How many episodes should you watch before giving up on a TV show (and what do statistics say)?

[Shawn Knight]

In a nutshell: Not all television shows are created equal. Even among those that are universally praised, it can take a handful of episodes or more before a series sets its hook and starts reeling you in. This leads to a question that many have no doubt pondered over the years: how many episodes should you give a series before cutting your losses and moving on?

Daniel Parris from Stat Significant recently set out to answer this age-old question. To quantify it, Parris looked at IMDb user ratings (ranging from 1 to 10) for Friends and found the average to be around 8.34. Using this figure as the benchmark, Parris noticed that it wasn't until episode seven that Friends episodes surpasses this threshold.

Using this method, Parris looked at every show in IMDb's database and compared its average user rating to individual episodes, then averaged the resulting differential by episode number. Data revealed that most shows need six or seven installments before ratings start to match or exceed the series' long-term average.

Depending on the series, six or seven episodes could make up the majority or even the entirety of the first season. With so much content to choose from these days, it's no surprise that some aren't willing to dedicate that much time to try and get interested in a new show.

While an interesting metric, it is by no means concrete as subjectivity plays a huge role as well. With some shows – especially sitcoms – it can take a season or two for actors to fully flesh out a character. Others manage to instantly click with audiences and get them addicted from the very first episode.

I usually know within the first episode or two whether a show is for me, though occasionally, I'll give a series more time if it comes highly recommended. How about you? Does the 6-7 episode threshold seem about right, or is it too high? And while we are on the subject, what are a few of your all-time favorite television series?

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How many episodes should you watch before giving up on a TV show (and what do statistics say)?

 

[Kirby1]

Game of Thrones ruined TV shows.

So many shows now clearly try to follow the formula Game of Thornes established. Big plot with lots of frustrating cliff hangers to make people feel hooked on a show regardless of if it's good or not.

I find it much harder to get into shows ever since the GoT style became so common.

 

[NumberNine]

Watching TV is tech culture?

 

[axiomatic13]

I can take maybe 3 or 4 episodes of character building, and if your plot doesn't jump out at 5 or 6, you've probably lost me. There are exemptions, though? "Severance" coming to mind most recently. That's a killer slow-burn if you can take it.

 

[Squid Surprise]

The flaw with this methodology is that it assumes ratings happen simply because a show is "good"...

I suspect the main reason it takes several episodes to return a good rating is simply that people haven't heard of a show unless others rate it well... with so much content available, many people won't even start a show unless other people found it good.

Naturally, for that to happen, several episodes must be released in order for the "word to spread".

If you actually are one of the few people who started watching a show right from the beginning, I suspect you need far fewer episodes to decide whether it's good enough to continue.

 

[The Talking Tech]

I give most shows 3 episodes to win me over....and most of the time I know within the first episode if I'm sticking with it for the long haul or not.

 

[RudyBob]

That's a good question. I have no prior notion of when to give up, at some point I just do whether it is books, movies or TV shows.

 

[noel24]

Not the same, but on a similar note, when I was 15 or 16 years old, I developed a hypotesis, than on average, all good shows should end by season 3, after then they go downhill, with maybe occasional good episode. With few exceptions, It proven to be quite reliable for Me.

 

[Neatfeatguy]

1 episode. If the first one isn't done well enough to get your attention, then the rest of the show won't be worth your time.

I really wanted to like the Marvel and Star Wars shows that Disney put out, but after the huge disappointment of Wandavision and Obi-Wan....it's one episode and you'll know for sure if the show is just dribble or something worth your time to watch.

 

[opckieran]

I watched two episodes of Velma. That’s when I knew.

 

[jwdR311]

By the time I find a series I like, they've cancelled it...and I'm left with an unresolved cliffhanger.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

The flaw with this methodology is that it assumes ratings happen simply because a show is "good"...

I suspect the main reason it takes several episodes to return a good rating is simply that people haven't heard of a show unless others rate it well... with so much content available, many people won't even start a show unless other people found it good.

Naturally, for that to happen, several episodes must be released in order for the "word to spread".

If you actually are one of the few people who started watching a show right from the beginning, I suspect you need far fewer episodes to decide whether it's good enough to continue.

- The reason show ratings go up is because everyone that doesn't like the show has already stopped watching at that point. It's classic survivorship bias.

