How Many Episodes Should You Watch Before Quitting a TV Show? A Statistical Analysis

TL;DR: If you don’t like a show by episode 6, you’re probably not going to like it. If a show you like has had 6 or more bad episodes in a row, it’s probably past its prime and safe to quit.

Interesting read. I think episode 3 is the magic number. The first episode is actually a pilot they worked on and maybe rewrote or recut to get the actors and tone, etc. Sometimes the pilot is very different from the rest of the series. Episode 2 should be the actual tone and feel of the series but sometimes that can be difficult to get right so episode 3 is a make or break for me. By that time I should understand if I like the characters, understand motivations and something should have happened to peak my interest to keep watching. "Story of the week" or "non-serialized" shows I think are fine to check out another season episode if people are talking about it.
- Yeah, 3 is the sweet spot.
- It episode 1 sucks I'm not going to watch it at all.
  
  Yeah I’m with you. I don’t have one to two hours to commit to a show for three episodes to basically just be nice or give the benefit of the doubt. Either you have me in the first episode or I’m out to watch or do something else.
  
  Yah true. If episode one is awful I won't continue. Maybe I weight them like episode 1 70% , 2 20%, but by episode 3 10%. So by episode 3 I 100% know if if I'm going to like a serialized TV show.

If you value your time, then maybe only watch finished shows with excellent word-of-mouth/ratings? If it declines instead of ending while still good, then stopping where people suggest? Possibly also skip the initial seasons if it only gets good later.
If you want to talk around the water cooler about the most popular zeitgeist shows, then maybe make exceptions for those that are the buzz after their 1st few episodes like Game of thrones, tho you should be prepared to quit the show after a few consecutive poorer episodes indicating its almost certain decline. (PS: I'd recommend stopping before Game of thrones' 6th season).
- Shows literally don’t hit my radar anymore until they end and get a proper finish.
  Like I seriously don’t give a fuck about your product if you can’t be bothered to even finish it in the first place.
- Idunno ive watched some trash too (like from for example) and had a good time. You just gotta know when it's time to drop a show.

My answer: Two. If a show hasn't grabbed me after two episodes, then I have to assume it's not a show for me.
Of course, plenty of shows get better as they go and find their feet in later seasons, like Star Trek TNG for example. But even after Episode 1 of Season 1, I would already be thinking "Yes, this is a show I'm gonna be into!"
As far as I see it, the job of the first couple of episodes is to set up the premise, tone and vibe of what the show is going to be like to watch. If a show can't manage to sell itself in the first two episodes, then it's doing something wrong.

Resist the FOMO. If episode 1 doesn’t pull you in, just stop. Why waste time giving shows a second chance? You might miss out on something good, sure, but does it really matter? You don’t owe the creators anything, it’s your life.
- The only objection to that is that first episodes are usually pilots where they haven't sorted out everything and have to spend the whole episode setting up the premise of the show, not actually doing the show. Episode 2 is a lot more likely to be representative of everything that comes after it. But other than that, yeah, of course, just walk away, hit da bricks, real winners quit.
- It's not about the creators missing you watching a series, is you missing watching it.
  
  Both perspectives are valid.
- Most shows don't hook me with the pilot. I can only remember a few like Fargo, but many I find need 3 episodes. And usually I'm giving it a go because of good word of mouth after the season than prehype, so more willing to put some time in.
  
  For me there is often some small, interesting thing that keeps me watching. Even if it’s not like „Oh my God amazing!“ I feel if the show has potential for me.

I give stuff 3-5 episodes to hook me. And I feel that's plenty generous. Not sitting around for the slow burn. Be interesting or doing something that builds interest. Don't do a bunch of boring stuff and then have an episode 2 seasons deep that "makes it amazing". That's not good writing imo. That's an overly complex way of making an interesting point. Oh and certain things I won't give more than one episode. Any sitcom, or similar serialized show like House or whatever, I universally dislike and won't give a chance past one episode.

