It's almost time for me, Cath and Josh to record another podcast you guys! This time the topic is SPOILERZ, and we want to hear from you.
A few weeks ago Anne Hathaway was on The Daily Show, discussing Les Mis. She mentioned that one of the characters dies, and the audience booed her, I imagine because they would have preferred she said "spoiler alert" and given them time to leave, or at least plug their fingers into their ears.
But Les Mis was published in 1862. More than 100 years ago! I believe it's not a spoiler when the book is more than 100 years old, and has been on Broadway for at least half that time.
While it's a dick move for people to go out of their way to spoil things, I also think it's selfish for people to expect everyone else to censor their own conversations, say on Twitter, on the off chance it may spoil something.
So, spoilers. How do you feel about them? No big deal? Do you want to murder people who spoil things? Who is the onus on--you, to stay off Twitter if you're not free to watch the latest episode of Breaking Bad, or everyone else, to watch what they say?
What's the biggest spoil you've ever experienced and still harbor dark feelings about?
Oh, and hey, in case you missed them, here's a link to all of the podcasts. If you've listened and liked it and could give us a review on iTunes (but only if you liked it), we'd be much obliged.
I think it's a dick for sure within the first 24 hours. That is reason for Quartering in the public square, as far as I'm concerned. It's not going to kill you to shut up for a day. I'd even venture to suggest keeping those conversations private until the season is well over. It's standard nowadays that a lot of people aren't watching these shows during the air date. Lots of people DVR or buy it off iTunes or Amazon. Just shut up for a day, it won't kill you.
Of course, there is a responsibility to just stay away from social media if it's that important to you because there's always going to be some sort of subhuman mongoloid spouting off "I can't believe so-and-so was just killed off" while the credits are still rolling. Like speeding on the highway, it's just going to happen. Move to the right lane if you don't like it.
With that said, there's a statute of limitations. While this certainly a grey area, I believe a group of people may talk about something well after it's been seen and established by the masses. Furthermore, if it's a movie based on a book and you don't want it spoiled that they destroy the One Ring because you didn't read it, fuck off, the rest of us don't live under a rock. We're allowed to openly discuss LOST as much as we want. That's well past. If people are just slogging through the series now, that's on them for coming late to the party. Not every one gets to enjoy the spinach dip in the bread bowl.
Talking about the plot of Les Miserables should not be a spoiler alert for anyone. The story has been around forever. it is my favorite play of all time, and I've seen it six times and still cry when the little boy dies, when the mother dies, when Jon Val Jon dies. this story is not so much about the plot. it doesn't matter if you know what happens or not. I'd see it again tomorrow in play or movie form knowing everything that transpires. thank you Victor Hugo.
However, when reading Gone Girl recently, a modern suspense novel, it would have been horrible to know the plot. People should have some sensibility about this. Shouldn't they? When talking about a John Grisham novel, don't tell the end.When watching a movie about Abraham Lincoln, get over it. He dies.
Spoilers don't really bother me. If I'm apart of a group conversation, and I'm the odd man out who hasn't seen the latest episode or something, then I'd be a dick if I complained. For example, my friends and I have a rule when it comes to the Walking Dead. If anyone in our group hasn't watched it by Monday night (because it airs Sunday), come Tuesday it's fair game to talk to it. There's been a few cases where one of us has gone a whole week without seeing the latest episode, and the rest of us agreed to be nice and not spoil it. That's a courtesy, though.
I think if an entire story can be ruined by one little "spoiler," then that story is probably pretty weak to begin with, and I'm not sure I'd want to waste my time with it. Be it a tv show, a movie, or a book, I want the details building up to the end to draw me in as well. I feel like I should be able to know the end of any given story and still enjoy the path that gets me there. And if that's not the case, then that story is not for me.
That said, for tv shows and movies (especially movies), the trailers and commercials are huge spoilers anyway. I can't count how many times I've seen a movie for the first time and known that a character will still be around at the end, not because I'm oh so smart, but because I remember a scene from a trailer that hasn't shown up yet in the movie.
All of that aside, it makes me sad when someone's well-being is shaken to the core because they are told in advance who sleeps with who on the newest Gilmore Girls. I feel like maybe their priorities could be re-evaluated.
I don't really mind spoilers all too much of tv shows or movies, they're usually just an off-handed remark that I can either forget or just expect that part to be good and "spoiler-worthy." I do understand the frustration though, my girlfriend has this friend who we all well know is a complete sociopath, she's the kind of person that can't talk about a movie without then screaming the exact scenes that are central to the entire plot and their resolutions. She just does it to watch the light crumble from your eyes, I swear. It's the Spoilers you have to look out for, as in 'people who spoil.' Cut those people out of any situation where media would be discussed.
Having said that, apparently a lot of writers on twitter are huge Survivor fans. I made the mistake of logging on there right before clicking the DVR over to the season finale. It was incessant spoilers. Totally blighted the whole finale watching experience. Ruin my movies as much as you want, but my reality based competition shows? How could you...
Spoilers are nails on a chalk board for me, but since I'm aware of the peeve I go out of my way to avoid them. If a film discussion is going on in a message board and I haven't seen the flick, I'll generally skip the thread. Same thing goes for film or radio. If a DJ is talking to an actor about their latest movie, and I want to ensure I don't catch any plot points, I turn away from the station. If I continued to listen, it would be my own fault for not being careful.
On the other side of the coin, you can talk about a piece of work without giving away twists and turns. When writing film critiques, I go out of my way to avoid spoiling any major plot points. My rule is, if something is shown or explained in the trailer, it's fair game for me to include in any synopsis or analysis. Outside of that, I leave it alone. It is perfectly possible to talk about a piece of work without giving away major plot points and if you have to hone in on a sequence, a quick "spoiler alert" doesn't hurt. It gives the reader / listener a chance to steer clear of the content and keep the surprise of the film intact.
In the instance of Le Mis, I hadn't seen the play before the film and as a result, I'm glad nobody spoiled any of the plot points. Sure, I knew it wasn't a fun rom com where everything works out in the end. The title translates to "The Miserables" for Pete's sake. But not knowing the deaths and surprises made the experience that much more enjoyable for me. If I had been there when Hathaway spilled the beans, screw it. I would have booed her too.
