From the Editors
A few things we’ve been thinking about while making lists, revisiting favorites, and changing our minds.
On returning
Knowing how a film ends doesn’t make the next viewing pointless. Sometimes the pleasure is in noticing something small: a look across a room, a line you once missed, a scene that means something different now.
The same is true of a favorite meal or a familiar story. Repetition isn’t always the opposite of discovery. Sometimes it’s how we find the details.
On taste
Most of us begin reading a ranking with a private shortlist already in mind. We’re looking for our favorites, checking where they landed, and preparing a spirited defense of anything placed too low.
That’s part of the appeal. The best disagreement usually comes with a recommendation: try this, watch that, read about this person. A list has done something useful when it sends the conversation somewhere new.
On discovery
It’s easy to read only the entries you recognize. Next time, stop at one you don’t. A name, a title, or an ingredient can be the beginning of a surprisingly long detour.
You might find your next favorite. You might simply learn something that makes the rest of the list more interesting. Either is a good result.
