TV: Watch the episodes, or wait for the DVD Box Set?

[PeterFries]

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[EscaflownePilot]

Depends on the show, myself. Serial dramas like Lost really benefit from being watched in season sets, because then the slower-paced or less eventful episodes can be much more appreciated. Whereas an episode where little more than minute character development occurs can be frustrating when watching on a weekly basis where you just want something big to happen, that very episode can be a perfectly welcome break from the action when you're marathoning a season over the weekend, and as such you can appreciate the episode so much moreso than if followed on a weekly basis.

On the other hand, episodic sitcoms like Friends are better "in the moment" type shows where there really isn't anything to gain from sitting down and watching a big chunk of at once.

Although I like that DVD sales can and have spelt continuation for some shows, for others it can be a very dangerous thing. A show like Family Guy was easy enough to get everyone back for once reruns and DVD sales proved to be good, but for Arrested Development's case, I get the feeling maybe TOO many people were waiting on the DVDs. As far as I know, the DVD sets are selling well, and yet the TV ratings were abysmal, and by now, no amount of DVD sales could get the whole cast back togethor for another season. It's just too little, too late, so to speak, so DVD sets aren't always a good thing in that area.

[CheshireKitten]

I've become more of a "wait for the box set" kind of person in recent years. It's a combination of the lack of current television shows that really interest me and working a job where my schedule is not consistent (meaning some weeks I'm not home to watch the show). I don't like to bother with taping or tivo.

I only have one show this year that I will watch on a regular basis. I'll catch the two others when I can, and buy the dvd when they're released so that I can watch the episodes I wasn't able to catch.

Television just isn't a priority with me anymore. However, I adore my television box sets and watch them all the time - I can put them in whenever I feel like it, and that's the appeal.

[Michael24]

If I like a show, I'm gonna watch it at the time. And as expensive as TV sets can be, I won't even bother buying the DVD unless it's a show I really really like and can see myself watching frequently. I know some people who say they just buy the DVD for certain shows and don't bother watching it on TV at all. But if more and more people start doing that, the ratings could go down and the show could be cancelled, making a DVD release seem unprofitable. That's how I see it, anyway.

Sure, commercials are annoying and the amount of reruns we get during a season nowadays has become atrocious, but if it's a show I like, I want to watch it.

[Icer]

I usually watch shows as they come out, although I do find it enjoyably to watch a season set for past shows I missed. I'm not a patient guy

[Melon109]

I usually watch shows as they air on TV because I do not want to wait as long and I have time to watch them. I only buy the DVD sets of shows I really like or cancelled shows. It is just too expensive for me to buy DVD sets of all the shows I like.

[SirLemming]

TV is free and faster. Easy choice for me.

[CheshireKitten]

I'm incredibly picky when it comes to buying dvd sets. I actually don't own that many, but they do take up more of my dvd collection than movies. I won't buy a dvd set of a show that I've never seen, but if I own previous seasons of a show then it's likely that I'll buy the next season box set (unless the show takes a turn for the worse- if I can't watch then I usually keep up with them through friends or the internet, so I have an idea of what's going on).

[Simpler Simon]

Interesting idea about trading dvd sets like comics - never thought about doing that, but it makes perfect sense.

I personally don't have enough free cash to spend on blind season set purchases. Shows that I buy are ones I've watched on tv and know I want to show to others. There are a few older shows I want to try out (Dallas, Dukes of Hazzard), but unfortunately the video stores don't carry them and I'm debating the netflix option.

As for current ongoing shows, I usually watch em as aired as I cant bear waiting around for the sets. The later seasons of Smallville I suspect would fare much better watched in chunks.

[Mynd Hed]

Renting the DVDs is definitely the way to go for me, and Netflix is my renter of choice. For my money, you really can't beat it. No commercials, I can watch whenever I feel like it without mucking around with VCR timer settings and VHS tapes, blow through a season or two in as many weeks or space it out as I like. Plus, a Netflix subscription is cheaper than cable, and WAY cheaper than cable plus a TiVo plus extended digitial premium whatever so that I could get stuff like Six Feet Under.

Of course, it'll never completely take the place of TV, if only because of stuff like the Daily Show which would be impossible to give a full DVD release. But now even that is becoming less of an issue, since I can get the Daily Show on iTunes. That's the real future of TV as far as I'm concerned; pay-per-episode downloadable content. There are some kinks to be worked out to be sure, and it'll be a while before broadband Internet reaches the same kind of market penetration as a good old boob tube and a cable jack, but I really think it's the wave of the future.

[The Penguin]

Depends on the show for me. If it's something I know I want to watch, I'm just going to watch it. I only use the DVD thing to catch up on shows I missed, I watch the first season of 24 on DVD after I heard so many good things about it and then watch the second season as it happened. If I know I want to see a show when it starts, like Studio 60, I'm not going to sit and wait for it to be on DVD, I want to watch it when it's on. DVD gives you all of it right away, but there is something to be said for looking forward to the next episode and processing what just happened during the commericial breaks while you wait for the show to come back.


There are a few older shows I want to try out (Dallas, Dukes of Hazzard), but unfortunately the video stores don't carry them and I'm debating the netflix option.Dukes is on CMT last I checked. I definately recommend it.