Engineering:Hate-watching

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Hate-watching is the activity of consuming media, usually a television show or a film with the intention of acquiring amusement from the mockery of its content or subject.[1] Closely related to anti-fan behaviours, viewers who partake in hate-watching derive pleasure and entertainment from a show's absurdities or failures.[2] The act of hate-watching is premised on the audience engaging with media through a satirical lens.[2] Driven by the rise of streaming platforms and social media, hate-watching is rooted in a set of psychological and social motivations and cannot entirely prevent excesses despite its harmless origin.

History

Theorisation

Early online hate-watching communities emerged with sites like Television Without Pity in 1998, which gleefully criticised every new episode of the teen series Dawson's Creek, before New Yorker critique Emily Nussbaum theorised the phenomenon in 2012.[3] She described in an article the short-lived Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as a show people loved to hate-watch, as "it was bad in a truly spectacular way—you could learn something from it, about self-righteous TV speechifying and failed satire and the dangers of letting a brilliant showrunner like [Aaron] Sorkin run loose to settle all his grudges in fictional form".[4]

Entertainment Weekly and other publications noted the difference between hate-watching and watching as a guilty pleasure.[5] "You wouldn't tune in every week to hate-watch a really bad reality show. Generally speaking, hate-watching requires a TV series with high ambitions and features a certain amount of aesthetic perfection".[6]

While guilty pleasures are shows enjoyed despite acknowledged flaws, hate-watching involves actively seeking out and criticizing those flaws. Shows like Emily in Paris, which have high production value but are considered poorly written or unrealistic and ultimately fall short of expectations, are prime examples. That is also why some initially well-received shows, like The Bold Type, can become objects of hate-watching as their quality declines.[7]

However, some, like Andrew Fleming, producer of Emily in Paris, doubt the existence of genuine hate-watching, suggesting that viewers are simply driven by a desire to mock popular entertainment.[3]

Evolution

The rise of social media significantly popularized hate-watching, and streaming services, with their binge-watching model, further contributed to the phenomenon. The ability to binge-watch entire seasons at once made it easier to consume and interact with large amounts of content, even if it is disliked.[7]

The popularity of hate-watching on social media can make poorly received shows trending topics. This can lead to increased viewership and ultimately benefit the show. As the term gained popularity, many anti-fans have asked others to not hate-watch, as they believe doing so will have the unintended effect of making the media they dislike seem more popular than if they had not hate-watched.[8] Velma is one such example of this phenomenon, where hate-watching is supposedly the lead cause of the show being renewed for a second season.[9]

Hate-watching, because of the streaming algorithms focused on viewership metrics, can indeed contribute to a show's success even if viewers dislike it. This can create a self-perpetuating cycle of hate-watching and ultimately encourage the production of "hate-watchable" content, potentially lowering the overall quality of programming.[7]

In a Los Angeles Times article describing the complexity of effects of U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump's November 2015 appearance on Saturday Night Live as host, writer Mary McNamara references the hate-watching phenomenon as a reason that ratings alone are not an indication of support.[10] An article from The New York Times also pointed out the successful ratings for Trump's presidency.[11]

Motivations

Some viewers may hate-watch to assert their good taste and cultural superiority by criticizing supposedly inferior programs. In a February 2020 article, Spanish television reviewer Borja Terán described the reason behind the success of Telecinco and its reality show-based lineup (specifically mentioning Supervivientes, the nineteenth season of which had premiered the night prior to the post): "the viewer feels superior to the guinea pigs taking part in the televised competition. They feel better with themselves and evade from personal problems by spending energy torpedoing a mere entertainment they follow through a screen."[12]

Social aspects of hate-watching

Hate-watching can be a shared experience, allowing viewers to achieve a sense of community and validation among those who share the same negative opinions about a show or a film. Viewers often share their critiques online, with their friends and followers on social media and forums.[3]

Eventually, some hate-watching communities can demonstrate an even stronger engagement for a piece of media than traditional fandoms through a genuine, albeit negative, attachment.[13]

Relationship with anti-fan culture

Contrary to typical fan behaviour where audience members consume a piece of media with the intent to acquire pleasure from its contents, the pleasure anti-fans derive from a piece of media is rooted in its perceived shortcomings. Viewers engage in hate-watching for the amusement derived from mocking its content or subject.[2]

In a study conducted in 2005 on Television Without Pity, a since-defunct website that hosted discussions about television shows, Gray points out the patterns of anti-fan behaviours exhibited by its users. Unlike individuals who participate in fandom culture out of love for a particular piece of media, anti-fans engage with a piece of media out of dislike for it. The forums hosted on Television Without Pity expressed anti-fan sentiments where users would watch a television show, often critiquing and pointing out its perceived shortcomings.[14]

