Entertainment journalist Tom Percival has sparked debate with his self-imposed 'Two-Week Turnaround Convention' (TTTC), a strict code that deems spoilers acceptable after 14 days. In a column for Metro, Percival argues that once a show or movie has been out for two weeks, the responsibility falls on the viewer to avoid spoilers, not on others to refrain from discussing plot details.
The TTTC Explained
Percival compares spoilers to Greek yoghurt, stating they have a two-week expiry date. 'You’ve got to have a cut-off somewhere, and the 14-day lifespan of a yoghurt seems like more than enough time to catch up on a TV show or movie,' he writes. The rule applies both ways: he does not get annoyed when colleagues spoil shows that ended three weeks ago, and he freely drops spoilers himself after the two-week window.
Percival acknowledges that his approach might make him 'one of the worst people alive,' but he firmly believes it is 'unfair to ask people to moderate their behaviour because you haven’t done something you claim is important to you but have made no effort to rectify.' He cites examples like Breaking Bad (13 years old) and The Empire Strikes Back (46 years old) as shows where spoilers are entirely acceptable.
Caveats to the Rule
Percival clarifies that he is not 'history’s greatest monster' and outlines exceptions: he avoids spoiling anything just a few days old, refrains from mentioning plot details from trailers or posters, and will not deliberately ruin a series for someone who says they haven't got round to it. However, he maintains that once a spoiler becomes a pop culture touchstone, the onus is on the individual to catch up.
He warns readers against sending angry emails, jokingly threatening to retaliate with spoilers like '[redacted] returning in [redacted] season [redacted]!'
