The superfan focus groups article was en interesting read. It's crazy how some vocal minorities will do eveything to ruin the experience for others. I've been checking IMDB ratings for new shows and seeing a large amount of 1 star reviews almost always means there is diversity in a show that has a primarily male conservative fanbase. Now I take the review bombing as a signal I might like the show.
I know there's a phenomenon of toxic (often male) fans reviewing bombing like that, but anecdotally I feel many people are simply increasingly prone to hyberbole online. People have one bad experience with one employee at a business and give it a single star review instead of what should probably reasonably be a 2, 3, or even 4 star review if it's a one-off situation. Similarly, I think a lot of people (women included) who are turned off by complex or "unlikable" characters undeservedly give 1 star ratings to tv and film works. Like you, though, I've begun to recognize that a show or movie with a suspicious number of 1 star reviews is probably something I'll actually appreciate.
I agree that's it's unfortunate a vocal minority makes giving rational criticism hard, especially when people like you ignore it and assume everyone who doesn't like it is a raving bigot.
Maybe reading some of those reviews and trying to understand the problems fans have would be better instead of always assuming the worst? Like century old elven smith's being told about mixing metals like it's somehow a new concept to them. Or the re use of gandalf when he shouldn't be there. Or the pathetic depiction of Numenor.
Or just rely on outrage culture and jump to the extreme end of the spectrum. Because that's always an intelligent response.
It's actually incredible simple. LOTR isn't niche at all and fans wanted an accurate adaptation of the second age and amazon completely biffed it. Sauron brought the amazing gift of mixing metals to the smithing elves, wow they never thought of that one huh?
Nobody wants to see recycled beats from the Peter Jackson movies in an inferior show. You can be the most expensive thing ever, if your writing is bad there's no saving that.
The superfan focus groups article was en interesting read. It's crazy how some vocal minorities will do eveything to ruin the experience for others. I've been checking IMDB ratings for new shows and seeing a large amount of 1 star reviews almost always means there is diversity in a show that has a primarily male conservative fanbase. Now I take the review bombing as a signal I might like the show.
I know there's a phenomenon of toxic (often male) fans reviewing bombing like that, but anecdotally I feel many people are simply increasingly prone to hyberbole online. People have one bad experience with one employee at a business and give it a single star review instead of what should probably reasonably be a 2, 3, or even 4 star review if it's a one-off situation. Similarly, I think a lot of people (women included) who are turned off by complex or "unlikable" characters undeservedly give 1 star ratings to tv and film works. Like you, though, I've begun to recognize that a show or movie with a suspicious number of 1 star reviews is probably something I'll actually appreciate.
I agree that's it's unfortunate a vocal minority makes giving rational criticism hard, especially when people like you ignore it and assume everyone who doesn't like it is a raving bigot.
Maybe reading some of those reviews and trying to understand the problems fans have would be better instead of always assuming the worst? Like century old elven smith's being told about mixing metals like it's somehow a new concept to them. Or the re use of gandalf when he shouldn't be there. Or the pathetic depiction of Numenor.
Or just rely on outrage culture and jump to the extreme end of the spectrum. Because that's always an intelligent response.
It's actually incredible simple. LOTR isn't niche at all and fans wanted an accurate adaptation of the second age and amazon completely biffed it. Sauron brought the amazing gift of mixing metals to the smithing elves, wow they never thought of that one huh?
Nobody wants to see recycled beats from the Peter Jackson movies in an inferior show. You can be the most expensive thing ever, if your writing is bad there's no saving that.