Question of the Day - What must a show contain to make you a dedicated fan?
Dec 7, 2010
SpoilerTV ArticleThanks to Lunaticbabe for today's Question of the Day?
What must a show contain to make you a dedicated fan, as opposed to someone who watches said show once in a while?
How important is it for you to relate to the situation the characters are in? And does this make you lean towards or away from specific genres like sci-fi? Is it enough to like the characters?
Shout off in the comments as I've love to see what everyone thinks about what a show must contain.
You can see previous Questions of the Day here
If you have an idea for "Question of the Day" please leave it in the comments or email me @ thespoilergirl@gmail.com
Sign Up for the SpoilerTV Newsletter where we talk all things TV!
Personally, I get dedicated to a show when either the storyline makes me want to keep coming back. Usually though it's just because I love all the characters or one character in particular (I don't even need the storyline to be particularly good for this to happen). It's quite hard to tell.
ReplyDeletea continuous story, i.e. serialised shows
ReplyDeleteCharacters. I watch shows for characters, characters that are internally consistent, developing, and drive the story, rather than get pushed this way and that for the purposes of writing.
ReplyDeleteCharacter interaction and a storyline I'm interested in. If I like one or two characters and only one or two storylines I'll keep watching it even though I think the rest is totally lame
ReplyDeleteDefinitely great characters, and the dynamic between the characters. Moreover, the characters have to go through some development and not end up where they started. Though mythology is also very important to me, the show has to follow some underlying 'bigger picture'
ReplyDeleteIntelligence. Reality shows are not intelligent. People need to start watching scripted shows, rather then letting them die and allowing crap like Kate Plus 8 and "XYZ with the Stars" on the air.
ReplyDeleteMost important thing for me is interesting characters and their development. It's just the foundation of a solid series. Of course the writing itself has to be good too. Lost got me hooked because they added great mysteries to their great characters, it was such a perfect mixture.
ReplyDeleteCurrently I'm really into the 3 AMC dramas Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead and Mad Men. Awesome characters, top notch acting and incredibly addictive storylines. That's the stuff I love.
It's complicated... I need witty conversations, scenes which make me cry or scream even when it's the 532728th occasion I watch it, WTF moments, brilliantly written characters, actors who are nice in real life too, awesome fandom with other obsessed fans to get along with them, even when nobody understands why am I smiling with anxiety 24/7 before I can see new a new episode:)
ReplyDeleteOf course there are other factors too, but I can't think of more right now:)
Storyline, Neat characters, and a nice variety of emotional scenes; srs bsns scenes, hilarious scenese, heartwarming scenes, and rip your heart out of your cold lifeless chest scenes. Sometimes it doesn't need to be all the scenes, sometimes the scenes can just barely fit into the category and overlap each other, like.. [and I know this is a movie, but this is the first example I thought of] in Dumbo, when the mom is singing that Baby Mine song to Dumbo while inside that cage... it's not particularly gruesome, but it definitely fits in the rip your heart out of your cold lifeless chest scenes, but it's also heartwarming at the same time.... maybe the heartwarming bit is what makes it so heart wrenching...
ReplyDeleteSo... mayhaps it's the emotional connection thing I go for... because once you get that, the characters, and all their flaws are accepted, and even if the storyline gets a little wacko sometimes, if that emotional connection stays strong, you can deal with it.
My rule for a successful sitcom;
ReplyDeleteLIKABLE ACTORS in WELL DEFINED ROLLS with QUALITY WRITING.
The likability of an actor doesn't hurt for a drama, but I've found it isn't as necessary, but for sitcoms, even the scummiest character needs to be played by someone likable (Danny DeVito, Kathy Kinney, Dabney Coleman, Jamie Pressley, ect.). And the depth of a character is important, like on "Modern Family"; it could have been so easy to rely on stereotypes for Manny, instead of giving him the unique quality of being an old soul, or making Mitchell's uptight nature a part of his persuasion rather than just his personality. Keeping the characters real, even when their circumstances aren't, is also important.
And I do like it when the writing is clever, even when the characters might not be ("Raising Hope"). As for drama writing, procedurals are okay, just so long as they're not formula; if it's just the same ending week after week, of a forced surprise just to change things up, I'm going to get bored real soon. Just SURPRISE me! I get my share of predictability from repeats/syndication.
Maybe I'm too shallow for this question but the first thing I look for is pretty people but, more importantly, hot men that will be potentially unclothed at some point. Then comes character and storyline. For example, this is why I started with the new "Hawaii 5-0". Alex O'Laughlin and Scott Cann are hot but the show failed to live up to the skin quotient and the stories weren't keeping me interested enough to overlook it. So, buh-bye. Then you give me something like "Spartacus" and it fulfills ALL my requirements. I'm not saying that character and storyline can't trump the skin factor ("Buffy", "Castle" "Big Bang Theory") but that's what first gets my attention. Then they have to keep it and prove themselves.
ReplyDeleteThere has to be at least one character that I can like/identify with/love to hate. I hadn't really thought too much about that until I sat down to watch SGU when it first came out. I tried, I really did - gave it several episodes because it was a Stargate franchise show - but - nothing.......none of the characters had that certain something that made me want to root for them. I usually love it when there's one obnoxious character you love to hate - but in SGU I didn't 'love to hate' any of them - I just hated them all.....very disappointing.
