watchhump
/ˈwɒtʃˌhʌmp/nounVerified NewThe stretch of early episodes a series requires before it becomes good, which viewers must be talked into clearing.
Acclaimed shows increasingly open slowly, and recommenders have learned to say "push through to episode four" — an admission that the recommendation includes unpaid labor. The hump quietly filters who gets to join the conversation.
Etym. — watch + hump, from "over the hump" — the hurdle built into a series' opening act.
Novelty check: NEW · checked 2026-11-08
review evidence: wordstoreview/review-batch-3-10-media.md
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