An Inside Scoop

Opinions on television programming are as varied as television viewers. One person can watch a show and be bored senseless while another is sitting white knuckled on the edge of their seat. A single line can evoke a cheer, a groan, or a blank look of confusion, depending on who's sitting on the couch. A glance between two characters can be the most meaningful moment of the episode, or a complete waste of screen time based purely on interpretation.

Middle school morals teaches us that every person's opinion is their own, and every opinion is valid. High school teaches us that differing opinions are important for growth and development. With both of those in mind, when I'm reading about television I like to know which reviewers have viewpoints similar to, or extremely different than my own. The former saves me time when I'm trying to decide if a new show I haven't watched yet is worth checking out, and the latter will potentially help me to see something about a show that I already watch in a new and interesting way.

So, being an avid reader of television reviews, and someone who likes to share my opinions, I often try to clarify my own point of view just for my own understanding (Not just about TV, but for the sake of this article, I won't delve into my opinions about the current government shutdown or the state of the catholic church...).

It's usually pretty easy to clarify what my opinions are. I like this show, I don't like that one. Done. The real challenge comes in trying to understand why I enjoy the shows I like, and why I can't connect with the shows I don't.

There are many conclusions I've come to over the last few years.

I tend to come to my hour long dramas/comedies through the actors. I started watching White Collar by following Matt Bomer over from Chuck, and I first watched Castle because I was missing Nathan Fillion after Firefly. I got into The Walking Dead only after discovering that Daryl was played by Boondock Saints star, Norman Reedus. If they don't have a recognizable actor, my hour-longs tend to have an intricate mythology, but a fast-moving plot arc. I don't enjoy shows like Revolution that tie you down in layer upon layer of confusion for the sake of mystery, but a show like Arrow, which comes pre-packaged with a set of recognizable characters and a fully formed world to explore and evolve within, can keep me hooked for years. I can appreciate a drama that's lighthearted or heavy in equal measure, but both have to have moments of their opposite or I quickly lose interest.

Interestingly enough, the new drama of the season that I'm most enjoying is The Blacklist, which doesn't fit my model at all. On the flip side, Sleepy Hollow, a show that seems tailor-fit to my "intricate mythology and fast moving plot" requirement hasn't managed to hook me yet.

When I look at the half-hour comedies that I like, I prefer them more clever than not. Shows like Arrested Development, or Community are always going to top my lists of favorite shows because they give me plenty to talk about with other fans week after week. Most of the time the comedies I enjoy are heartwarming, but they also need to be quirky. Shows like last seasons's short-lived Ben and Kate, the perennial Modern Family, or my oft applauded Raising Hope are rooted in their family values, and every week gives you a couple of obligatory "awwww" moments, but they're part of the grander episode, not the purpose of it. This season, The Michael J. Fox Show comes to mind as one of the shows that's too focused on its own charm, and I find myself disinterested in the premise after only four episodes, but The Trophy Wife has me fully engaged and eager for more because it refuses to take itself too seriously.

These are all things I've known and understood about myself for a long time, but recently I came to another self-realization. When it comes to television, I can be annoyingly hipster in regards to my viewing habits. I tend to like shows that aren't too mainstream, or at least shows that I "discovered" before they were popular. While this is never a reason, in and of itself, that I can't enjoy a show, I find myself noticing the pattern more and more. Many of the shows I tried (or am still trying), but didn't love, are popular: Breaking Bad, Weeds, 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, etc. More importantly, they're all shows that were already highly acclaimed before I started watching. I think this probably has something to do with the reality versus the expectation, but it certainly doesn't always hold true. I never got into Parenthood or Glee although I watched both pilots on my television live as they aired, and two of my favorite shows currently still on, The Walking Dead and Modern Family, I only started watching more than a full season deep after reading a favorable review from a critic I respect.

Which brings me circling back to my original point. It helps me, when reading a review, to color it with a little background on what the reviewer's likes and dislikes are. So now you've gotten a small taste of mine, and maybe it will give you a better picture going forward.