Is Our Taste in TV Predetermined?

How an outside source may have control of my viewing habits.

When I saw 'Day of the Jackal' being advertised, I decided to watch it. Now it's months later, and I've not even been close to starting.

I started 'Baby Reindeer' and was bored out of my mind, but I watched the whole thing almost immediately.

When I started watching 'The Bear', I thought it was a masterpiece, and with such a great soundtrack. I watched the first four episodes, then stopped.

Then my wife started watching it, so I started it again with her. We watched four episodes. She went on to see all three seasons and I've only seen the same four episodes.

When I turned 40, I began watching 'Grand Designs'. This is a reality show about building houses that I've been ignoring for 25 years. A few weeks ago, for no particular reason, I turned to my wife and said "let's watch 'Grand Designs', it's brilliant." I'd never seen it before but, at that moment, I knew it would become a favourite show.

I rewatch 'The West Wing' every year. I tell myself I watch all the episodes but in reality I watch two or three and then forget about it for the next eleven months.

I started 'Lockerbie' the moment it became available. I watched three episodes, absolutely loved it. And then I stopped and watched 'Grand Designs' and now I don't know if I'll ever get back to it.

I made a huge drama out of the fact that, last night, I wanted to watch the Carabao Cup Semi Final, Arsenal V Newcastle. It was on the TV but I think I only glanced at the screen for a total of twenty five seconds. I missed both goals but looked up to see the replays. Before the goals were shown again, I'd forgotten what I was doing and went back to looking at my phone.

I binged 'Shrinking' quicker than you would think is possible.

I started 'Showtrial' on BBC iPlayer, watched two episodes and then completely forgot the show had ever existed.

I will never, ever watch another Harlen Coben TV series.

Especially if it's shot in the UK.

I've recorded seventeen documentaries on my Sky Box to watch IMMEDIATELY because I love documentaries and these are TOTALLY MY KIND OF DOCS. But, I'll never watch them. If you're going to watch a thing, you don't record it, you watch it.

Why did I watch 'Baby Reindeer' when I didn't want to? Why have I not started the new 'Day of the Jackal'? Why have I stopped 'Lockerbie', even though I was really enjoying it? Why has 'Grand Designs' entered my brain?

What I want to watch, what I expect to watch --- and what I actually end up watching -- these things are rarely related.

Yesterday someone told me 'Shogun' is incredible. I believe them, and I'll watch it. But somehow I know I won't watch it until maybe 2027.

My behaviours are a mystery. What I think I want to see and what I actually end up viewing are rarely related.