Knowing spoilers can enhance the enjoyment of media for those who appreciate craft and narrative techniques.
For movies with crucial twists, spoilers can greatly impact the viewing experience and diminish enjoyment.
Deep dives
The Power of Engagement and Expectations in Enjoying Media
Engagement and expectations play a significant role in how we enjoy media. When we are engaged in a story and have certain expectations, spoilers may not hinder our enjoyment. In some cases, knowing the twist or plot beforehand can enhance our experience, especially if we appreciate the craft and narrative techniques employed. Being able to see the foreshadowing or appreciate the clues can create a different kind of satisfaction. However, there are also individuals who dislike spoilers, and their enjoyment may be diminished if they already know the outcome.
The Impact of Spoilers on Twist-Based Movies
In movies where the twist is a crucial element, such as "The Sixth Sense" or "The Village," spoilers can significantly impact the viewing experience. For these types of films, knowing the twist in advance might decrease enjoyment, as the surprise and revelation are essential to the narrative and emotional impact. However, it's worth noting that not all movies rely heavily on twists, and the spoilers themselves may not affect the overall enjoyment if the story, characters, and craftsmanship still hold strong regardless of knowing certain plot details.
Personal Preferences and Spoiler Tolerance
Individual preferences play a role in how spoilers affect enjoyment. Some people genuinely dislike being spoiled and prefer the excitement of discovering a story's elements on their own. Others may find that spoilers enhance their experience, especially if they enjoy analyzing narrative techniques or observing how the story unfolds. Personal engagement with the material, understanding one's own preferences, and appreciating different storytelling aspects can influence how spoilers are perceived.
Engaging with Familiar Stories and Recognizable Patterns
Engaging with familiar stories can still be enjoyable, even when the plot or twists are anticipated. Recognizable patterns in storytelling, such as foreshadowing or narrative structures, can be satisfying for viewers who enjoy identifying and predicting narrative elements. Movies like "The Jungle Cruise" demonstrate that even when the plot is reminiscent of other films, strong performances, chemistry between actors, and a genuinely enjoyable experience can still be had.
Brandon and Dan talk about spoilers and their effects on the enjoyment of media and movies they liked more the second time around. This episode contains major spoilers for The Village and The Prestige.