Why isn't there a term for the moments or episodes of your favorite TV shows that make you turn off the TV? I've gotten to thinking about those moments that make me freak out, cringe, or dread another minute of a show so much that I stop watching, sometimes mid-episode. There have been moments or episodes that prompt millions to abandon favorites simultaneously (the "Gizzie" hookup on Grey's Anatomy), but most of the time, these moments seem to be as individual as a fingerprint.
Recently, I started watching Angel, and purchased the Season 1 DVD so I wouldn't have to get up at 6am to catch it on TNT. Though I knew not to get too attached to Doyle because he leaves the show before the end of the season, by the time his final episode rolled around, I couldn't bear to see him killed off. As a character, Doyle was compelling from the get go; a half human, half demon spiritual guide for Angel with visions that connect him to the powers that be. Glenn Quinn, the actor that played Doyle, did a fantastic job of also making the character endearing, charming, and broken. The episode titled "Hero" was his last appearance, and I only lasted about the first 15 minutes before I turned off the DVD. Before this episode, I'd been really gung ho about squeezing Angel into my schedule, but Doyle's imminent departure got me stalled.
My brother had a similar experience with Grey's Anatomy. Over Christmas last year our whole family watched episode after episode of Season 2 on DVD and enjoyed it very much, but my brother left the room once Izzie started pleading with Denny to let her induce a heart attack to move him to the top of the transplant list. He said he couldn't take the tension. Though I offered to tell him what happened, and attested to how brilliant Katherine Heigel's performances were in the subsequent episodes, he never went back.
On the more infuriating side, my mom and I both reached for the clicker on Desperate Houswives at the same time! It must be something in our genes. The moment was in one of the first episodes of Season 1 where Susan and Mike have tickets to a movie, but because Susan is so sickeningly nice and doesn't want Nicolette Sheridan's character (whose name escapes me) to get hurt, gives up her ticket so Nicolette Sheridan gets to go on a date with Mike instead. My mom actually yelled at Susan, "Stupid woman!" and then at me (as a yelled something similar) "Turn it off!" We've never returned to Wisteria Lane, despite our affinity for the the landscaping.
I got over the Angel hump by skipping to the next episode, watching it, and then going back and watching the remainder of "Hero" and Doyle's noble death. Somehow, approaching that moment in a roundabout way made it less gut-wrenching to think about and watch.
I'm curious, what moments have inspired other people to 'jump ship'on their favorite shows?
Comments
llkane 04/16/08
1. I left Grey's Anatomy in the aftermath of Denny, when Izzie got that stupid check and was trying to figure out what to do with it. It was either stop watching the show or start punching people after I watch it, and I went with turning off the show.
2. I put up with a lot of junk on Nip/Tuck, but I finally gave up when Matt set himself on fire and took a flying leap off a balcony. It made me laugh my proverbial **** off, and I figured that probably wasn't the reaction the scene was supposed to evoke.
3. I wish I could say I stopped watching Prison Break when Sarah was killed, because that's what I swore I would do, but I keep watching in the hopes that Michael Scofield will take his shirt off again.
jkcampbell 04/17/08
I gave up on Heroes after the first episode of Season 2. The plot setup seemed exactly the same as the first season. I just found myself not caring anymore.
CptSassyPants 04/17/08
Definitely jumped ship on Nip/Tuck. It got way over the top where it stopped being interesting.
Long time ago I gave up on Dawson's Creek. They went to college and such. I don't think I watched the last season at all. And I'm pretty sure Jensen Ackles was on the last season, if not, the season before that. I've seen clips. That was probably the best thing I missed.
I was ready to give up on The O.C., but then they killed Marissa and all was right in the world.
Oh and I also stopped watching X-Files when Mulder left. It's like oh he's missing, oh he's still kinda here, oh he's missing again and we have these two new boring agents. No, no. I am looking forward to the movie though.
double_agent 04/17/08
House. It lost its touch after season 2. A shame...
t3hdow 04/17/08
Law and Order: SVU. It was about the point when I watched the episode with a pedophile going to an online videogame world (that looked like Everquest-meets-The-Sims) to find someone. Seeing the title of the game, following the usual ***** ***** noise that follows a major scene transition in any L&O, made me cringe to the point of cutting off the episode. I only stayed because of seeing Cooper from Lost (in the episode named...Cooper...) but shook my head at the embarassing (not to mention somewhat banal) declaration he made in the final minutes: "I wish I could be in a game world where girls could never grow up." Wow, really?
