for the entire episode.) Up until that point, every TV show I'd ever seen put all the guest actors in the first minutes of the show, so that if you saw, say, Marc Alaimo in DS9's opening credits, you knew Dukat would be involved in the episode that day. I think it was the fact that it was the first time (AFAIK, the only time) a TV show I'd watched had done this really blew me away. Also, there was one occasion when I was about 12 or 13 and found a major spoiler online for a YA book series I'd been reading (they'd been teasing one of the 5 main characters was going to die, but the author actually announced online which one it was months in advance of the book coming out.) That actually turned me off from completing the series.
In general, I don't like having twist endings or deaths revealed to me - but, like someone upthread posted, I can usually pick out plot twists/real vs. fake deaths ahead of time, because I tend to think in terms of what will make narrative sense. With the Harry Potter books, one of the fansites put out a survey on "what do you think will happen?" and I was about 90% right overall. When reading A Feast for Crows, I thought the resolutions to the cliffhangers regarding Brienne and Davos's situations were extremely obvious, and so wasn't surprised when picking up A Dance With Dragons. I absolutely love it when someone can surprise me with a twist that actually makes sense in hindsight.
When it comes to book-to-film or book-to-TV adaptations, I like spoilers - I like seeing what the set design/characters/etc. look like. It helps me judge if I actually want to go see the adaptation, and it helps prevent disappointment. For example, I found out about the absence of any kind of resolution for Peter Pettigrew in Deathly Hallows part 2 several months ago, which helped when actually watching DH2. If I hadn't known in advance that there was no resolution, I would've been massively annoyed while watching the film, since when I saw Part One I assumed they'd omitted his death scene for something bigger and better in Part Two. I like being told that they're leaving something out of the adaptation, so that I don't go through my first watchthrough of the adaptation waiting for it to happen.
Also, I intended to watch AGOT before reading it but ended up doing it in reverse (thus spoiling the TV show), but I really appreciated having read the books ahead of watching the show, since I felt it helped me understand a lot of things in the show better. In some ways, it makes me more interested in the show (how are they going to show certain things? Will they include characters like the Blackfish or Wyman Manderly?)
It really is situational from person to person, though - I know people who always read the ends of things first, because for them the journey matters more, while there are other people who like minor spoilers but not major ones. (For example, my dad likes me to tell him if I see minor information regarding the shows he likes - i.e. that an actor's not returning on House - but who would NOT have been happy if I'd spoiled the ending of "Baelor" for him.)
Overall, I usually like looking at spoilers, but there are a couple instances I can think of where I was either happy I wasn't spoiled or was angry that I was. With nuBSG, I was thrilled that they saved Katee Sackhoff's credit for after "Crossroads, Part 2" ended, since otherwise it would've given away her appearance in the final scene. (I mean, I could've figured she was in a flashback/hallucination/etc., but I would've been waiting for her appearance for the entire episode.) Up until that point, every TV show I'd ever seen put all the guest actors in the first minutes of the show, so that if you saw, say, Marc Alaimo in DS9's opening credits, you knew Dukat would be involved in the episode that day. I think it was the fact that it was the first time (AFAIK, the only time) a TV show I'd watched had done this really blew me away. Also, there was one occasion when I was about 12 or 13 and found a major spoiler online for a YA book series I'd been reading (they'd been teasing one of the 5 main characters was going to die, but the author actually announced online which one it was months in advance of the book coming out.) That actually turned me off from completing the series.
In general, I don't like having twist endings or deaths revealed to me - but, like someone upthread posted, I can usually pick out plot twists/real vs. fake deaths ahead of time, because I tend to think in terms of what will make narrative sense. With the Harry Potter books, one of the fansites put out a survey on "what do you think will happen?" and I was about 90% right overall. When reading A Feast for Crows, I thought the resolutions to the cliffhangers regarding Brienne and Davos's situations were extremely obvious, and so wasn't surprised when picking up A Dance With Dragons. I absolutely love it when someone can surprise me with a twist that actually makes sense in hindsight.
When it comes to book-to-film or book-to-TV adaptations, I like spoilers - I like seeing what the set design/characters/etc. look like. It helps me judge if I actually want to go see the adaptation, and it helps prevent disappointment. For example, I found out about the absence of any kind of resolution for Peter Pettigrew in Deathly Hallows part 2 several months ago, which helped when actually watching DH2. If I hadn't known in advance that there was no resolution, I would've been massively annoyed while watching the film, since when I saw Part One I assumed they'd omitted his death scene for something bigger and better in Part Two. I like being told that they're leaving something out of the adaptation, so that I don't go through my first watchthrough of the adaptation waiting for it to happen.
Also, I intended to watch AGOT before reading it but ended up doing it in reverse (thus spoiling the TV show), but I really appreciated having read the books ahead of watching the show, since I felt it helped me understand a lot of things in the show better. In some ways, it makes me more interested in the show (how are they going to show certain things? Will they include characters like the Blackfish or Wyman Manderly?)
