The night a stranger at a bar got me to finish The Leftovers

I was at this dive bar in Pittsburgh about 3 years back, complaining to a buddy that I couldn't get past season 2 of The Leftovers because it felt too weird. Some guy next to me overheard and just said, "Stick with it, episode 6 of season 2 is the payoff." He was super calm about it, not pushy at all, and then bought me a shot. I went home that night, pushed through, and he was right - that episode hooked me hard. Now I tell everyone the same thing when they're stuck on a slow burn show. Anybody else had a random stranger change your mind on a series like that?

2 comments

2 Comments

milap355d ago

Yo that is such a cool story! I had something kinda similar happen to me with The Wire. Was stuck on season 2 because it felt so slow compared to season 1, and this older guy at a coffee shop told me to just keep going because season 3 is where it all clicks. He was right too, season 3 hooked me so bad I binged the rest in a week. It's weird how sometimes you just need one person to tell you to push through, especially with a show that makes you work for it. Your stranger buying you a shot makes it even better, that's such a solid move. I love that you passed it on too, it's like this little chain of good advice.

lindaw125d ago

Oh man, that's exactly how it goes with those dense shows! I've been there too, and I'll tell you the trick is to stop trying to catch every little detail on the first watch. Just let it wash over you and trust that the payoff is coming. For me, dropping the pressure to understand everything immediately made all the difference. And yeah, Season 2 of The Wire can be a slog with the whole dock storyline, but you gotta remember it's setting up stuff for later seasons. Sometimes you just gotta lower your expectations and let the show do its thing, right?