Overheard a guy at the coffee shop say The Wire is overrated because it's too slow

I was getting my usual drip coffee and this dude went on for five minutes about how nothing happens in the first season, which made me realize some people just want constant explosions and can't handle character building. Has anyone else tried convincing a friend to stick with a slow burn show past episode three?

3 comments

3 Comments

fisher.charlie16d agoMost Upvoted

Man that's rough, slow burn shows just hit different when you let them breathe. Some folks don't get that the payoff only works if you earn it first.

matthew86416d ago

Hear you loud and clear, @fisher.charlie, but gotta push back a little on the "earn it first" part. Plenty of shows drag out the slow burn without actually building anything, like that one where the main character just stares at a wall for three episodes. The payoff only works if the buildup actually makes sense and has real stakes, not just more silence. Some shows mistake pacing for plot and that's where a slow burn becomes a wet match.

drew90610d ago

My buddy Mike tried to get his girlfriend into The Leftovers and she fell asleep three episodes in a row. He finally gave up and let her watch TikToks while he finished the season alone.