I've more or less given up on TV, it kinda all sucks now, but my general rule of thumb is 3 episodes and if I'm not into it by then oh well.

Problem is a low of shows figured this out and pack their entire budget and plot into episodes 1-3 and then 7-8 (or 8-9 depending on how my episodes shows have nowadays). Episodes 4/5/6 etc end up being slow paced "character driven" snooze fests.

Folks should go back to watching syndicated 90's shows, it's insane how much more content and pseudo cliffhangers are built into everything (because they needed you not to change the channel during commercial breaks), and how every episode is a self contained story. Netflix revolutionized the long arc TV show format, but I think I'm over it at this point.

What was old is new again.

 

[Vanderkaum037]

Not even 1 episode. I can tell pretty quickly if the show is going to be interesting or not. They have about 15 minutes to establish a main character and introduce a compelling conflict. If they fail to do that, I just don't have the patience. That's why I recommend movies--they get straight to the point, and they have about 90 minutes to resolve everything.

 

[toooooot]

#1 rule of the modern shows: even the most amazing first season means that a second one has a 98% to suck.
Rule 2, most shows are simply not worth watching. I am really surprised to hear that people keep watching mediocre shows hoping they would improve.
With the utter lack of creativity in the field (and endless remakes as an outcome), it is pointless to give them more chances than one episode.
A good show, or a good movie, is a hard to make product. One to be perfect from beginning to end requires the best people and a lot of passion.
What we have in reality is that some very good ideas and even good first parts of the shows, then end still manages to disappoint.

 

[toooooot]

Game of Thrones ruined TV shows.

So many shows now clearly try to follow the formula Game of Thornes established. Big plot with lots of frustrating cliff hangers to make people feel hooked on a show regardless of if it's good or not.

I find it much harder to get into shows ever since the GoT style became so common.

I forgave them. What the f were they supposed to do? Shake George screaming in his face till he finishes the damn script? The ending of the show was a truly hwood product, a modern hwood product.
Imagine how pissed people would be if they did not finish it.

 

[Kirby1]

I forgave them. What the f were they supposed to do? Shake George screaming in his face till he finishes the damn script? The ending of the show was a truly hwood product, a modern hwood product.
Imagine how pissed people would be if they did not finish it.

I'm not complaining about GOT itself, just all the shows that try to emulate it. GOT was fine, it doesn't need a bunch of copies tho.

 

[kiwigraeme]

- The reason show ratings go up is because everyone that doesn't like the show has already stopped watching at that point. It's classic survivorship bias.

I've more or less given up on TV, it kinda all sucks now, but my general rule of thumb is 3 episodes and if I'm not into it by then oh well.

Problem is a low of shows figured this out and pack their entire budget and plot into episodes 1-3 and then 7-8 (or 8-9 depending on how my episodes shows have nowadays). Episodes 4/5/6 etc end up being slow paced "character driven" snooze fests.

Folks should go back to watching syndicated 90's shows, it's insane how much more content and pseudo cliffhangers are built into everything (because they needed you not to change the channel during commercial breaks), and how every episode is a self contained story. Netflix revolutionized the long arc TV show format, but I think I'm over it at this point.

What was old is new again.

I was waiting for your first comment , so obvious should have been in the article

Really it's tough out there.

Classic sitcoms need quite awhile to build the characters.

I used to be a big reader in my younger days , was a rare treat to find descriptive writing that was a pleasure to read , and not a chore to set the scene.

Hooks, scene setting now needs to be instant for the "NOW" generation - tools are so much better now , but still

Slow cooking is popular etc , must be a similar trend to entertainment

We use to listen to whole albums

I think "comfort" shows probably need strategies. - some have a formula - eg Mills and Boon, Hallmark movies with feel good lov/family e stories etc

The ratings need critical thought eg bell curve , vs U curve , vs scattergun , vs by country

plus some reviewers are weird - lots of fun silly movies fall between 5 to 6 eg Dude, Where's My Car?
has a rating on IMDB of 5.5 people rate it expecting a critical masterpiece - but for the right audience just silly good fun movie

However 5.5 for a std drama tight bell curve, probably better things to watch unless you like the setting, actors etc

Teen Titans Go - started with something like a score of 2 - now 5.7 with 29% scored at 1 , as from butt hurt fans of old show , demanding me me me

Cream normally floats to top , but sometimes , better to watch first episode unknowing score

 

[Axeia]

I watched two episodes of Velma. That’s when I knew.

