Netflix's Ad for "Breaking Bad" in Cinemas

ixoy

Just saw an ad for Netflix in the cinema advertising the fact it's showing the final season of "Breaking Bad". It featured clips most heavily from season five, including one from the final episode before the season break. I know they're trying to get customers by advertising they're going to air the final few but if I were watching earlier seasons I'd be well pissed at the potential spoilers shown.

Anyone else seen the ad?

Wobbuffet

I saw it over the weekend. I was with a friend who had only seen up to the end of Season 4. I felt pretty bad for him as there were some bad spoilers in the ad.

April O Neill

How long after a show airs should there be spoiler alerts? You can't spoiler everything because someone might potentially start watching the show. The ad would be appealing to the people who have watched it all. If you don't watch the show currently, you're likely not to even remember what happened in the spoilers too well, as you're not going to be familiar with the characters. I saw a few "spoilers" before I started watching the show in 2012, it didn't lessen my enjoyment as I didn't really commit those spoilers to memory. Why would I? I had no investment in any of the characters featured, at that stage.

The One Who Knocks

Dumbledore Dies?????......WHAT?????

Footoo

April O Neill wrote: »

How long after a show airs should there be spoiler alerts? You can't spoiler everything because someone might potentially start watching the show. The ad would be appealing to the people who have watched it all. If you don't watch the show currently, you're likely not to even remember what happened in the spoilers too well, as you're not going to be familiar with the characters. I saw a few "spoilers" before I started watching the show in 2012, it didn't lessen my enjoyment as I didn't really commit those spoilers to memory. Why would I? I had no investment in any of the characters featured, at that stage.

Exactly. Anyone that hasn't started the will not be able to contextualise the trailers and once they've caught up will have completely forgot what they've seen.

The only people I'd have sympathy for are those that are currently up to season 3 or 4. and even at that, why the hell aren't they caught up by now? The show has been on air for nearly six years and has been seriously hyped for 2 or 3 years. plenty of time to be caught up for the final few episodes.

rubadub

April O Neill wrote: »

How long after a show airs should there be spoiler alerts?

Depends on the show.

I would not like to see trailers as I might simply see characters I recognise, they do not have to be doing or saying anything in a trailer, I know they will survive until that series. So if something was happening where I thought a character might be on his way out it would ruin it for me. I try to avoid even the program title names.

Footoo wrote: »

The only people I'd have sympathy for are those that are currently up to season 3 or 4. and even at that, why the hell aren't they caught up by now?

I only began watching it when I knew it was going to actually finish. I was delighted I never bothered with Lost when I saw how many series it ended up having, and hearing people just gave up on it.

I love Brian Cranston and loved the whole premise of breaking bad, I knew I would like it, but held off. I had the boxsets in my house (not mine) for years but wanted to watch them all closely together. I have watched all 5 boxsets in the last 3 weeks.

April O Neill

rubadub wrote: »

Depends on the show.

Does it? IMO, anything that has aired and is freely available is fair game to be "spoiled".

You started watching a few weeks ago, but all the episodes previous to Season 5, Part II have been available for a year now.

December2012

If it's been on tv for more than a day then it's fair game. How about the person maybe closes their eyes?

rubadub

April O Neill wrote: »

Does it?

It does to me. If I was the maker of malcolm in the middle I wouldn't have cared as much about people seeing episodes recently released, some are more prone to be spoiled, that's what I'm getting at. If I was the maker of breaking bad I would, as I would not like to think I lost money by people not bothering to buy it, or being pissed off at seeing it.

I also have respect for makers who do a bit extra to stop programs or films being spoiled, like requesting no twist to be revealed, or even mention of a twist. Some films have had it widely known there is a twist, which then ruined it for me as I spotted it and probably would not otherwise have.

April O Neill wrote: »

You started watching a few weeks ago, but all the episodes previous to Season 5, Part II have been available for a year now.

Yes, I was just explaining why some people might hold off watching, even if they had full access to them.

December2012 wrote: »

How about the person maybe closes their eyes?

And ears, which can be hard in a cinema, I would rather not have to look like tool with fingers in my ears and eyes closed! Trailers are one thing that puts me off the cinema.

shrewdness

I'd have to agree with the point about not remembering spoilers if you see them before watching the show. A while before I started watching Breaking Bad heavily( I only started watching between seasons 4 and 5), I stumbled upon a video on Youtube which showed (BIG end of season 4 spoiler)

Gus walking out of the room after the explosion with half his face blown off

, I thought nothing of it, but when I watched up to that point I''d completely forgotton, I only remembered having seen it a while after, so it had no impact on my enjoyment of it!

April O Neill

rubadub wrote: »

It does to me.

But they can't please everyone, how could they, even if they wanted to? The Netflix crowd would have aimed that ad at people who are already hooked.

I'm a bit biased though as I've never freaked out about spoilers like other people do.

rubadub

Another reason people might not have seen them is they were simply not old enough. I expect some parents are more strict and do stick to age ratings to some degree. So somebody who is just turned 15-16 now might be allowed watch 18's stuff now.