Psychological explanations

Hate is more intense and morally charged than dislike. The person is more likely to simply change the channel if said person dislikes the show. Watching something that elicits negative emotions like hate, disgust, or contempt allows viewers to release aggressive impulses without guilt or harm. Experiencing such strong emotions, even negative ones, can trigger the release of "happy hormones" like oxytocin, dopamine, and serotonin.[15]

Hated shows feel personally offensive and encourage a desire to take action, such as by commenting or tweeting. Hate-watching can also be a way for viewers to explore their limits of tolerance for bad content, pushing boundaries of discomfort and challenging themselves.[13]

Risks

Even though hate-watching is mostly lighthearted and humor-oriented, it can sometimes mask genuine hate speech, particularly targeting marginalized groups. It can desensitize viewers to such criticism and attacks, making them more prone to hate speech in other areas of their life. The negative emotional release and social validation associated with hate-watching can become excessive and even addictive.[3]

Examples of hate-watching shows

Examples of hate-watching films

See also

References

  1. ↑ 'Hate Watching' Is Mostly Just Being Embarrassed by Your Own Tastes|Jezebel
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Cohen, Elizabeth L.; Knight, Jennifer; Mullin, Matt; Herbst, Ryleigh; Leach, Bryce; Shelledy, Alex; Rebich, Danica (April 2021). "Loving to hate the Kardashians: Examining the interaction of character liking and hate-watching on the social influence of a reality TV show" (in en). Psychology of Popular Media 10 (2): 136–148. doi:10.1037/ppm0000284. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2020-20939-001. Retrieved 2022-02-12. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 3.8 "Le "hate-watching", ou l'art de massacrer les séries qu'on adore abhorrer" (in fr). 2022-06-11. https://www.telerama.fr/ecrans/le-hate-watching-ou-l-art-de-massacrer-les-series-qu-on-adore-abhorrer-7010845.php. 
  4. ↑ Nussbaum, Emily. "Hate-Watching "Smash"". The New Yorker. http://www.newyorker.com/online/blogs/culture/2012/04/hate-watching-smash.html. Retrieved 2013-10-26. 
  5. ↑ Are You Hurting Your Brain By "Hate-Watching" Bad Television? Gizmodo.
  6. ↑ Franich, Darren (August 16, 2012). "The Rise of Hate-Watching: Which TV shows do you love to despise?". Entertainment Weekly. https://ew.com/article/2012/08/16/newsroom-smash-glee-hatewatch/. Retrieved February 28, 2020. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Wilkinson, Alissa (August 19, 2024). "Emily in Paris' and the TV Shows We Love To 'Hate-Watch". https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/19/arts/television/hatewatching-emily-in-paris.html. 
  8. ↑ Cramer, Jude (January 17, 2023). "Velma's Hate-Watchers Have Propelled The Show to Massive Success" (in en-US). https://www.intomore.com/tv/velmas-hate-watchers-propelled-show-massive-success/. 
  9. ↑ "'Velma' May Get a Second Season Despite Online Backlash" (in en-US). 2023-01-17. https://www.them.us/story/velma-renewed-second-season-online-backlash. 
  10. ↑ McNamara, Mary (November 27, 2015). "Why huge 'SNL' ratings won't help Donald Trump become president". Los Angeles Times. http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-critics-notebook-donald-trump-snl-ratings-20151107-column.html. Retrieved March 27, 2018. 
  11. ↑ The futility of hate-watching Trump's coronavirus briefings The Boston Globe.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Terán, Borja (21 February 2020). "'Hate-watching', el odio que ayuda a perpetuar éxitos televisivos" (in Spanish). https://www.lainformacion.com/opinion/borja-teran/hate-watching-odiar-para-ver/6545412/. Retrieved 21 February 2020. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Travers, Mark. "A Psychologist Explains Why We 'Hate-Watch' Cringe TV" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2023/09/22/a-psychologist-explains-why-we-hate-watch-cringe-tv/. 
  14. ↑ Gray, Jonathan (March 2005). "Antifandom and the Moral Text". American Behavioral Scientist 48 (7): 840–858. doi:10.1177/0002764204273171. ISSN 0002-7642. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0002764204273171. 
