Response to Will Brooker: Television out of time

Brooker is clear with his argument centring around the impact of watching television online, with close reference to the show 'Lost'. He raises valid arguments, and appears to provide substantial evidence for his remarks. My only criticism for this text is regarding the conclusion. It appears to be rushed, it doesn’t directly offer any closure for his previous arguments, in fact it could be perceived that he actually offers a new piece of information which is then left unexplained.

Brooker uses around 49 references during his article, is persuasive with his efforts regarding the deformation of television due to online alternatives, which is why the conclusion is rather disappointing. It almost appears to be out of place. The author diverts from his logical approach to a more passionate and disorganised ending statement. 'Keith may have been thrilled to find the Numbers in his local gallery but so far they haven't added up to anything.'i This sentence appears as a personal target. It lacks substance and valid evidence. If anything this singular sentence ruins the mood of the piece, and makes it more sinister. In addition to this, Brooker also states 'TV's online overflow is still a bonus feature, an Easter egg the dedicated fan a treat on the side...'1 This point could be argued to be insinuating that consumers are not true fans of the product unless they use online access to the show, yet previously he appears to be stating that online consumption is destroying television. This whole paragraph needs to be restructured and rewritten in a more professional way.

To conclude, Will Brooker raises many valid points, with substantial evidence throughout his piece, however his final statements make the text lose its credibility through several personal comments, which could be perceived as childish attacks on fans of television shows as well as 'Keith', who it is unclear entirely into who this person is.