The worst part about this is that an episode of CSI: NY borrowed almost the same plotline, except change the Everquest/Sims hybrid to a World of Warcraft clone and swap pedophile to assassin. Why do you procedural writers have to drag videogames to the mud? Haven't they suffered enough from Hollywood dumbing them down?
t3hdow 04/17/08
It's supposed to say * d o n g d o n g * in the asterisks.
I can kind of agree on the House thing, since after season two, the show's quality was pretty erratic (the Tritter arc, being the prime offender).
scarsandstories8 04/17/08
Shannon dying on lost. Among other things, it was the last straw. I bought 2nd season forever ago to watch it now that it's getting hyped up again, but I still haven't done it.
llkane 04/17/08
I'm still watching L&O:SVU, but Very Special Guest Star Robin Williams might put the nail in that coffin.
fernie 04/18/08
I don't think there's ever been one specific moment that's made me stop watching a show, it's more like a gradual loss of interest, moving from being glued to the tv for each episode to checking my watch several times during the show, to just forgetting to watch it at all.
Usually what kills a show for me is repetitive storylines that bore me (saving New York on Heroes, espcially Derek & Meredith on Grey's), new characters that annoy me (Tritter on House), or a favourite character leaving that changes the show's dynamic (Mulder on The X-Files).
Salemskeeper 04/18/08
1. I agree about Nip/Tuck. I was addicted to the show at first b/c it was fresh & bold unlike anything else on tv at the time. It was great until they revealed The Carvers' identity. That's when it lost all it's creative edgy appeal. Hasn't been the same since. This past season they had Matt sleeping with his half sister. Even after they knew, they still wanted to be together. Just not worth watching anymore. What a shame!
2. The Riches had a good premise & the first season wasn't bad. You found yourself rooting for the theiving drifters. Then something happened like all the writers left. It got down right boring.
3. I can't say House b/c I am a loyal viewer. Once he stopped his vicoden habit, the show started losing it's edge. The new class that came in & competed was interesting while it lasted, but as soon as his staff was picked, the storylines got dull. I am looking forward to next weeks new episode. I'll always watch b/c his sense of humor is priceless!
TV Doctor 04/18/08
1. I agree with the nip/tuck crowd--Fourth season was terrible, and the fifth season was beyond ludicrous.
2. I still watch lost with 1/2 an eye on the tv, but I can't bring myself to get as involved with the episodes as I used to. It went a little too into the sci-fi aspect for me. Plus I HATE walt/michael.
3. SVU--I might catch it if I happen to flip to the channel, but the drama amongst the cops feels so forced, and the story lines become more ridic every week.
4. Private Practice--The second? episode, when addison does a c-section without anesthesia. I'm a doctor, and I call shennanigans. That would never come close to happening in real life. I understand that these shows are more about drama (thus i still watch grey's, even though it's sometimes equally as egregious), but that scene pushed me over the edge.
double_agent 04/18/08
I find it hard to believe that people can just drop Lost. Maybe if you started during a season and had no idea what was happening, yes. But it is just impossible to drop the story after starting the season from the beginning. IMPOSSIBLE.
CptSassyPants 04/18/08
I agree with you double agent. It is impossible for me to give up on Lost. Although, my mom and my sister did. They missed episodes though and are clearly not as devoted to TV as I am. Bunch of weirdos...Haha.
Candy Cavity 04/20/08
Actually, though I watch Lost fairly religiously, I can't wait to watch the whole thing over again once the show finishes. I look forward to really enjoying the whole arc.
Grey's Anatomy was a show I championed to friends, who still watch, while I despise it now.
I'm tepid about The Riches this season and The Tudors--despite Matt Roush.
Ditto the Office.
And Heroes has lost me completely. I miss the much better 4400.
palais 04/20/08
I'm with everyone here on Grey's Anatomy. I can't bear to watch it anymore. My Thursdays now consist of NBC comedies and that is it.
Not to shabby, though, considering.
I also haven't watched any of the L&Os in about three years.
I am probably the only person in the world who has never seen an episode of Lost or Heroes.
charinator 04/21/08
I ditched both Lost and Prison Break for the sole reason that the universal question "Will they ever..." will never be answered
The Counteragent 04/22/08
Why all the hating on Grey's? I agree that Gizzie was vomit-inducing, but aside from that it's a well-written and fairly well-acted show.
Personally, I gave up on Heroes as soon as I realized that not even David Anders can make a bad show good. It seemed like a better idea to spend that timeslot watching I Love New York 2.
The Counteragent 04/22/08
Why all the hating on Grey's? I agree that Gizzie was vomit-inducing, but aside from that it's a well-written and fairly well-acted show.
Personally, I gave up on Heroes as soon as I realized that not even David Anders can make a bad show good. It seemed like a better idea to spend that timeslot watching I Love New York 2.
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