Life, Fannishness, and Thespic Infatuation

It looks like Robert Singer is still with the show and acting as producer. (And staying on as co-showrunner, it sounds like.)

Vague, intention-oriented spoilers. Most of it I think everyone knows already, though.

Otoh, Kripke as a safety net? Please, Sera, don't fall.

Now that I've seen the season finale, I'm surprised at how many spoilers Jensen hinted at during the con in Rome.

Case in point:



I'm also trying to suss out what this says about him as a person. Because unlike some of his co-stars, he . . . is honest about it. Like, his answers are honest, even if he does play them low-key. *quirks brow* So . . . is he a good barometer for stuff that's already been shot? Hm . . .

To be spoiled, or not to be spoiled. That is the question.
Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous wankage,
Or to take arms against a sea of unrevealed plot points
And by opposing, be completely blindsided when they appear?
To spoil, to flail no more?
And by the spoilers to say we end
The heart-ache and the thousand natural shocks
That fannishness is heir to, 'tis a consummation
that has its pros and cons.
To spoil, to flail. To spoil, perchance, to squee. Ay, there's the rub.
For in that squee what flails may be forstalled
When we view the ep as aired,
Must give us pause . . .

The first casting spoiler has been released, and I apparently stumbled upon it. I saw a name and part of a headline. And it was enough to make my eye twitch and say, "Drat! I didn't want to know that. Not this early. They haven't even started shooting yet."

I wasn't even looking for spoilers (you know me). I was looking for confirmation as to who from SPN would be attending Comic Con. (Apparently, J & J are not currently on the panel roster.)

So. Just a heads-up. Spoilers are starting to leak. Make sure you've got your waders.

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.