‘Hype is ruining popular TV series – and taking away their appeal’, says Deb Knight | Opinion

There is excitement and a thrill in thinking you’re a pioneer, and not just as a traditional explorer-type, setting sail into unchartered waters or trekking into unmapped terrain. 

There’s a buzz that comes with thinking you are the first to discover a great coffee shop or restaurant, or a band with a great sound that you’ve never heard of, or a TV series that hooks you in from the first episode that hasn’t been raved about ad nauseam like the current streaming hits White Lotus or Severance – which are shows I happen to love. 

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Like millions of others, I’ve dutifully counted down the days until new episodes of my favourite shows are released, but the PR and social media machine that whips up the frenzy around hit TV series in particular can make it hard for rusted-on fans to feel as enthusiastic as when they were first drawn in. 

It’s hard too if you’ve missed the boat and come to a hugely popular series after the rave is on.

It can be hard to play catch up, which is how I feel about Breaking Bad.

I didn’t watch the series when it first started and know I’d likely love it, but there’s just so much hype, it takes away some of the appeal.  

I know online algorithms mean that if you watch a clip or search for more information on an actor or director, you will see more of the same on repeat.

But I often feel like I’m stuck in a vortex of quirky behind-the-scenes moments, talk-show interview clips, and award ceremony speeches from the stars of the shows I have watched and raved about to as many people as I could, simply adding to the problem. 

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Stumbling by chance across something that draws you in is such a rare treat that it’s hard not to tell others.

And in this social media age, where it’s so easy to instantaneously share information or discoveries, a little-known find can quickly become a favourite of the masses. 

Insta-famous finds can be very quickly overexposed and loved to death.

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It’s especially true for Instagrammable tourist destinations, like the incredible natural rock archway at Cathedral Cove in New Zealand, where the sheer number of visitors forced the storm damaged walkway to the pristine beach to be shut down and only accessible now by boat.

There are countless other examples all around the world. 

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Even long-famous destinations like Barcelona, Paris and Venice are being tipped over the edge by the frenzy that the social media FOMO factor whips up, forcing some locals to fight back and call for the Insta-crowds to stay away.

You can understand why when many of these over-loved locations become real-life theme parks overrun by visitors.

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You can only look on in envy at the true pioneers who got to experience the wonder of these iconic locations free from the crowds armed with their mobile phones.

And when the next great TV series comes my way, maybe I’ll try to stay off social media to avoid having the joy of a brilliant story tarnished by the hype. 

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