Scientific Methods

If X Then Y

If only it was that simple

Let’s face it: Art is a terribly subjective thing which truly cannot be distilled into a simple equation.

The reasons why someone will love one thing (whether that’s a movie or a painting, a TV show or a book) can be completely different to the person standing right beside them (now with the appropriate social distancing, of course). Dipping your toe into any online forum for any fandom will quickly prove that point, because even fans of the same show will disagree entirely over what was good and what was bad about it.

Indeed, my friends and I are a perfect microcosm of this phenomena.

When the formula fails

We’ve been doing Friday night cocktails since the first lockdown last year and quickly incorporated a movie-and-TV club into the mix. We started with 'Star Wars,' moved onto 'Harry Potter,' slogged through the first series of 'The Mandalorian,' and finally began a round-robin of us each individually picking something we’d all watch. Quite honestly, some of the choices based on what we think the others will like, have been a huge hit and miss affair.

BFF A was very keen on 'The Mandalorian,' released with new streaming service last year, Disney Plus.

“We all like Star Wars,” she crowed happily. She was right; we all liked 'Star Wars' so it should follow that we’d all enjoy its spin-off, 'The Mandalorian.'

Wrong.

BFF B and I hated the show. Yes, there is a lot of 'Star Wars' in its world-building, and we did love Baby Yoda, but it was too old-school episodic Western ‘stranger rides in and fixes something before moving on’ for us. Sometimes the world-building is just not enough.

Getting the formula right

All of which proves just how difficult it can be to get the formula of a recommendation right. It’s certainly not as simple as If X then Y. Maybe we expand it to If X because of Y then Z?

Take recent Marvel and Disney Plus hit, 'WandaVision' which was our latest lockdown topic…

BFF A: “I hated the first three episodes, it only got good when it got the usual Marvel stuff.”

BFF B: “I loved the quirky and experimental nature of the first three episodes.”

So, if I’m basing a recommendation to BBF A on them solely just liking 'WandaVision,' possibly pointing them in the direction of other shows which have taken a quirky approach such as Netflix hit, 'The Umbrella Academy' or old favourite 'Lost' might not be the right move.

It might not even be the right move for BFF B because what he loved about the first three episodes when we got down to brass tacks was the nostalgia of old sitcoms. I sent him off to re-watch 'The Golden Girls,' 'Friends' and 'Fraiser' – all top-class sitcom faves which are hilariously funny.

On the other hand, since I know that BFF A loved 'WandaVision' because it is Marvel, and has the usual popcorn comic book action elements, I might have pointed them in the direction of Amazon Prime’s surprise hit, 'The Boys.' She though had already decided to re-watch a lot of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, starting with the Thor trilogy (although that might have been the conversation about Chris Hemsworth that triggered that rather than 'WandaVision' itself).

Personally, I loved the portrayal of grief and mourning within 'WandaVision,' the clever way it subtly weaved the five stages of grief into the progression of the storyline from denial to bargaining to acceptance by the end. Recommendations for me? Well, I guess 'The Notebook' might be one to re-watch.

Wandering about the internet (no pun intended), I’ve also stumbled across other views on why 'WandaVision' has been a hit. A prevalent one has been the quality of the two lead actors, Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany. Both really anchored the show and were exceptional in their acting. Checking out their back catalogues might be an option if this is the nub of what people have enjoyed.

Another stated reason for people loving the show has been the relationship between the couple, and the creation of their superhero family. Again, if this is the draw, then perhaps new CW show 'Superman and Lois' will be a new fave for those people.

And for those watching because of the strong female lead element, then maybe 'Batwoman,' 'Supergirl' or 'The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina' will satisfy that craving, although I’m personally more likely to direct them binge-watch 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer.'

Experimenting is the best formula

Maybe art remains that subjective and allusive thing where what appeals in one piece of art will not appeal to another, or where what appeals to one person will not appeal to another.

Of course, the fun remains in the attempt and the experimenting. If not for my friends’ recommendations, I may not have had the chance to fall in love with some weird and whacky things.

I thought I was taking a risk recommending the 2020 Pixar film 'Onward' for the Friday night club. I was apprehensive because BBF A isn’t a particular fan of animation really aimed at kids, and BFF B isn’t into fantasy.

Both of them loved it. BFF A thought it was hysterically funny and yet incredibly moving (if it isn’t trying to make you cry, it really isn’t Pixar), and BFF B loved the whole quest story, and the vocal performances of Tom Holland and the rest of the talented cast.

Trying new things isn’t a bad thing.

At the end of the day, the formula doesn’t matter. If X then go ahead and try Y anyway – you may hate it, you may be indifferent, or you may just find you absolutely love it.