Were all the extra Theon/prostitute scenes added for extra irony re: Theon's assumed situation in ADWD, assuming the TV show makes it that long?
It really is situational from person to person, though - I know people who always read the ends of things first, because for them the journey matters more, while there are other people who like minor spoilers but not major ones. (For example, my dad likes me to tell him if I see minor information regarding the shows he likes - i.e. that an actor's not returning on House - but who would NOT have been happy if I'd spoiled the ending of "Baelor" for him.)
This was much easier to do thirty years ago than it is now.
Heh, my mom always reads the last chapter first, before she starts at the beginning of the book
Rarh, I've already been spoiled on The Big Death that shocked everyone. Tho from what I understand, I shouldn't get attached to any characters?
You should, because the characters are great. Makes losing them much harder though ...
Rarh, I've already been spoiled on The Big Death that shocked everyone. Tho from what I understand, I shouldn't get attached to any characters?
And The Big Death is nothing compared to what's coming.
I was reading the book while the TV series was on. An online article revealed a certain pivotal WTF plot point in the recently-aired episode 9, but it didn't spoil the relevant chapter in the book for me.
I read the first Games Of Thones book shortly before watching the TV show, and knowing what happened didn't ruin the series for me. I loved the show.
When it comes to movies, I don't really care if I see spoilers before seeing the film. The majority of the big-budget films suck anyway, so it doesn't make a difference.
And for the films that don't suck, knowing the spoilers still doesn't matter, because a great film is still worthy enough to watch, regardless.
Sean
When it comes to movies, I don't really care if I see spoilers before seeing the film. The majority of the big-budget films suck anyway, so it doesn't make a difference.
And for the films that don't suck, knowing the spoilers still doesn't matter, because a great film is still worthy enough to watch, regardless.
Sean
Sometimes, if it is a property that I have high esteem for is being adapted, I will actively seek out spoilers in order to decided if I even want to see the movie or not. I would rather not even see a beloved property be adapted at all than to see it adapted badly.
And I have zero problem in re-reading favorite books or rewatching favorite movies.
And I have zero problem in re-reading favorite books or rewatching favorite movies.
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Well neither do I, lord knows how many times I've rewatched some films/episodes, and though I don't tend to reread books these days, that's mainly a time issue, I used to when I had more time on my hands.
But there's still something about being surprised the first time. And sometimes it isn't even spoilers, it's knowing there are spoilers. I didn't know the end of the Sixth Sense, but I knew there was a twist, and the moment I did I was looking for it. Hell the moment Bruce Willis gets shot at the start I knew. By contrast I hadn't even heard there was a twist at the end of Fight Club, so I was very surprised.
But there's still something about being surprised the first time. And sometimes it isn't even spoilers, it's knowing there are spoilers. I didn't know the end of the Sixth Sense, but I knew there was a twist, and the moment I did I was looking for it. Hell the moment Bruce Willis gets shot at the start I knew. By contrast I hadn't even heard there was a twist at the end of Fight Club, so I was very surprised.
Spoilers make no difference to me whatever.
Don't most of the results of that poll fall within the margin of error?
As to my opinion, spoilers, well, spoil. Once I know that twist or information ahead of time, I can't take that information back and will never have the opportunity of seeing the media without that knowledge. I can and do enjoy works again, but only once can I see them without knowing what will happen. Spoilers steal that.
As to my opinion, spoilers, well, spoil. Once I know that twist or information ahead of time, I can't take that information back and will never have the opportunity of seeing the media without that knowledge. I can and do enjoy works again, but only once can I see them without knowing what will happen. Spoilers steal that.
^^Yes, that's what I was trying to say, and you did it in under 250 words
Spoilers don't matter to me. I have nearly 700 DVDs so I do like to rewatch movies and knowing what is going to happen doesn't take away from my enjoyment.
I have been seeing the pics from the making of the new Batman and Superman movies. I love learning about how movies are made swo that doesn't ruin my enjoyment of the movies either.
I have been seeing the pics from the making of the new Batman and Superman movies. I love learning about how movies are made swo that doesn't ruin my enjoyment of the movies either.
I like being tempted by spoilers and resisting. Some shows I just don't care enough about and will look at spoilers. With some other shows it's damn near impossible because everyone assumes that everyone has seen it (I just started watching the X-Files, and was reading a season one thread somewhere and they started talking about a plot thread that I just got to in season 2, so I guess I know who's behind what now - can't really be upset seeing how it aired 15+ years ago)
Mostly I try to avoid getting spoiled.
Mostly I try to avoid getting spoiled.
It's mostly about execution for me, I'm a journey not the destination kind of guy. I've read Song of Ice and Fire since the 1990s, but still love the HBO series Game of Thrones even though I know twists that will happen to characters we haven't even met on the show yet. My two favorite summer movies this year were X-Men: First Class and Rise of the Planet of the Apes and I had a pretty good idea how both of movie were going to end even though I hadn't read specific spoilers.
Pretty much.
Part of it is that while I see a lot of movies and tv without being spoiled there's almost never anything surprising in them. Books, yeah - movies and tv, not really.
