The new forums will be named Coin Return (based on the most recent vote)! You can check on the status and timeline of the transition to the new forums here.
The Guiding Principles and New Rules document is now in effect.
How to get someone to like the greatest show of all time?
Fizban140
Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
Registered User, __BANNED USERS regular
So my brother has seen the first three episodes of Arrested Development and he just doesn't want to watch anymore, he doesn't like the characters and he doesn't think the jokes are funny. I just don't understand how any slightly intelligent person could refrain from bursts of laughter while watching this show. It gets much better in the later seasons but I can't convince him to watch anymore at all.
Fizban140 on
0
This discussion has been closed.
Posts
1) Ask him politely to give it another try
2) Pay him to watch some more
3) Realize people have different tastes in what they find entertaining
But don't push it too hard. Not everyone is going to like it. That's life.
I love lots of shows that I think are very intelligent that very intelligent people I know find boring. It just happens, and the more you badger him about it the less likely he is to want to sit down to it ever again on principle.
Hyping it will just make me want to see it less. If your bro is like me, I would be as casual as possible with the suggesting.
You made it 3 episodes further than I did!
If it really does improve with later episodes, try convincing him to watch those.
(for the record I don't think Arrested Development is very funny)
We live on a very diverse planet.
I'd argue here that the brother is perhaps more than slightly intelligent and that's why he doesn't think it's funny.
I'd just let it go. Find something else to enjoy with him.
And if you know that the show is better in later episodes then have the first one you show him be a really, really good episode so that he's interested in watching more.
On a related note, you could always try one of the many Arrested Development drinking games kicking around the internet. If you really think that understanding the in-jokes is crucial to enjoying Arrested Development, what better way to draw attention to them than with booze?
This, seriously. "It gets better, trust me," isn't a hook. If you want to get somebody hooked on a series, you roll out a few exemplary episodes for them.
And if that doesn't work, be prepared to either drop it or be dragged into an argument forcing you to objectively evaluate just how much of the best show ever it is. Because your post reminds me very much of my college roommate trying to sell me on Dragonball Z. The first three episodes didn't do it, the "Best episode ever seriously even if you don't like the rest this is awesome" didn't do it, and it was three months before he shut up about it.
it's understandable if people don't like the first few episodes, the pilot is probably the worst episode of the entire series
show him the one where the japanese investors come over and witness a fight between a gigantic mole and a jetpack man. if he doesn't like that, fuck em
This. A thousand times this.
I passed on shows like Avatar and AD because I had to put up with this nonsense. It's great if they like it, but they don't have to remind me every five minutes.
TV shows often take a few episodes or a rocky first season before they find their voice.
I was in tears after that. I think he just needs to watch it until he finds his "holy shit I can't breathe" moment.
Never mind the point is, as others here have mentioned, that not everyone will share your taste (be it in shows, candy, wine...). Still we must all do our best to help others see the true light and one way is then to highlight some of the best episodes. Like if I were to learn someone to appreciate Top Gear (UK) I'd shown them the show were they have a race to the North Pole between a car and a dog sled, or perhaps the show where they go in search for the best driving road in the World or perhaps the show were they have a race between a Bugatti Veyron and a plane going from Italy to England... :-)
Now go watch Top Gear: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_2D2xuflyQ
I feel the same way about Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Seinfeld, the characters are just so mean! They all have funny moments, but I couldn't bear watching a full episode...
He just thinks its boring, he probably just needs some encouragement to keep watching until it gets good (thats how I felt about Lost) but if he doesnt like the way the characters act then its probably a lost cause
I know for fans of the show it seems impossible that someone could dislike it, but it's possible. I know I'm sort of just repeating above posts, but I guess I'm just trying to emphasize the point that you can't make someone like something.
I guess some people just get emotionally attached to characters/shows, I just see it as a platform for jokes and such...and see how all the ideas come together on the show.
its okay
It kind of sounds like a combination of him hating the characters and being bored with it.
Why does this bother you so much? Does it mean something to you? Can't you just find something else to share with him?
You guys are making it sound like its the british version of the the office.
edit: but all is neither here nor there. If you really want your bro to give the show another shot, just wait a couple weeks or more, sit down and start watching it and invite him to hang out.
I'm in the same boat you are, Ceres, and it's definitely not an uncommon feeling. For example, hopping into movies, I found Meet The Parents and Something About Mary to be depressing, not funny, despite not being about mean people and supposedly having funny jokes? It turned me off of all Ben Stiller stuff.
Comedy that centers around a character's ignorance (as in, they are unaware of something and shit happens anyway) doesn't appeal to me. I mean, it's not that every situation needs to be "a thinker," and a scene where someone pulls a prank on someone or something "unintentional" happens and is funny is still funny, and I enjoy it. I just don't get into it when it's the entire premise.
I've been tempted to watch AD but it's never given me a reason to get me to watch. I have a friend with very similar tastes to myself and she said she watched a few episodes but it didn't do anything for her, so I'm pretty skeptical.
And it's got nothing to do with intelligence, just taste. I utterly despise a few critically acclaimed UK comedies/dramedies/whatever but by no means would I imply that anyone who enjoys them must be lacking in the brain department.
Arrested Development is a love it or hate it show. I don't think you can get your brother into it if he finds the tone of the show to be unattractive.
Rigorous Scholarship
I told her she probably didn't think it was funny originally because there isn't any canned or audience laughter.
He is my twin brother and we have quite similar interests so I just don't think he is giving it a chance.
Okay, but again, why do you care so much? He probably feels like he did give it a chance after a few episodes, but even if he didn't, who cares? He doesn't want to watch a TV show, there will be other things. It just feels from the tone of your posts like you feel this is something that requires action, but it really isn't.