Post 35: iTunes and Free Stuff

I know that I have talked about iTunes before on here, but Apple and iTunes are kind of a big part of my life. I have an iPhone, so it is kind of unavoidable.

But this post will be talking only about one wonderful section of iTunes, the Free Episodes section. Sometimes when new TV shows start up, or even are returning for another season, iTunes will make the Pilot episode free. Which is a great service.

I don't have a TV in my dorm room, and when I am home I have a TiVo so I don't see a lot of the trailers for new shows. This is even better. Below I will list the full-length TV episodes that iTunes had available for free.

It is nice because I can get an idea of whether or not I like the show. And if I like it, I can ascertain whether it is worth buying the season or recording, or just something to watch if nothing appears to be on. Sometimes the season goes on sale as well. I got the first season of Beauty and the Beast for $8. Which is like the cost of 3 episodes now.

Haven't Watched Yet

• Pretty Little Liars (No interest in.)
• Merlin 
• The Blacklist
• The Killing (Not Pilot, 2 episodes)
• Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (Watching as I type this actually, so far I like it. Alice has pretty awesome fighting skills. Cheshire is pretty scary. The Knave is cute. I am kind of hoping she will get pants at some point. I mean, the Knave has a leather jacket, so why can't she ditch the corset and wear pants? Also, I think he kind of fancies her. Spoiler Alert: It is like a cross between Alice in Wonderland and Aladdin. The genie, the magic carpet and Jafar all got pulled out of Agrabah.)
• The Michael J. Fox Show
• Reign
• Supernatural
• Welcome to the Family
• Masterpiece
• Do No Harm
• Ravenswood
• Orphan Black

Watched and Didn't Really Like

• The Mentalist
• Tron (Animated series, first episode was free for a long while.)
• Beauty and the Beast 
• Sanctuary (Not Pilot, I don't know what happened to this episode. Some of the episodes that I got when they were free seem to have disappeared. So, maybe iTunes rescinded them when I didn't buy any more from the season. 
• Saving Hope (Also missing, not upset about either though. I didn't like them. But suddenly wondering what else went missing.)

Watched and Liked

• White Collar
• Grimm
• Witches of East End (Probationary period, hasn't sold me on series yet.)
• Sleepy Hollow (Probationary period, hasn't sold me on series yet. Suspect it will turn out like Beauty and the Beast and I will not like main female character long. )
• Elementary
• Covert Affairs
• Suits
• Beauty and the Beast  (This is on two lists because it had promise, a strong female character and good supporting characters but ruined it when they made the female character act like a mindless, pathetic human being with little to no concept of what it means to be a good friend or person.)

Watched and Liked But Wouldn't Pay For

• The Client List
• Hot in Cleveland (Not Pilot)
• Rizzoli & Isles
• Go On
• Warehouse 13
• Wolf Blood ( I would consider paying for it, if it was cheaper, it is only slightly above what people can and have done on Youtube and other sites for free so I am not too keen on paying for it. And by slightly above I mean, the only thing making it better is that they have enough CG to have wolves - werewolf/wolf blood equivalent. (Fake looking ones, at that.)

UPDATE: Oct. 23rd, 2013

I have gone back and added some. But I also wanted to point out that you should not go on iTunes and expect to find lots of free episodes. There are times of year that have more. But, also, at most I have only found 4 in a week - at least, actual full-length episodes of the none-reality TV show variety.

Also, it is worth noting that I have gone back four or five weeks later and it is still the same episodes. BUT! I have also gone back later that day and found the episode gone. So, if you see one you like buy it! It is free and will sit in purchased, even if you don't download it. So, don't expect a show you like to still be there when you come back but don't expect the show to change every week either.

Also, depending on what country you are in there may be less. I have found my American iTunes account often has more than my Canadian.

Also, it is kind of like a treasure hunt. There are a lot of "full-length episodes" in the section that are not actually full-length episodes.

Revenge and Once Upon a Time have episodes in that section, but what they actually are is an hour long video that summarizes everything that has happened in the series.

There also tends to be a lot of behind-the-scenes, Sneak Peeks, Meet the Cast, bloopers and things like that in the section.