When to drop or hold a drama?

Seen folks dropping dramas after watching a few episodes, and some dropping at half way point or more, and wondering if there is an objective point to not hold and just simply drop a drama? https://mydramalist.com/discussions/general-asia-forum/33226-last-drama-you-dropped

1. Some dramas are confusing in the first 1-2 episodes, especially dramas with an ensemble cast, with an influx of many characters in the first few episodes. I would even say that actually most dramas are confusing in the first episode, as viewers know nothing about the plot and the characters.
2. Some dramas are late bloomer dramas that start slow, but pick up as the dramas progress, and eventually turn out to be really enjoyable after all. Of course, there are also dramas that start very promising, but gets draggy and repetitive and not enjoyable after all.
3. Dramas also vary in the number of episodes: Typical kdramas are around 16 episodes while typical cdramas are around 40 episodes.

Thus, for a late-bloomer drama with an ensemble cast and more episodes, dropping it after a few episodes may sometimes mean eventually missing a brilliant drama. So shouldn't we hold and try to watch a few more episodes before actually dropping it? 

If yes, how long should one hold and how many more episodes to watch before one can objectively decide to finally drop a drama series? Hold for a month, 6 months, a year, 2 years, 5 years?  And to watch as least 20% of a drama series before finally dropping it?

@MDL Can MDL add a time stamp on when we put a drama on-hold on our watchlist?

I have tried so hard but managed to watched 4 episodes of a 12-episode kdrama after several tries over 9 months, but it just never hooked and i eventually dropped it.

I have also been encouraged at 3/16 of a kdrama to continue watching, but ended up speeding through with the fast forward button perhaps more than 50% of the time until the end of the drama, and still found the drama to not be my cup of tea.

What is your experience and view on whether if there is an objective point to not hold and to just drop a drama, so that a good drama is given enough time to draw one in, and we do not end up missing a good drama? 

I drop dramas or stop watching them after episode 2, if they are boring or cant get on with the plot i instantly stop.

I'll drop anything real quick. I can easily drop a drama after only watching 10-15 minutes. I just don't care. I think pick should learn to skim through the drama. The good dramas will always make you watch every scene, but poorly written ones, you can easily skim through and understand everything. 

Another thing is, sometimes you aren't in the mood or ready for a drama. I've dropped some dramas multiple times and ended up picking it back up only to enjoy it.  For example, The Untamed. I dropped that drama legit 7-8 times before picking it up one last time and ended up enjoying it.

 whatever:

What happens if this one last time you still didnt enjoy like the previous legit 7-8 times, wont it mean missing a drama that you actually would have enjoyed?

No, that just means you didn't like nor was able to get hooked into the drama. That's perfectly fine. There is no rule that forces us to watch dramas. They are there for pleasure only.

I try out many dramas for 10-15 minutes and if they seem too standard and superficial I choose not to start watching. But that's different from dropping. Oftentimes the more worthwhile dramas really use the first 2 episodes to lay down the background of the characters thoroughly. Then it would be a mistake to drop. Mr. Sunshine is one good example, Chocolate is another one.  

Many dramas are very good for the first 6 episodes and then start dragging and being very repetitive. Those dramas run out of material and are just streched to 16 episodes. I find myself wanting to drop usually around the 9th or 10th episode. So I guess around 8th episode would the optimal time to drop.

Because I find dropping at 12th or 13th rather difficult, considering the time already spent. So mostly I just fast forward the last episodes.  

Very few dramas get better on the second half. Wok of Love is a rare example (haven't watched SKY Castle yet, so it's good to know it's one of those).  And a rare example of a drama where the 1st episode is hairrraisingly awful but which is actually quite good, Don't Dare to Dream (Jealousy Incarnate). 

All in all, I just don't want to miss out on good  or great dramas and that's why this conversation is  very meaningful.

 Cool_As_Always:

One must understand that the tag "good" or " bad" is very relative, varies from the perspective of a person to person!
In my personal opinion, if 2-3 consecutive episodes of a certain drama dont fill your mind, start skipping scenes and try to see if any particular plot or curiosity can hold you for another 2-3 episodes! If it still fails then no need to judge it as good or bad, its just incompatible with your taste.

There are quite ample times where even the same person's view can change episode to episode, and it will be such a pity if one happens to choose filler episodes. Also 2-3 episodes are substantial for a 16-episode kdrama, compared to a 40-episode cdrama.  Nevertheless, it's worth a try than simply dropping a drama after the initial episodes.

 roddib:

Oftentimes the more worthwhile dramas really use the first 2 episodes to lay down the background of the characters thoroughly. Then it would be a mistake to drop. Mr. Sunshine is one good example, Chocolate is another one.

Many dramas are very good for the first 6 episodes and then start dragging and being very repetitive. Those dramas run out of material and are just streched to 16 episodes. I find myself wanting to drop usually around the 9th or 10th episode. So I guess around 8th episode would the optimal time to drop.

Because I find dropping at 12th or 13th rather difficult, considering the time already spent. So mostly I just fast forward the last episodes.

Thank you for finding this conversation useful. Agree with your points on initial episodes for character and world building for the dramas and dramas dragging out in the middle. The latter is very common even for thrillers. Dropping at 8 out of 16 episodes is dropping almost at midpoint, and i will likely push through to the end, with fast forwarding.

 Aimer_is_life:

For me, I put shows to "Dropped" when I can't find raws for them or lose interest. As for "On-Hold", I shows that I tend to re-visit again (whenever that may be) or save it for when it's closer to the airing end date so I can pick it back up.

I dropped shows only when i am convinced myself that i will not watch them anymore. However if certain parts of a show annoyed me (eg. u data case for Taxi Driver), i will put the show on-hold instead of dropping. Though, this has been on-hold for a few months now, and i have started and completed a number of new shows since.. i wonder myself if i will pick up Taxi Driver again soon...

when I don't even know why I'm watching it and/or if the story is bad