Question about "pre-viewing" episodes

[justalurkr]

While I know that no one on my flist would do anything so reprehensible as download a television episode from the internet because it hadn't aired yet in their country or because their VCR/DVR done them wrong...but some of us have Really Good Friends who do, right?

:D

I'm one of those freaks who not only wakes up one morning to find that the episode fairy has left a gift on her hard drive, but also watches the ep when it actually airs (or in the case of misbehaving recording equipment, reruns, & usually buys the DVD when it's released;) and I am now wondering:

Has anyone out there ever "pre-viewed" an episode, absolutely loved it, then seen it as regularly scheduled and thought "Was I on crack?"

In other words, does the thrill of the forbidden "pre-view" ever spice up the viewing experience for you?

Comments

[captain-tiv.livejournal.com]

I did something one time that I have regretted ever since so I try very hard not to make the same mistake.

I saw Grace on a download before I saw it on television. I honestly don't know why I did that. Once upon a time, I'd get the download and just not watch it because it wasn't long until it would air in the States. Grace, though, what was I thinking??? Since I narrate the episodes, that means I had to watch that drek of an episode twice. *shudder* I decided not to do that again.

There are some I want to see so badly that it's a constant reminder to "not watch the episode early no matter how much you want to." It's hard, but when I narrate, I want to have gut reactions that happen at the moment, not some that have simmered and boiled for a few weeks.

Now, that said, there have been some that I did see before it aired here (that was when I could only get squinty) and I loved it more when I could see it clearly. The squinty version really got me psyched to see it clearly.

[nialla]

Hmm... don't think I've ever had the "Loved it, was I on crack?" reaction.

I have had a few where I watched the first time and enjoyed the surface level squee factor, but not enough to enjoy the rest of it on a repeat viewing. Doesn't matter if it's a "preview" or a second showing though.

I like the "preview" factor because I can often watch it relatively unspoiled, discuss with others who've seen it, and watch the "real deal" with a different eye. I often catch bits I'd miss otherwise, mostly because others point them out.

I do have a lot of episodes that I enjoyed the first time around, but after later events, I didn't like them. Not a "crack" reaction either, just that later events tainted my reaction to earlier ones.