Why Is Everyone Obsessed with Something Youre Not?

There's a point where a sci-fi isn't 'good' because it truly is, but because everyone says it is.

At this point, it's tough to speak the truth. When a movie or series has been idolized for years, anyone who criticizes it is often seen as 'not getting it,' 'not cultured enough,' or simply 'provoking.'

Sometimes, the answer is much simpler: it's overhyped.

A truly great sci-fi:

• introduces new ideas
• makes you think
• engages you emotionally

In contrast, an overhyped sci-fi:

• is flashy but hollow
• seems philosophical but is superficial
• tries to appear 'important' rather than actually being so
• you don't dare call it mediocre.

Most overhyped sci-fi isn't bad.

In fact, it's often:

• decent
• visually impressive
• enjoyable for a single viewing

But it's not the masterpiece it's made out to be, and that's where the disappointment hits when your expectations are sky-high... and you get something 'pretty good.'

So why do we believe it?

On the internet, a consensus forms quickly:

• 'this is genius'
• 'you must see this'
• 'this changes everything'

And if you see this enough times, your own opinion starts to matter less—what matters is fitting in.

This is especially true in sci-fi, where there's a lot of 'explanation,' a lot of 'interpretation,' and it's easy to pretend something is deeper than it actually is.

When should you be suspicious?

A sci-fi is likely overhyped if:

• it's talked about more than it innovates
• every critique is labeled a 'misunderstanding'
• fans defend it more than they enjoy it

The key question isn't, 'Is this sci-fi good?' but rather, 'Is it really as good as they say?' Because those are two very different things.

In the next article, we'll provide a specific example:
Overhyped Sci-Fi