ReplyDeleteI love shows that successfully mix drama, humor, and interesting storylines along with great characters.... and yes, I'm going to mention Supernatural here, because - well this show is the epitome of everything great about tv........blah blah blah .....yeah I'll shut up now. :P
It depends on the genre. In the realm of comedy, it has to provide plenty of laughs, and, for me, a good amount of heartfelt moments that transcend the comedy (they can still be funny though!). Also, recurring storylines in comedies never hurt, either.
ReplyDeleteAs for drama, it absolutely must be serialized, or at the very least have serialized moments. Even the only procedural I watch, The Mentalist, has strong serialization with the Red John storyline that always pops up. In terms of general drama, there need to be genuinely dramatic circumstances for the characters.
The thing that matters most in any TV show are the characters. If I don't care about what happens to the characters, I don't care about that show. Period.
P.S. A little romance doesn't hurt, either.
DarthLocke: For me it needs multiple things, but primarily be character driven. I like to watch shows where the characters truly have to struggle with issues and that the relationships between them are also complex.
ReplyDeleteIn order to that, there also then has be a good story. So for me mythology or science fiction/super natural elements are also needed to move the characters and cause them to display an array of emotional expression...showing the uniqueness of socio-poltical behavior.
Cinematography and/or style, is then another thing I think that also helps this. To see artist choices to parallel the emotions and or events of the characters and story.
absolutely. I hate it when reality show fans make the arguement that "millions of fans can't be wrong". Yes, they are wrong. Millions of flies eat shit, that doesn't mean I wanna try it. If something isn't done about this, we aren't gonna have any good shows left.
ReplyDeleteIT can be a number of things. I can easily love a series for the writing and the direction/ cinematography even if none of the characters jump at me. If a story is good, after a few episodes you get into the characters no matter how you feel at first glance. I NEVER can watch a show for a character I like if I do not like the writing or plot. Truthfully, I feel that on MANY series the characters are secondary to the writing and plots and can be replaced easily without causing ANY issues to the show itself. Case in point Criminal Minds, Glee and House and many more. Take out all the surrounding cast around House and it is still House and pretty much the same show. Criminal Minds is not about the BAU, it's about the criminals they profile. And Glee is about the Glee Club not any of its members in particular.
ReplyDeleteIf a show is serialized it will almost always keep my interest. It is very rare the a procedural will keep me interested from season's start to season's end and even less so from season to season. Too much repetition.
If a show has unique characters that do NOT look like models I find it interesting. Also conversely related to this, I can't stand shows that have token roles given to characters that are out of place. A petite 5-3 bodygaurd, or a 20something lead detective. Some one in a mandatory professional office that is "the rebel" and wears things that would get them barred from the building (see Abby and NCIS) in any real world office that is similar.
Also a series cannot use special FX to overcome its shortcomings. FX are mean to ENHANCE s show not be the show. So many Sci-Fi shows are right out due to overuse of FX.
Lastly, I like a show that respects my intelligence and does not feel the need to spell out every little thing for me as if I am a first grader (no offense meant to first graders). I do not need earlier actions repeatedly in collages or flashbacks to connect the dots. They can give me data piece A and date B and I can figure out A+B = C without seeing it on a white board.
Ellen POMPEO
ReplyDeleteThe key factor is a good premise, so it needs a good promo to sell it for me.
ReplyDeleteThen I look for likable characters and humor.
I could not watch Spartacus, because of the ridiculous freeze framed and slow-mo blood splatters. I have no issue with violence or graphic blood, but to slow it down and use SFX for no reason other than to be trendy is not only wasteful (both for the money and time spent by the CGI department), but also lowers the artistic integrity of a show.
ReplyDeleteAfter thinking hard about this question, I think the main thing for making me passionate about a show has to be a character interaction/dynamic that is different than "normal" shows. This is why I love shows like Supernatural, Buffy, Dollhouse, Gilmore girls etc.
ReplyDeleteI can definitely watch a show if only the characters are good, but they have to be amazing. I'm more prone to watch a show with decent characters and a superb storyline. Dedication to continuity is the one thing that will keep me coming back to a show. Even the sitcoms that I like (How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory, The Office) are very aware of past jokes and plots.
ReplyDeleteAlso, the best shows IMO are the ones that cover as many bases as possible. The harder it is to put into a genre, the better. Lost, the best show of all time, was Action, Drama, Romance, Sci-Fi, Mystery, Comedy - find me a genre that Lost does not fit into.
Reality show?
ReplyDeleteThat's an easy one.......Relatable characters and an engaging storyline!
ReplyDeleteI think character is the most important thing - let's face it, most tv shows and movies are just repeated formulas from older ones/books/stories with a few minor details changed. It's the characters (and whether they can draw in an audience) that makes the difference. Just look at Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl; you can't get a more cliched plot if you tried. But the characters made it work.
