What shows and movies have you hate-watched, and why? This started as a response to this thread, but I felt it warranted it's own discussion.
I would define hate-watching as being something you went in to knowing you weren't going to enjoy it. MST3K and Rifftracks style screenings don't really count, because you're being entertained by the commentary instead of the movie. In general I try not to hate-watch, mostly because there simply isn't enough time in my life for it. There's enough good media in the world, it feels like a waste to spend time on something I know I don't like. But there are some circumstances where it still happens. Here are a few of my personal experiences and reasons:
- Being semi-forced to watch by a significant other, family member or friend group. My spouse watched Gray's Anatomy for too many seasons. It was painful for me, but we shared it. Also, for unknown reasons my father would watch The Pretender any time it was on in syndication. I experienced far to much of that show as a result.
- Completion. I had a college roommate that was obsessed with Friends. I hated it. A few years later, I watched the last episode of Friends when it aired just to see how it ended.
- Giving it a (long) chance. The Witcher never really clicked for me, but I felt it was worth at least the first 4-5 episodes to try it. By that point, it was worth watching through the end of the first season.
- Wanting to understand cultural norms (or: know your enemy). When Twilight came out, it was huge. I knew it would suck. But me and my spouse wanted to at least experience some of it to have a reference point. We made it through the first two movies with a lot of rum. I've also watched movies like Birth of a Nation purely for educational/historical purposes.
I would define hate-watching as being something you went in to knowing you weren't going to enjoy it. MST3K and Rifftracks style screenings don't really count, because you're being entertained by the commentary instead of the movie. In general I try not to hate-watch, mostly because there simply isn't enough time in my life for it. There's enough good media in the world, it feels like a waste to spend time on something I know I don't like. But there are some circumstances where it still happens. Here are a few of my personal experiences and reasons:
- Being semi-forced to watch by a significant other, family member or friend group. My spouse watched Gray's Anatomy for too many seasons. It was painful for me, but we shared it. Also, for unknown reasons my father would watch The Pretender any time it was on in syndication. I experienced far to much of that show as a result.
- Completion. I had a college roommate that was obsessed with Friends. I hated it. A few years later, I watched the last episode of Friends when it aired just to see how it ended.
- Giving it a (long) chance. The Witcher never really clicked for me, but I felt it was worth at least the first 4-5 episodes to try it. By that point, it was worth watching through the end of the first season.
- Wanting to understand cultural norms (or: know your enemy). When Twilight came out, it was huge. I knew it would suck. But me and my spouse wanted to at least experience some of it to have a reference point. We made it through the first two movies with a lot of rum. I've also watched movies like Birth of a Nation purely for educational/historical purposes.
