Why do I feel guilty about giving up on a show?

2363 Views 29 Replies 27 Participants Last post by Ruth, Sep 19, 2007

rickertk

Discussion Starter · Sep 15, 2007

There are currently two TV shows that I've watched more than one season of, and I'm thinking about giving up on them. I have a hard time actually committing all the way, though, and I'm not entirely sure why that is.
Here are the two shows:
"Rescue Me". Watched all of the first 3 seasons. I don't have any really strong criticisms of the show, but watching it kind of started to seem like a chore rather than fun. This season, I didn't start watching at the beginning, and I only noticed that I had a Keep At Most limit of 5 after I'd already lost 2 episodes. I still have the last 11 of the season on my Tivo, but I'm thinking about just dumping them and the season pass.
"Prison Break". Somewhat different story here; while I watched the first two seasons (at some times again it feeling like a bit of a chore), I was very disappointed with how they ended season 2 and set up season 3. I'm probably going to dump the season pass again.

I still am not sure why I feel guilty about this; it's not like I have any shortage of things to watch stored on the Tivos. (I sometimes might have a shortage of things I want to watch, but these shows don't help there).

I'd be happy to hear about either other people's feelings on these two shows (in a general, non-spoilerish way), or if other people have the same feelings about giving up on a show that you've invested some time watching in the past.

Keith

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Peter000

· #2 · Sep 15, 2007

I hear you Keith. there are shows I'd love to give up on, but feel like I "have" to see them through. Like Smallville. It's absolutely horrible most of the time. But about one out of every 5 episodes is good.

I watched "Rescue Me" this season, and I would say dump them. It was somewhat of a letdown compared to the first three.

Prison Break I'd say dump too. I watched most of it last year, then skipped about the last 5 or 6 episodes, then watched the season finale feeling like I didn't miss a THING. And I don't feel like they set up this season very well either. At least not in a way I'll be interested in seeing.

It seems like so much more interesting stuff is coming down the pike this fall... something has to give.

billboard_NE

· #3 · Sep 15, 2007

I dumped Prison Break during the second half of the first season. It was the hand episode that did it for me. Never looked back.
As far as Rescue me goes, just watch the season finale and call it done for the season. You will not miss a thing. Then record next season and wait for some reviews.

Bettamojo5

· #4 · Sep 15, 2007

I was that way with ER. I watched it from the start, but gave up on it about 2 years ago. This show has long outlived it's shelf life IMHO.

sushikitten

· #5 · Sep 15, 2007

I made a break from ER many moons ago - I couldn't even tell you when at this point. It was still an okay show to me, but not great - but I had watched it for SO long I hated to give up. Then one week I just did and I never looked back. I can't believe it's still on!!

The one I most recently gave up on was Meerkat Manor. I had read the rave reviews, love meerkats, and taped all eps, saving them. Then I started watching and discovered I am way too emotional about animals to watch that show, so deleted ALL of them.

rhuntington3

· #6 · Sep 15, 2007

I gave up on Nip/Tuck and Rescue Me last year. I got to the point where I just really didn't care about these characters. It seemed to me like they just didn't have any redeeming qualities. I felt emotionally drained and exhausted after watching the shows.

I gave up on the Dead Zone this year. I still had the 2006 summer season on Dead Zone unwatched and I thought if I haven't watched last year's yet, when will I watch this year's episodes. I did feel a little guilty when I found out about what happened to one of the characters. Sigh.

mick66

· #7 · Sep 15, 2007

No guilt. I don't and won't feel guilty for not watching crap just because it was good a couple of years ago.

firerose818

· #8 · Sep 15, 2007

I'm still watching ER. I've seen every episode.

It is some bizarre compulsion, I think.

I did, however, give up on Lost last season and I haven't regretted it for a moment!

murgatroyd

· #9 · Sep 15, 2007

I understand how you feel, but if the show really veers off into some direction I can't stand, I bail out.

You say goodbye to the characters you have known: "Bye bye kids! Have fun storming the castle!"

Then you let them go off in their new direction.

It varies from show to show. The West Wing, I held my nose and watched to the end. Xena: Warrior Princess -- OMG, so bad, I had to bail out. Definitely no guilt there.

