These days, movie or series spoilers could cause acrimony, even the end of a friendship.
Not everybody has the time or privilege to watch a much-awaited film or show upon its release. Unfortunately, some of those who manage to do so ahead of everyone else do a good job of broadcasting what transpires. For an avid viewer, spoilers take away the thrill of the emotional roller coaster. What’s life without a few jolts and surprises?
After all, many of us consume works of fiction to get us out of our current state and live another reality. Part of that is allowing ourselves to experience various emotions for the fun of it—with the convenient knowledge that we can pull the plug anytime if the suspense gets to be too much.
Some spoil unwittingly, doing so because of their big uncontrollable mouths. Others do it on purpose, deriving perverse satisfaction in bragging that they’ve seen what many others have yet to see.
Some spoil simply to wreck another fellow’s day.
On the other hand, there are those who don’t mind spoilers at all. In fact, they seek out precisely what is bound to happen. They want to know what’s in store—if things turn out well for this or that character, if good does in the end overcome evil, if justice is ever served.
For them, knowing the ending does not diminish the appeal of the story. They just want to keep their emotions even and in check, manage their expectations, and perhaps focus on how the story is advanced from A to B to C to Z—if it is plausible, masterful, realistic, contrived.
“Where’s all the fun in that?” you ask. There’s fun, all right.
Given wildly contrasting preferences on how to consume a movie, show or even a book, at the end of the day it all boils down to respect. Know that one preference is as valid and as legitimate as the next one. Never try to question what others like or convince them that their preference is inferior to yours and try to convert them accordingly.
As they say these days, “walang basagan ng trip.”
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There’s one ending however we can all reasonably be keen on knowing. It’s the outcome of a story that has been going on for decades.
Filipinos have gone through a lot as a people. We’ve been colonized several times over, fought a war because of affiliation, not ideology, and seen a series of administrations that have had different characteristics but largely similar results. We have known how it is to be economically promising, only to suffer blows yet again and an even more gaping inequality than before. We’ve seen disasters natural and man-made. We’ve seen a revolving door of self-proclaimed political Messiahs. We’ve had numerous problems within our shores and outside. As a bonus, these days we have difficulty determining whether something is a joke or a “figure of speech” or downright fake news.
If we were in a movie, I’d like to hear some spoilers about how we are eventually able to get out of this rut. Which officials would turn our benighted country around? What among the many problems would be, and correctly, given priority? Is there are end in sight for age-old, entrenched practices of corruption, patronage, dynasties and personality politics? Will merit, honesty and integrity ever figure as top qualifications, or will we be forever content with those whose last names are familiar or those who put up a show of caring?
This is one spoiler we would not mind. Wouldn’t it be cool to know if we would ever be able to focus on moving forward instead of putting out fires?
And then perhaps we can have just a little bit more hope.
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