Are we too quick to judge TV shows?

Actor Jamie Dornan reckons too much choice is leading viewers to make potentially bad decisions, writes Chris Stevenson

Jamie Dornan in new BBC show ‘The Tourist’ (BBC)

I started watching The Tourist over the weekend – one of the BBC’s big programmes for the new year. The first episode was shown on Saturday night on BBC1 (with the second one shown in the same slot on Sunday), while the full series is available via iPlayer.

I have to admit, I am a little on the fence about it. The programme has plenty to commend it, but the first episode didn’t scream ”unmissable” to me. However, the excellent Ed Cumming called it a “corker” in our review and reading his words caused me to reassess a bit – and give the show more of a chance.

So, I was interested to see that Jamie Dornan, the star of The Tourist, had made a similar point in a recent interview with the Radio Times. He said that viewers were “so spoilt for choice” that they are too quick to move on from shows.

“You’ve also got that ability now where if you’re not enjoying it, you move on to the next thing... Which I think is a bit dangerous,” he said.

“You know, it’s sad. How many times do we watch stuff and say, ‘I wasn’t sure, it took me three episodes to get into it’? But it’s still hard to get stuff made.

“If you’ve got to the stage of getting it made, chances are there’s something good in there, and you’ve just got to give it a chance,” the actor added.

I’m not sure I agree with the word “dangerous” but I was weighing up the merits of The Tourist versus a number of other shows I am part-way through watching – so I’m not going to abandon the show yet.

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I’d love to hear the views of readers on the subject of TV choice – are you constantly agonising over what to watch? Or do you think programmes just are the same as they used to be?

Yours,

Chris Stevenson

Premium editor