Tag: bryan fuller

The ensemble cast is one of the best on television, and one of the most heroic, considering the ludicrousness they are expected to put across: Mads Mikkelsen, Hugh Dancy, Laurence Fishburne, Caroline Dhavernas, and Gillian Anderson, and a regular stream of superb guest-actors counteract the extremity of Fuller’s images with understated, wryly funny performances.

Vulture’s 10 Best TV Shows of 2014 (x) 

bonearenaofmyskull:

bonearenaofmyskull:

Okay, so I’m hoping this doesn’t stir things up (which happens easily when a show is off season and everyone’s bored), but I’m in a constant debate with my friend. She says S2 was essentially a flop compared to S1 and if it continues that way, we’ll never get an S4. l’m think she’s letting her opinions on S2 (she feels Hannibal isn’t the focus enough and she says she’s sick of Will and his relationship with Hannibal) affect her perception? Wasnt season 2 more critically acclaimed and had overall better ratings than season 1? I think it has, but then again I could be letting my feelings conflict with the facts. You’re good with statistics so I was wondering if you could weigh in? 

(and I just want to be clear that I’m not trying to start anything or say Ppl who didn’t like s2 as much are bad or wrong, but I just want to know if I’m the one in denial.) 

(via anonymous)

Luckily for you, I am embarrassingly well-prepared to answer this question. (As a teacher, I’m all over this question because I hope people can learn a little bit about how to interpret and how not to interpret what they read when it comes to statistics.)

There are a few things to be taken into consideration here: ratings and NBC’s effect on the show’s numbers via advertising and timeslot, critical and viewer reception, the Tumblr subgroup of fandom and the difference between “I didn’t like it” and “It’s bad” (and the assumption that “the way I feel is the way most other people feel”), and what any of this has to do with what’s going to happen in S3 and the show’s chances for renewal for S4.

But I want to start off with the concept of confirmation bias, which affects all these things, as you’ve noted.

image

If we’re going to be as objective as possible, we have to consider all interpretations of the data as possible and, if we’re going to reject them, do so with reasoning that considers all sides.

For the sake of transparency and fairness, I’ll try to mention my own biases as we go. Just as an overview: I love both seasons, I love all the characters (even Mason), and my main interest in the show is the relationship between Hannibal and Will.

So let’s begin.

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