Have you ever accidentally ruined the ending of a show for somebody?
Alternatively has somebody ever ruined the ending of a show for you?
If you have been through either situation, then you probably know firsthand that this can create a tough situation.
The culture calls for a lot of binge watching of popular TV shows, and then you want to be able to talk about it.
There are some things to keep in mind though so that you don’t ruin a show for somebody else or allow them to ruin it for you.
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Talking About Things Without Spoiling It For Others
Have you been watching any good TV shows lately?
If you are like many others then you probably binge watched a show or two over quarantine.
You may have movies that you love watching, or even books that you love reading–and sometimes you want to share that with others.
The thing is, when we talk about what we are watching or reading, we have to be sure not to give away information that could ruin it for someone else.
Sometimes it can be so exciting to talk about something that you may not realize you are going to ruin their experience for them.
Have you ever accidentally ruined part of a story for someone before?
If you have, then you know that this may not go over well.
You may have been on the other end of things and saw that somebody inadvertently ruined the ending of a show with a post on Facebook.
You may even see an article pop up if it’s a big ending to a popular show–and it can be so frustrating!
We’ve talked about how common it is to watch popular shows and talk about it with others.
It is so important not to ruin endings for people, as this is huge for connection.
You need to know what to say or what not to say when it comes to show endings.
Watching shows is a big part of the culture, and you want to be sure that you don’t ruin endings or have them ruined for you.
How Can You Warn Others and Not Ruin It?
You may have seen a great ending to the show, and therefore want to share it with others.
You also want to be sure that others want to hear any updates that you have on the show.
How can you warn people that you have details about a show and not ruin the ending for them?
Here are a couple of ways to give that warning and not give everything away.
- Spoiler alert: It’s such a common phrase used to warn people you are about to give something away. This is common and if you stay it up front, then somebody can stop you right away if you don’t want to hear their spoilers.
Lindsay: “Okay, so there is something that happens at the end- spoiler alert!”
Michelle: “I know I saw it, don’t worry.”
- I don’t want to give anything away/give away the ending: It’s pretty straightforward and therefore a great way to give that ending. It’s as if you are asking permission of this person you are talking to in order to see if you should proceed. You are aware of the fact that you may know something that they don’t want to know just yet.
Michelle: “Okay so in the end….wait, I don’t want to give away the ending..”
Lindsay: “Okay good, thank you.”
- Have you seen the whole thing yet? You are asking the question and therefore you know before you proceed. This is a great way to ensure that you don’t ruin anything and you are being kind in your approach. You are asking them perhaps in a more indirect way, but this will tell you if you should proceed or not.
Lindsay: “So Michelle, can you believe in episode 6 when..wait have you seen the whole thing yet?”
Michelle: “No not yet.”
Lindsay: “Ah okay I will stop then.”
- Can I tell you the ending, or do you think you might watch/read/see it? This is good if somebody watches something but isn’t necessarily committed to it. If you are trying to test the waters to see if they are going to keep watching, then this is the thing to say to them.
Michelle: “I LOVED that movie. Okay so can I tell you the ending, or do you think you might see it?”
Lindsay: “Don’t tell me!”
These all work if you want to be sure you don’t spoil things for somebody else.
Be sure that you take the time to ask before you just blurt something out that they aren’t ready to hear just yet.
How Can You Keep Others From Ruining It For You?
What if you’re the one who hasn’t seen the ending?
What if you are behind on a TV show and you want to wait to find out what happens?
If you are on the other end of this, there are some helpful ways to warn others.
This can let them know where you’re at, and also ensure that you don’t have anything revealed in advance.
- I haven’t seen it yet so don’t tell me! It’s straight to the point and gives them fair warning. This is direct and therefore effective at keeping others from spoiling things for you.
Michelle: “So then at the very end…”
Lindsay: “I haven’t seen it yet so don’t tell me!”
- Don’t give anything away please! It’s very similar to the other phrase but it tells them to hold off in telling you anything. You are directly requesting that they keep from telling you something prematurely.
Lindsay: “At the very last minute…”
Michelle: “No don’t give anything away please!”
- I know there’s a plot twist, but don’t tell me. You are readily saying that you know that something big happens, but you don’t want to hear about it. People can usually respect this because nobody wants to spoil things.
Michelle: “So was the finale good?”
Lindsay: “Yes!”
Michelle: “Okay I know there’s a plot twist, but don’t tell me.”
Lindsay: “OK!”
You can even combine these phrases together for each part of the conversation!
These are great ways to let others know that you haven’t seen yet and you don’t want to hear anything to spoil it.
Takeaway
The important part is to realize that if you spoil an ending or important twist for someone, they will likely be upset or frustrated.
You want to be careful not to be the one to spoil an ending, so proceed with caution.
If you are the one who hasn’t seen the ending of something, then you want to be sure to let others know.
Try to warn them that you haven’t seen the whole thing,especially in a group setting.
This can be a tricky thing but one that people take very seriously, so know how to talk about it and be sure not to ruin any surprises.
If you have any questions, please leave them below in the comments section.
We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