It really depends on the type of show and the theme. A comedy can be judged in less than an episode. For a drama I think it's acceptable for 2-3 episodes being required. If it's a theme I enjoy, a mediocre show can get half a season of runway.
- A network comedy should not be judged on its first episode IMO, since that is usually the pilot and the actual show starts with episode 2.

I've quit many shows after 10 minutes and many mid season, or even multiple seasons in.
If it's not entertaining anymore, don't watch it

I find it depends on the show.
There's some that use a set formula and you can tell if it's your cup of tea pretty early.
For example:
X's a cop but y's...
The Devil
Immortal
A robot
A zombie
A serial killer
A cannibal
But some other shows might take longer to get into and figure out if they're for you due to complexity or number of characters.
I think Sense8 or The Expanse would be a good example of that

I guess I’m in the minority. Most of the time I’ll give shows the full first season, at least for ones in the last decade since they are on the shorter side. Every once in a while I do come across something really bad and do stop after two episodes.
- This is my philosophy too. If a show is regarded as amazing, I'll watch the first season in full, unless I actively hate it.
  The impetus behind this, is the understanding that seasons, just like movies, have a series of acts. The first act is establishing characters, the second act is layering conflict, and the third is the payoff.
  I would've missed out on some amazing shows, had I not pushed through.
  
  For me that was Game of Thrones. I tried to get through the first episode twice and fell asleep. I powered through a third time and then was caught up on the hype and turned into a weekly watcher. (It was only at season 3 back then)
- I didn't get hook into the Wire until Season 3, so it took two season for me. It did have enough promising moments for me to keep at it that long though.

I started watching The Leftovers, and stopped after 3 episodes because it was so depressing I wanted to jump off a building. I tried to clear that experience from my mind, and was successful, until a couple years later I started noticing the second, and what was then the third season of the show had been getting constant 8-10 star user ratings, which had me questioning my own sanity. I decided just for the halibut I'd reinvest some time muscling through the remainder of the first season of pain ..... so much pain, to see what all the hubbub was about in the next season. Glad I did, because it became amazing, as was it's third and last season. But I would not revisit that first season if you backed a Brinks truck up.
- I put the Leftovers down early as well as well, but now I'll consider soldiering through. I assume you can't just skip S01 altogether? That's what I did with Parks and Recreation, but it's not a drama.
  
  no. you can't. you need the canon/backstory. gird you loins, and dip yourself deeply into the pain, the second and third seasons are worth it.

I'm a sucker who gets roped into TV and movies super easy. I'm currently making my wife rewatch all the twighlights because she put on the first one the other night and I looked up for a few minutes, the deal was sealed, I'm hooked.
If something doesn't have me in the first few minutes chances are I won't finish it, but I usually try to finish at least an episode.

1, if you don't like it, then try something else. You could even read a book.
- How many chapters of a book should you read before quitting the book?
  
  If you don't want to keep reading, then don't. I'm not your mom.
  There's so much media that I'm sure can hook people and if something fails, then just move on to something else. We have the world's knowledge accessible to us and more information than any one person can ever hope to consume. It's OK to be picky about what you spend your time doing when time is your most valuable resource.
  If you want to have commitments, make them to communities and those important to you, not to media.
  
  Usually I get an idea of what the book is about from the cover, then get an idea of the writing style from the first few pages. If I don't vibe with either, I stop

Parks and rec is one of my favorite shows. I revisit the show every couple years for a rewatch. I hated it the first time I watched it. Then someone told me to make it into the first 3 episodes of season 2 and see how I felt. Turns out season 1 has a very different vibe from the rest of the show going forward. Glad I stuck with it.
I watched 2 and a half full seasons of the sopranos before I gave up on that show. I don't know why but it just did nothing for me.
Most shows I give them ~2-3 episodes to grab me. If they haven't done so by that point I generally move on.

.25. If I already hate the show or the characters in the first 15 minutes, it's not worth wasting any more time on it. I used to try to push through, but the effort has never really paid off. I have no regrets about Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, or Bojack Horseman. There are lots of great shows out there.