ReplyDeleteThat said, nothing gets me more frustrated with a show than when the characters suddenly develop new personalities for no known reasons (see PotC sequels). I'm not talking about character development where there is a (usually very important) cause for a new personality quirk or emotional maturation develops, but cases where a straight-laced character is suddenly doing drugs or cheating on their significant other for no other reason than the writers were running out of ideas and it's one hell of a twist in the series.
That's not to say plot is not important though; there's a reason I don't like reality tv (though some of it, like So You Think You Can Dance, has the potential to be entertaining if they didn't stretch it out 5 times longer than they need to). While good characters can allow fans to forgive a few bad episodes/plot points in a series, having an uninteresting plot won't inspire any dedication or loyalty to a show.
Humour is also important - even in drama and sci-fi, a funny quip every now and then just adds so much to the quality of the show.
Then again those are what makes me enjoy a show. But then again I only watch Supernatural and Raising Hope religiously, and catch Criminal Minds, Modern Family, Futurama, and Flashpoint when I can. So considering how many shows I'm not watching.....
Its OWN kind of HUMOR!
ReplyDeleteLike Firefly, you all know Malcolm, and the scene when he tells Simon that Kaylee died.
Or Battlestar, when you see one character telling another one: "I know, youre not a Cylon", a the viewers KNOW, that he IS a Cylon..Oh my!
Great TV shows have the ability to make me scream till I lose my voice, laugh until my belly hurts so bad and I start falling form my chair, cover my mouth and catch my breath with surprise, maybe all at the same time :D
AND! I need some love between a couple of main characters, when everyone knows they belong together, but they cannot face it, or simply cannot get together, and it breaks their hearts and everyones hearts, you know, what I mean! Apollo and Starbuck, Mal and Inara, Grissom and Sara, Adama and Roslin? Awww :)
first of all there should be a good looking male character- i like the crime so if it is combined it's great
ReplyDeleteBOOBS.
ReplyDeleteIt has to have the basics of course like good writing, directing, acting, and story lines. But in order for me to become a dedicated fan, it must have compelling characters to draw me in. Characters you want to learn more about and watch their journeys unfold and become invested in. Good consistency, characterization, and progression. Otherwise, I'll lose interest. I want the writers/producers to care about the characters as much as I do. Because if they don't care, then I'm not going to.
ReplyDeleteSo yeah, I'm definitely drawn to shows that are more character oriented than just cases. If it consists of cases but with characters well represented, then that's great.
Characters.
ReplyDeleteThen either a good plot for serialised dramas or entertainment value/amount of laughs for comedies.
Hot girls usually plays a factor too
The plot line, recommendations, and promos are what draw me in to a new show. But these shows only get 3 episodes to make me stay. At that point it is all about the characters. If I don't relate to a character or feel for them by the third episode, then I might watch the show if I don't have anything else to do but I won't be dedicated. Occasionally a character grows on me so it goes from something I watch when I'm home to appointment TV but it's rare. The best characters for me have a sense of humor but real demons in their past. Oh, and I'm also a sucker for big brothers that take care of their younger siblings. I have no idea why. A compelling character can cover up a lot of plot holes for me.
ReplyDeleteTo attract me at all, the premise has to be interesting (and hot guys dont hurt lol). However, to keep me as a fan, the storylines have to be good and the dialogue/acting has to be realistic and not sound forced
ReplyDeleteTalent: Talent of the writers, talent of the set designers, talent of the special effects people, talent of the actors. If it can hit on all those fronts, then I'm in.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely great characters!! its give some kind hope for me to tune is every week for that particular show
ReplyDeletewell if the show tend to change the characteristic of a characters in the show ,it won't make the viewer be dedicated to that show , as now many show loss there ground and i'm not the fan of the show anymore
#just saying #
passion & dedication from the show's team. That way I know they'll do whatever it take to present what they're passionate about to their fans
ReplyDeleteThe storylines/universe has some importance, but the main thing is the characters - how involved I get in them. That involvement depends on the choices the characters (or in reality the writers/producers) make. I actually like "The Good Wife" as a legal-show. I enjoy the episodes I've watched when nothing else was on, but I can't really get into the show because the main character made a decision (forgave her husband for adultery) that I couldn't support. So the underlying story sours the show for me. Even though I've loved Chris Noth in everything else I've seen.
ReplyDeleteA second factor is chemistry with other characters. I loved "West Wing" from start to finish. Same with Bradley Whitford and Matt Perry on "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip". But "Good Guys"....watched 2 episodes, and even that was torture.
Finally, there's good writing. Laughing, crying, being caught by surprise, or inspired by the combination of words and perfect acting.
Interesting characters and a great storyline. Sounds simple but not many shows manage it.
ReplyDeleteWhump. Characters getting hurt. Only works if it's well done and if the characters are interesting enough, cause empathy is the key.
ReplyDeleteAlso, shows which let the possibility of writing fanfics are my favourites. Unsaid things, grey areas. (But then again you can write fanfics about pretty much anything)
Compelling, three-dimensional characters that you actually sympathize with, and a damn good plotline.
ReplyDeleteThat's all :) I'm not too choosy otherwise. I couldn't care less about production budget or star quality or whatever. It's all about the characters and the story.