I really hated the politics and rhetoric of 24, but was somehow compelled beyond my will to watch every single episode. I knew it was unhealthy as I'd stay up way too late and ended up getting weird & anxious (head full of of right-wing fantasy combined with prolonged sleep depravation).
Unlike you I didn't kick the addiction & i've now seen every season.
Damn you and your insidious cliff-hangers Jack Bauer! :P
I didn't watch it because it got cliché pretty fast like LOST. The worst offender I reckon was Dragonball Z [0]. I realised this pattern and that greatly put me off many games and movies, eg WoW, FarmVille, etc. It was a grind. I want something novel.
[0] Do: Scream, build up tension, to be continued, until Infinity. Replace scream with drama (twists).
Ouch. I watched that back on TV a decade ago when I had no idea what I was getting into. Longest "15 minutes" ever. They're supposed to be fighting on a planet that's about to explode... but the planet patiently waits to blow up until their fight is over... which takes almost forever. Ugh.
Unlike you I didn't kick the addiction & i've now seen every season.
Damn you and your insidious cliff-hangers Jack Bauer! :P