The present technology pertains to synchronized video viewing that is supported by the use of a pending changes count to keep the client devices in synchronization while providing a user experience that matches the expectations of the user. A second client device can receive input to change some aspect of the playback of a video that is being viewed synchronously with at least one other device. The second client device can process the event so the video can reflect the received input. The second client device can also send a collaboration message to a synchronized video viewing service to inform other client devices of the command. Since the second client device is aware of its own event, the second client device can ignore processing any other collaboration messages until it receives the collaboration message it initiated echoed back to it. Thereafter it can resume processing received collaboration messages.