  15. ↑ "Le "hate watching" vous fait regarder des films que vous détestez (et vous adorez ça)" (in fr). 2019-11-10. https://www.huffingtonpost.fr/culture/article/le-hate-watching-vous-fait-regarder-des-films-que-vous-detestez-et-vous-adorez-ca_154624.html. 
  16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Hogan, Michael (8 October 2020). "Why hate-watching the awful Emily In Paris is killing the Netflix shows you love". The Daily Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/hate-watching-awful-emily-paris-killing-netflix-shows-love/. 
  17. ↑ "Why does Owen Cooper hate watching himself on screen? The ‘Adolescence’ star reveals all" mathrubhumi. 12 April 2025.
  18. ↑ "Tuning Out: Why I Stopped Watching "Alias"". April 19, 2006. https://www.jacelacob.com/televisionary//2006/04/tuning-out-why-i-stopped-watching.html. Retrieved April 14, 2022. 
  19. ↑ "Why Alias Ended After Five Seasons". January 25, 2021. https://www.cbr.com/alias-end-five-seasons/. Retrieved November 27, 2024. 
  20. ↑ "Everything We Know About 'American Horror Story' Season 13 & What We Want to See in the "Final" Season" (in en). April 4, 2025. https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3862926/everything-we-know-about-american-horror-story-season-13-what-we-want-to-see-in-the-final-season/. 
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 21.4 I ❤️ a Hate-Watch. Don’t You? – The New York Times
  22. ↑ 22.00 22.01 22.02 22.03 22.04 22.05 22.06 22.07 22.08 22.09 22.10 22.11 22.12 22.13 22.14 22.15 22.16 22.17 22.18 22.19 20 Netflix shows and movies that critics hated, from Emily in Paris to Secret Obsession|The Independent
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 FOMO? Rage? Pleasure? How and why we hate-watch|Connecticut Public
  24. ↑ (in en) The Americans Execute Barney The Dinosaur, July 31, 2017, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1bQWssCv84, retrieved 2022-12-17 
  25. ↑ "Barney the purple dinosaur was the role of his life. Then came the haters." (in en). October 10, 2022. https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/barney-purple-dinosaur-was-role-life-came-haters-rcna50654. 
  26. ↑ Barrett, Gena-mour (23 August 2018). "Big Bang Theory: America's most-loved and hated TV show". BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-45282905. 
  27. ↑ Hyde, Gregory (2022-03-27). "Why So Many People Hate The Big Bang Theory (But Love Young Sheldon)" (in en). https://screenrant.com/big-bang-theory-young-sheldon-hate-love-nostalgia/. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 Fans Hate Netflix’s Castlevania: Nocturne Cosmic Book.News
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 29.6 10 TV Shows You Love To Hate Watch, If You're Anything Like Us HuffPost.
  30. ↑ Devil May Cry's Netflix Anime Is Dividing Fans Big Time Push Square
  31. ↑ "Love it or Hate it: Devil May Cry's Netflix Adaptation Just Saved The Franchise". April 8, 2025. https://www.cbr.com/devil-may-cry-netflix-anime-helped-game-popularity/. 
  32. ↑ "Embarrassing": Netflix' 'Emily in Paris' Blasted by French Critics The Hollywood Reporter.
  33. ↑ Emily in Paris: Darren Star's Netflix series is the hate watch we can't stop watching Slate.
  34. ↑ "Essay: There Is No Such Thing as Hate-Watching". October 14, 2021. https://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/tv/a37964749/hate-watching-doesnt-exist-essay/. 
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Hate-watching is fun, but could Rebecca and Emily in Paris spark a race to the bottom?". October 23, 2020. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/features/rebecca-review-netflix-armie-hammer-lily-james-emily-in-paris-b1223637.html. 
  36. ↑ The Psychology Behind Why We Hate-Watch Huffpost.
  37. ↑ How did Euphoria become the most loved and hated show on TV? The Guardian.
  38. ↑ Why Fallout: New Vegas fans are so angry about the TV series Dexerto
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 Viral Video of the Day: ‘The Simpsons’ Meet ‘Family Guy’ The Daily Beast.
  40. ↑ Fernandez, Maisy (August 5, 2008). "I Love/Hate New York". https://www.mtv.com/news/o6dagx/i-lovehate-new-york. 
  41. ↑ Lavoipierre, Ange (Jul 27, 2022). "Is hate-watching TV shows something you love? Here are 10 of our faves to binge on". https://www.abc.net.au/everyday/the-best-hate-watch-tv-shows-of-all-time/101259430. 
  42. ↑ I Watched Every Episode of ‘Full House’ and I Want to Die The Daily Beast