This is why it also annoys me to see older films with twists revealed, either the full twist or just the fact it has one. You see this at film awards etc its like its assumed everybody would have seen it by now.

ixoy

I'm someone who hates spoilers. If I'd seen that ad while watching the show, but not being up to date, I would have been able to work out details. As to how long it's been available.. The latest season has only been on Netflix here legally right? So there shouldn't be an assumption about having seen it.

April O Neill

ixoy wrote: »

I'm someone who hates spoilers. If I'd seen that ad while watching the show, but not being up to date, I would have been able to work out details. As to how long it's been available.. The latest season has only been on Netflix here legally right? So there shouldn't be an assumption about having seen it.

Season 5 Part 1 has aired on TG4 in the past year.

It's unfortunate you saw it, but it's not a spoiler.

snausages

I've never found my enjoyment if a tv series lessened by knowing what was coming. Even when the red wedding in GoT was spoiled (don't google it if you don't know what it is) it didn't make the scene itself any less shocking. A good series isn't good just by its twists and turns.

Obviously I still try to avoid having things revealed to me before they happen but not to the extent that I'm avoiding reading the name of the episode i'm watching and getting upset over vague plot synopsis. That's taking it to a ridiculous level IMO.

April O Neill

snausages wrote: »

I've never found my enjoyment if a tv series lessened by knowing what was coming. Even when the red wedding in GoT was spoiled (don't google it if you don't know what it is) it didn't make the scene itself any less shocking. A good series isn't good just by its twists and turns.

Obviously I still try to avoid having things revealed to me before they happen but not to the extent that I'm avoiding reading the name of the episode i'm watching and getting upset over vague plot synopsis. That's taking it to a ridiculous level IMO.

+1

If a programme is well-made, it should still entertain even if you know what's coming. If it doesn't, then it's likely not a rewatchable show.

rubadub

April O Neill wrote: »

It's unfortunate you saw it, but it's not a spoiler.

Not by your definition, he could still consider it a spoiler. I think more would disagree with your definition than agree about things being "fair game".

snausages wrote: »

I'm avoiding reading the name of the episode i'm watching and getting upset over vague plot synopsis. That's taking it to a ridiculous level IMO.

I am glad I didn't read episode names, though most are very innocuous in breaking bad. There is 1 episode name that would have rightly lead to me believe a character would survive until later series, which I would rather not know, and did wonder would he go onwards.

You might call it ridiculous, but I know several people who have ruined films & programs for me by telling me things "that do not matter". For me its simply safer not to risk it.

I do not watch GoT and have no intention to, from your program name I would guess there is a

bloodbath at a wedding

if there was no inclination before this I would have been pissed off to read that program name, many would not of course. If I was not bothered I would still have respect for those that might.

April O Neill wrote: »

If a programme is well-made, it should still entertain even if you know what's coming.

I have been entertained by loads of films which had plots revealed to me. I would have enjoyed most of them even more without knowing. There are some films that I will read up on beforehand myself, purposely revealing the plot to me. It depends on what it is.

April O Neill

rubadub wrote: »

Not by your definition, he could still consider it a spoiler.

It's not though. He's annoyed he saw it. Fair enough. Still not a spoiler.

Dunno how many would agree or disagree in general. But on this thread at least, most people seem to agree with me.

bren2001

rubadub wrote: »

Not by your definition, he could still consider it a spoiler. I think more would disagree with your definition than agree about things being "fair game".

It has aired on Irish TV. It aint a spoiler at all. It is unfortunate that it was seen. Its like saying the ads for Homeland on rte are a spoiler. For someone watching season 1 it would be very easy to deduce that

Brody does not blow himself up in the bunker

ixoy

I was completely up-to-date on these episodes - nothing was spoilt for me. However, if I hadn't been I'd have been spoilt and it would have annoyed me because there was no real need to use such blatant spoilers - the ad could easily have been structured in a better manner.

For what it's worth, I'm obviously not alone in it. From a post on the 'Elysium' thread in the Films forum:

on a side note who thought the netflix advert for Breaking Bad being show before it was a good idea? giganto spoilers throughout it! it's short so most people probably wont recall it but jesus, it ends with a massive plot spoiler.

The writers would choose the pace at which reveals / changes are made. Knowing in advance can rule out that element of surprise. In this instance it seemed very heavy handed and, unlike with a TV station, you can't just switch the channel quickly. Or would you really not mind know the twists we see within episodes in advance?

April O Neill

ixoy wrote: »

Or would you really not mind know the twists we see within episodes in advance?

I've read ahead on episodes before, and still enjoyed them hugely when I watched them. So no, it really doesn't bother me. It's always been a source of annoyance for me how much people freak out at the faint suggestion of a spoiler. Relax people, seriously. :rolleyes:

rubadub

April O Neill wrote: »

So no, it really doesn't bother me. It's always been a source of annoyance for me how much people freak out at the faint suggestion of a spoiler. Relax people, seriously. :rolleyes:

So you do realise many DO get upset, and yet see to just not really care much about them, in fact you seem them as an annoyance. Now this really annoys me, I know several people who think nothing of ruining films & programs for others, some are unaware they do it. I know one guy who actually revels in it.