Sheesh, how'd you get that far in before knowing?

In general I'm going to go with the Hardware Unboxed classic "It depends".
Most shows after 1 episode I'll know if it's any good or not, if I'm undecided I'll give it another one or two episodes - if I'm not convinced by then.. there must be better things to watch.

While an interesting metric, it is by no means concrete as subjectivity plays a huge role as well. With some shows – especially sitcoms – it can take a season or two for actors to fully flesh out a character

Hard disagree - if a sitcom doesn't have you laughing and enjoying it then why the hell would you watch a whole season (or two!) to decide if it's any good.

There's also a big scale difference in good though. I watched a lot of shows I enjoyed but basically left my memory soon after. Then there are things that are great and stick with you and become the bar to measure others to. Breaking Bad, Shameless, Ozark, GoT (except season 8) are great.

Oh and TV originals (not based on a book etc) if they're brought out fast they usually get worse and worse with every season. The first season is a success, the second season they fill with ideas they wanted to explore but didn't. By season 3 they'll start to run out steam and after that it's usually pure milking if they make it that far.
Different for content based on existing work as long as there's more of the original content.
Used to be a big thing for anime as well - as soon as the anime caught up with the manga quality dropped hard. Think they learned their lesson there mostly and just put off successive series until more source content is released.

 

[airbornex]

So statistically, it takes six or seven episodes for a show to “find itself”—which means I gave up on Breaking Bad way too soon and accidentally endured an entire season of Riverdale. Science failed me.

PS: Watch Lioness and The Agency.

 

[opckieran]

Sheesh, how'd you get that far in before knowing?

In general I'm going to go with the Hardware Unboxed classic "It depends".
Most shows after 1 episode I'll know if it's any good or not, if I'm undecided I'll give it another one or two episodes - if I'm not convinced by then.. there must be better things to watch.

Honestly it was the initial backlash it got, even from my left-leaning friends, that made me curious lol.

 

[Antias]

I've totally given up on using ratings or even other peoples opinions when deciding what to watch, or even for how long. I've come to the conclusion my "pleasure" in watching something usually has nothing to do with other peoples or studios opinions.
I.e.
Babylon 5
Andromeda
Firefly (thank the multiverse for Serenity)

 

[ZedRM]

Game of Thrones ruined TV shows.

How? GoT was a garbage show to begin with, none of it was anything better than "ok". Most of it was crap. This poor quality of this single show does not "ruin" the quality of anything else. Suggesting that is does is crazy talk.

Star Trek Discovery also falls into the garbage category. Strange New Worlds by contrast, is brilliant!

 

[human7]

I almost never start a show unless it is past season 1, since so many are cancelled then. Obviously not the only way to tell if a show is good, but at least a lot of disappointment is avoided.

 

[ZedRM]

I almost never start a show unless it is past season 1, since so many are cancelled then. Obviously not the only way to tell if a show is good, but at least a lot of disappointment is avoided.

That's not true at all. Look at "That 80's Show". Look at "Firefly". Both of those shows were gems that were canceled for whatever brainless reason. Both had greatness & potential! At least Firefly got a dignified send off with the Serenity movie and all the book & comics.

 

[Squid Surprise]

How? GoT was a garbage show to begin with, none of it was anything better than "ok". Most of it was crap. This poor quality of this single show does "ruin" the quality of anything else. Suggesting that is does is crazy talk.

Star Trek Discovery also falls into the garbage category. Strange New Worlds by contrast, is brilliant!

One man's trash is another man's treasure... just because you think something is garbage, doesn't mean everyone else does... Game of Thrones was awesome by the way...

That's not true at all. Look at "That 80's Show". Look at "Firefly". Both of those shows were gems that were canceled for whatever brainless reason. Both had greatness & potential! At least Firefly got a dignified send off with the Serenity movie and all the book & comics.

Firefly was awesome - as was the movie... but That 80s show was garbage...

But making sure there's a season 2 first means that you won't be disappointed when you start watching - you'll be more likely to get some sort of ending (although not always).

Saying that, I do remember the short-lived (and mostly terrible) Mortal Kombat TV show that, when they found out they were being cancelled, ended the series with everyone getting killed off and Shao Khan winning... was pretty satisfying