  43. ↑ Tufekci, Zeynep. "The Real Reason Fans Hate the Last Season of Game of Thrones" (in en). https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/the-real-reason-fans-hate-the-last-season-of-game-of-thrones/. 
  44. ↑ 44.0 44.1 44.2 It's Official: Everyone Loves to Hate-Watch TV Dramas - PRIMETIMER
  45. ↑ Borrelli, Christopher (February 24, 2013). "What does hate-watching mean?". https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-xpm-2013-02-24-chi-borrelli-hate-watch-20130221-story.html. Retrieved February 28, 2020. 
  46. ↑ Five Reasons We Hate Glee: Sing on That Drama Nerds! Miami New Times.
  47. ↑ 47.0 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 11 Movies and TV Shows I Hate-Watched CordCutting
  48. ↑ 48.0 48.1 48.2 ""'Hate Watching' Is Mostly Just Being Embarrassed by Your Own Tastes"". February 6, 2013. https://www.jezebel.com/hate-watching-is-mostly-just-being-embarrassed-by-your-5982222. 
  49. ↑ 49.0 49.1 49.2 49.3 "Are You Hurting Your Brain By "Hate-Watching" Bad Television?" (in en-US). 2014-11-03. https://gizmodo.com/is-hate-watching-bad-for-you-1654143313. 
  50. ↑ Cowan, Jill (June 25, 2019). "California Today: Revisiting 'The Hills' in 2019". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/25/us/the-hills-reboot-california.html. 
  51. ↑ HGTV House Hunters Hate-Watching Studies Apartment Therapy.
  52. ↑ Despite everyone being warned against hate-watching ‘The Idol,’ it's getting watched and hated anyway|We Got This Covered.
  53. ↑ Dixon, Mary. Trash TV? Salt Lake City Weekly, May 26, 1998
  54. ↑ "'The Last of Us': Everything Fans Disliked About the Series, According to Reddit" Collider
  55. ↑ 8938061.html Love Island: Why it's time to stop hate-watching the ITV2 show The Independent.
  56. ↑ "Enough Quirkiness! Why I Can’t Stand Zooey Deschanel." New Republic
  57. ↑ What does hate-watching mean? Chicago Tribune.
  58. ↑ Spangler, Todd (June 29, 2016). "Data Science Proves We Love to Hate-Watch TV". https://variety.com/2016/digital/news/data-study-hate-watch-tv-canvs-1201805727/. Retrieved February 28, 2020. 
  59. ↑ Haglund, David (December 28, 2012). "Why the Word of the Year Is Hate-Watching". Slate. https://slate.com/culture/2012/12/2012-word-of-the-year-hate-watching-is-the-best-choice.html. Retrieved February 29, 2020. 
  60. ↑ Why I Stopped Watching Rick And Morty Cinemablend
  61. ↑ Why Rick and Morty Seems to Attract the Most Toxic Fans MovieWeb
  62. ↑ [Is hate-watching TV shows something you love? Here are 10 of our faves to binge on - 07-22-2023]
  63. ↑ ‘Soooo trashy,’ say the many hate-watching Netflix's ‘Singapore Social’
  64. ↑ Goodman, Tim (February 5, 2013). "Tim Goodman on TV's Newest Trend: 'Hate Watching'". https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/bastard-machine/hate-watching-smash-is-latest-418392. Retrieved February 28, 2020. 
  65. ↑ Nussbaum, Emily (April 27, 2012). "Hate-Watching "Smash"". The New Yorker. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/hate-watching-smash. Retrieved February 28, 2020. 
  66. ↑ Elhenawy, Laila (June 27, 2025). "10 Harsh Realities of Rewatching Sons of Anarchy 17 Years Later". Comic Book Resources. https://www.cbr.com/sons-of-anarchy-harsh-reality-rewatch-list/. Retrieved August 1, 2025. 
  67. ↑ ‘Picard’ Showrunner Expected Unhappy Fans & Explains How He “Hate-Watched” ‘The Next Generation’ The Playlist
  68. ↑ Do 'Star Trek' Fans Really Hate 'Picard'? TheThings
  69. ↑ "Why Being a Hater Feels So Good" (in en-US). 2022-08-17. https://www.vice.com/en/article/why-hate-watching-tv-movie-social-media-explained-psychology/. 
  70. ↑ How to Hate Watch True Blood Esquire.
  71. ↑ King, Jade (2023-01-16). "Please Stop Hate Watching Velma" (in en). https://www.thegamer.com/velma-hate-watching-hbo-max-reviews-fans-mindy-kaling/. 
  72. ↑ Most Hated HBO Show Gets Season 2 Greenlight, “Hate-Watching” Named Culprit Inside the Magic.
  73. ↑ The joy of hate-watching BBC Culture.
  74. ↑ "More manipulative than meaningful, 'Watchmen' has a 'Lost' problem" (in en-US). 2019-12-12. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2019-12-12/hbo-watchmen-regina-king-damon-lindelof-lost-critics. 
  75. ↑ Some Watchmen fans are mad that HBO’s version is political. But Watchmen has always been political. Vox Media



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