Cop on and show some respect, seriously :rolleyes:

I suspect the likes of you annoy them a lot more than they annoy you.

Lovely Bloke

You have to remember, by her own admission, April lives in a world where Skylar isn't a bitch and spoilers aren't annoying.

April O Neill

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

You have to remember, by her own admission, April lives in a world where Skylar isn't a bitch and spoilers aren't annoying.

Never said Skylar wasn't a bit of a bitch, as I've repeated ad nauseum, in a regular every day world, she ain't great.

And spoilers don't annoy me. That is the truth. Should I pretend they do?

April O Neill

rubadub wrote: »

Cop on and show some respect, seriously :rolleyes:

I don't need a lecture, thanks. There wasn't even much agreement with the OP in this thread. Seriously.

rubadub

April O Neill wrote: »

And spoilers don't annoy me. That is the truth. Should I pretend they do?

Of course you should not pretend, did you think someone suggested you should?

This will be a weird comparison/analogy, but here goes. Many people are completely averse to cucumber and coriander, they find them utterly vile, and can completely ruin any dish they are in.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriander#Variation_in_taste_response
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucumber#Taste

Now many people do not mind them, but most find them innocuous, they could take it or leave it, e.g. I don't think I have ever heard someone say "you know what this is missing that would make it perfect, cucumber". I don't know anybody who utterly adores cucumbers, coriander -or spoilers.

I know people who utterly despise them though, so I have great respect for that.

If I was having a dinner party I would not use them. If I was a chef I would go out of my way to put warnings or at least mention its use on the menu if I was asked to use them against my will.

I do not get annoyed when people exclaim their hatred at the faintest suggestion of corriander or cucumber in their food, I understand how averse they are to it, and how it can completely ruin their experience, even though it mightn't bother me in the slightest.

Vaxxine

Look, we can't all be 'tip-toe'ing' around people who aren't up to speed on TV series', be it BB or whatever. Fair enough, it's **** when you do happen to catch a spoiler, but Netflix or AMC shouldn't have to refrain from showing clips of previous seasons' episodes, this is what happens, deal with it.
They're not concerned with who did or didn't watch the seasons prior to this one, it's their prerogative.

snausages

The worst one of all though is the poster for season 5 of Dexter. If you're spoiler-averse that is.

Vaxxine

I've still a lot of catching up to do on Dexter, I've only seen first season, but if I see ads or posters, or hear something about the seasons I've yet to watch,then I'm not gonna bat an eye lid. It's what they do, it's advertising :cool:

Footoo

snausages wrote: »

The worst one of all though is the poster for season 5 of Dexter. If you're spoiler-averse that is.

Don't watch Dexter, but you have remember that networks have to advertise new episodes of their show, be that on tv ads, cinema trailers, posters etc.

These adverts are aimed at the people who have seen them up to date, therefore there will be spoilers.

Should the networks not advertise new episodes for fear of annoying the people who haven't even watched their show?

Vaxxine

Footoo wrote: »

Don't watch Dexter, but you have remember that networks have to advertise new episodes of their show, be that on tv ads, cinema trailers, posters etc.

These adverts are aimed at the people who have seen them up to date, therefore there will be spoilers.

Should the networks not advertise new episodes for fear of annoying the people who haven't even watched their show?

Spot on, similar to what I said in my last comment. How else are they going to advertise?!!

Zwillinge

I've seen this ad and was genuinely surprised that in a culture where "No spoilers" is so frequently said, especially with people who would subscribe to Netflix, that Netflix went ahead with it

I was up to date when I seen the ad, but I got to tell my brother, who's only started Season5, about it. He's since been to the cinema twice.
With my warning, he put his hands over his ears and closed his eyes. The girl he was with thought he was a bit mad :pac::pac:

Second time, he opened the door, walked down the aisle, seen the giant Netflix/Breaking Bad intro and walked back out of the cinema and waited two minutes outside while people passed by giving him funny looks

Told him it's time to catch up!!

The One Who Knocks

Fair enough it's expected most people are up to date, but having now seen the trailer myself, it does give away a lot for people who have never watched it before. You're supposed to be shocked in season 1 when Walt starts cooking & kills krazy 8....but that clip of heisenberg with the huge pile of money kinda ruins the surprise for you, it pretty much tells you that he has completely changed without giving you the chance to experience it with him.

Part of the magic for me was seeing a old chemistry teacher start cooking meth in an RV, then upgrade his lab to a state of the art underground facility, and then to the fumigation houses...Now I know the show stands for a lot more than some "chemistry teacher turned badass" but it was still amazing to see the change in Walt, and it's a pity the ad just tells you what happens.

I think it's fair to say the ad is about Heisenberg, and not Walter White...and for someone who's never seen BB, they shouldn't even know that Heisenberg exists in the first place. That's my main issue with the ad I suppose.

Having said that, there's not much else in the way of spoilers, nothing that someone would be able to make sense of anyway.