Question for my F-Listies (and anyone else who wanders by)

[feliciakw]

NOTE: PLEASE DO NOT INCLUDE ACTUAL SPOILERS IN YOUR RESPONSE. I cannot stress this strongly enough. I am trying to remain as spoiler-free as possible (without completely leaving the Internet) until September 18. (Note to self: Stay away from TVGuide.com.) Here's my question:

For those of you who live for spoilers, who go hunting them down, who read the sides, who grasp at any and every spoiler as if it is a life preserver . . .

Has knowing the surprises and twists and turns and reveals of a show ever really enhanced your enjoyment of it?

The reason I ask is this: I've been watching YouTube vids of yesterday's SPN panel at SDCC. For the most part, I feel I came away minimally spoiled (yay!). Much of what was mentioned I read weeks ago (and promptly stopped reading spoilers), and some of it (like a guest casting mention and episode plot) was more like "coming attractions" than actual "spoilers." However, in one person's question, I learned something that doesn't really surprise me, but now I've lost the "Oh! Of course! That's awesome!" that I would have otherwise had when watching the season opener. Now this particular piece of information might not even be considered a spoiler to some folks. But I, now knowing to expect this piece of information, will miss out on the nifty-neato coolness of discovering it for myself (amidst all the angst).

So my question is . . . do you really enjoy the show more when you know what's going to happen? Do you worry for no reason when rumors or publicity prove to be misleading? Do you cope better with big reveals that disappoint when you know them ahead of time?

Because me? Half the fun of SPN is not knowing what's going to happen next. (Granted, this is a double edged sword, as not knowing also contributes to much viewer anxiety in the midst of the story arc. Of course, previous betrayals by various shows contributes to that, but I digress . . .) Some things I'm not surprised by, even if I'm not spoiled for them. (Dean's circumstances at the end of S3, for example. No surprise. Otoh, Don and Charlie's circumstances at the end of N3 last season? HUGE surprise. I was closer to tears for that one than for SPN, precisely because I did not see it coming.) But I would have been VASTLY disappointed if I'd been spoiled for the twist in "Mystery Spot," for example. Or if I'd known how S1 ended.

So I'm curious. If it does enhance the show, how so? If it doesn't, why do you spoil yourself?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Comments

[kerravonsen]

I really don't like spoilers, so I probably shouldn't be commenting. But I don't mind knowing "this is a good ep, this is a crap ep" beforehand, if I remind myself to take such things with a grain of salt. It allows me to brace myself for the bad, and thus enjoy the "bad" episode more -- but if I build up a good episode too much, I am always dissappointed. Hence the grain of salt.

[feliciakw.livejournal.com]

No, no. I'm looking for all types of opinions. And I'm all for the "This was a good ep," though if it's a bad ep, I'd kind of like to reserve judgment and decide for myself. Bracing for the bad has its good points and it bad points, but yes, if an ep gets built up too much, it can be a let-down.