I Don't Believe in Spoilers

A good story is coherent. Makes sense. Events follow each other logically. Characters react to the situation in ways that fit their characterization. Themes are consistent through the entire narrative.

This means that a good story is, in some level, predictable. You know what is going to happen. The better written the story, the more possible it is a reader will see what's coming up to the point that they might predict the ending.

Does it mean that you don't enjoy the happening? Hell no! You enjoy the predictable things happening; they are, in fact, satisfying. Emotional highs that make sense are higher, and emotional lows that make sense are lower.

The plot twist for it's own sake is narrative poison. It destroys every story that touches. It is the author saying "nothing in the story matters, it's just the trappings of the narrative that must amuse you". It can even be the author laughing in your face at how much smarter they are than you. How much you caring about these characters, these stories, mean nothing in the end. because they have the control over everything that is. And what they wanted is for you to be surprised.

But surprise is useless by itself.

And this is obviously cliché, but we know how the concept of spoilers came to be: it's literally an excuse from show venues to force people to come and see the show themselves. It is a literal excuse to sell more tickets.

And if you saw that coming, it can only mean this rant was coherent enough.