When you're watching a high concept drama or raucous comedy, nothing kills the moment quite like having to ask, "What did she say?" The punchline isn't quite the same when you've had to rewind a few seconds and crank the volume up. Then, as if adding insult to injury, the score kicks in, or something explodes, which makes your windows rattle and your ears bleed, so you have to dive on the volume-down button in a bid to avoid an argument with the neighbours.
You can guess what happens next. That's right – things calm down, the characters start talking in hushed tones again, and so back up Mount Volume we go. But it's only a matter of time before there's more action, more music, and more potential rifts with the couple next door.