Jan

Shaunnick

· #10 · Sep 15, 2007

billboard_NE said:
I dumped Prison Break during the second half of the first season. It was the hand episode that did it for me. Never looked back.
As far as Rescue me goes, just watch the season finale and call it done for the season. You will not miss a thing. Then record next season and wait for some reviews.

If by "hand" episode you mean were T-Bag loses his hand, well, that would be all the way through the first, as that happened in the finale.

I suspect I will be the only forum member watching Prison Break this year.

JLucPicard

· #11 · Sep 15, 2007

I gave up a couiple of years ago on "Cold Case" and "Without a Trace", which I liked very much, but two years ago, I had too much trouble getting things recorded/kept with the way they kept getting puched back by football on Sunday nights. Set them up for two hours each, just couldn't keep up with too much else I was watching and they'd drop off before I watched them. I someday hope to see what I missed on DVD maybe, but I do kind of miss them.

lambertman

· #12 · Sep 16, 2007

I'm having this issue with Monk. I'm 6 eps behind and am disappointed with every ep I watch. I just can't fathom dropping a show that I own DVDs of (S1 and S2)... but it really kinda sucks now.

betativoII

· #13 · Sep 16, 2007

I don't feel guilty, but I have given up on several shows:

I loved the first season of 24, but couldn't get through the second

I lost interest in the Dead Zone during season 3.

I finally deleted the last 2 episodes of John from Cincinnati. I liked it, but wasn't sure why. I likened it to a train wreck and probably WOULD have watched the last 2 seasons if it hadn't been canceled.

mick66

· #14 · Sep 16, 2007

Shaunnick said:
If by "hand" episode you mean were T-Bag loses his hand, well, that would be all the way through the first, as that happened in the finale.

I suspect I will be the only forum member watching Prison Break this year.

The finale was during the second half of the season.

aadam101

· #15 · Sep 16, 2007

firerose818 said:
I'm still watching ER. I've seen every episode.

It is some bizarre compulsion, I think.

I did, however, give up on Lost last season and I haven't regretted it for a moment!

That's dedication!

dianebrat

· #16 · Sep 16, 2007

I've given up on the following over the past few years

Law and Order SVU (too many things that turned my stomach)
Law and Order TOS (after Jerry Orbach left)
Without a Trace
CSI:Miami
ER
Prison Break
Amazing Race
Pirate Master (I never made it to the webisodes)
Enterprise (I still feel guilty on that)
Flash Gordon (can anyone blame me?)
The Simpsons (I catch occasional reruns)
King of the Hill
24 (after season 1)
Ugly Betty (I really need to revisit it, and may buy the DVDs)

Very few do I feel guilty for

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justapixel

· #17 · Sep 16, 2007

I've given up on Nip/Tuck, first seaons. Disliked all the characters. Same with Rescue Me.

Still watching ER, mostly for the train wreck quality. After all these years, I have to see that last helicopter drop.

I gave up on Prison Break after the first season - found it boring. But, for some reason, started again mid-second season after they'd broken out, and loved it.

Zevida

· #18 · Sep 16, 2007

I really hope some of you give up Prison Break! If not, I'll be avoiding those threads like the plague this year. Criticism is fine but I thought it went overboard at times and added nothing to discussion of the actual show. Please, please, please don't watch it, or, if you're only comment is "I am done" (only to watch it again the next week), don't bother posting.

As for me:

The X-Files: I gave up around the time David Duchovny left. I didn't start watching until season 3 I think, but after a couple of years it was time to move on.
The Dead Zone: Watched off and on, dropped cable and didn't watch and finally gave up completely. Just not interested anymore.

Arrested Development and Veronica Mars were two that I stuck with when I shouldn't have. AD was brilliant in the first season but I think took it too far and repeated jokes to the point of being tiresome in the second and third seasons. Veronica Mars I thought was uneven and unsatisfying in the third season and looking back, nothing happened that was memorable and it could have easily been missed.

For me it is not so much guilt as a compulsion to see a story finished.

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cheesesteak

· #19 · Sep 16, 2007

Prison Break should have been a one season show. Now, they should rename it Prison Breaks.

Jesda

· #20 · Sep 16, 2007

justapixel said:
I gave up on Prison Break after the first season - found it boring. But, for some reason, started again mid-second season after they'd broken out, and loved it.

Same here.

I miss Rescue Me. I sort of forgot about it with my busy summer. If it was a fall show I'd be on top of it.

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