When a TV show is on the air for long enough, it’s unsurprising when certain stories come back several times throughout the series. This differs from a procedural show that follows the same formula in every episode, as these projects are digestible for a wide variety of audiences and allow viewers to jump into the action. However, there have been plenty of instances whena serialized show retreads the same dynamics and character arcs throughout the seasons.There’s nothing worse than when aTV show abandons a major storyline, but seeing the same storyline over and over is also frustrating.
It makes sense that TV shows would want to keep the quality and tone consistent, and retreading past plot points is an easy way to do this.
It makes sense that TV shows would want to keep the quality and tone consistent, and retreading past plot points is an easy way to do this. While someTV shows include divisive storylines that split the fanbase in half, others reuse the same tried and true plot points so many times that audiences take notice. Seeing a character make the same mistakes many times ormaking the central conflict of each season revolve around a similar premise won’t keep viewers engagedand could be detrimental to the show’s reception.
8 TV Shows That Recycle The Same Storyline Every Season
While there are plenty of formulaic TV shows, there are also examples of shows that just recycled their storylines by simply changing a few details.
Supernatural
Cast
Supernatural is a television series that follows brothers Sam and Dean Winchester, who were raised by their father to hunt and combat supernatural entities after losing their mother to a demonic force. Traversing the American landscape in their ‘67 Chevy Impala, they face numerous paranormal threats.
The dynamic between Sam and Dean inSupernaturalwas one of the most enduring parts of the series, but the way the brothers interacted throughout the show rarely changed. Though the first few seasons saw the respect and trust between the siblings grow and the wounds from their family trauma started to heal,Sam and Dean’s actions are informed by the legacy of their parents.Their self-sacrificing tendencies would lead to one of the brothers going too far and the other one having to bring them back to reality.
Before too long, one of them will snap and turn to the dark side because of their personal demons or because they think they have to save the world.
How far Sam and Dean will go for each other is apparent in certain plot lines.When Dean has the Mark of Cain or Sam starts drinking demon blood,they both have to save the other. For a little while after this, all is peaceful, and the pair are back on the same side, preventing the end of the world. However, before too long, one of them will snap and turn to the dark side because of their personal demons or because they think they have to save the world.
Characters constantly go missing or are kidnapped in The Walking Dead
The Walking Dead
The Walking Deadis a massive multimedia franchise that began with a comic book series created by Robert Kirkman, Tony Moore, and Charlie Adlard. The franchise gained widespread popularity with the launch of the television seriesThe Walking Deadin 2010 on AMC, which chronicles the lives of survivors in a post-apocalyptic world overrun by zombies, referred to as “walkers.” The success of the original show has led to numerous spin-offs, web series, video games, novels, and other media. The franchise explores themes of survival, human nature, and the breakdown of society in the face of an existential threat, making it one of the most successful and influential horror series of the 21st century.
Though the Walkers are framed as the villains inThe Walking Dead, it’s the other surviving humans that the characters have to watch out for. Whenever the core group comes into contact with another rival faction, violence and bloodshed are sure to follow, as well as constant abduction. As a post-apocalyptic show,The Walking Deadis all about staying alive. However,the emotional bonds the characters make lead them to act in the best interest of others,not just themselves. In every installment of the franchise, characters are abducted, and it’s up to their friends to find them.
InDead City, the thrust of the show is about Maggie and Negan finding Hershel. In the other spinoffs,Daryl DixonandThe Ones Who Live,Carol attempts to find Daryl while Michonne spends the story looking for Rick. These recurrences make it easy to guess what will happen next. Conversely,The Walking Deadis aTV show that never recovered from a character’s death, as Glenn’s passing was a major misstep for the series. However, this was a shocking departure from the usual formula of the show, creating an intense reaction from critics and the audience.
The Vampire Diaries
Based on the novels by L.J. Smith, The Vampire Diaries is a story about the developing love triangle between Elena Gilbert and two vampiric brothers, Stefan and Damon Salvatore. Set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, the show follows the trio from high school through college as they battle for one another’s affection.
The love triangle between Elena, Damon, and Stefan fuels the drama for most of the first half ofThe Vampire Diaries. This makes it easy for both handsome vampire love interests to drop everything and ensure Elena’s safety and comfort throughout the series. There’s no question that Elena goes through a lot and loses her loved ones in devastating moments, buther importance to the plot and everyone’s desire to protect her grows repetitive.Every time a new villain enters the picture, their scheme revolves around Elena and her doppelgänger blood.
Outside of Elena’s damsel in distress arcs,The Vampire Diariesfrequently used the plot lines of characters being brought back from the dead.
Outside of Elena’s damsel in distress arcs,The Vampire Diariesfrequently used the plot lines of characters being brought back from the dead. This happens early in the series withJeremy and Alaric using the Gilbert rings and later when Damon and Bonnie are trapped on the Other Sidebut find a way to return to the real world. The series even went so far as to create a cure for vampirism, so not only could Elena be saved but brought back from the dead in every sense.
Grey’s Anatomy
Grey’s Anatomy is a medical drama series revolving around surgical interns, residents, and attendings at the fictional Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital. The show features the professional and personal lives of these medical professionals, led initially by Dr. Meredith Grey, played by Ellen Pompeo. Created by Shonda Rhimes, the series highlights the complexities of medical cases while delving into the interpersonal relationships among the hospital staff.
In theGrey’s Anatomyseason 1 finale, Meredith discovers that Derek has had a secret wife the entire time she’s been in love with him, but this is far from the last time a character keeps a past love interest a secret. Owen’s previous connection with Teddy gets in the way of his relationship with Cristina, and Richard’s clandestine affair with Ellis Grey comes back to haunt him many times. Additionally, the doctors inGrey’s Anatomyhave a terrible habit of falling in love with their patients,as Alex, Izzie, and Teddy all fall victim to this.
Many of theworstGrey’s Anatomystorylines that almost ruined the showwere mistimed and poorly handled romantic relationships. However,there’s also rampant illegal activity going on in the hospital every season.Though the doctors attempt to convince themselves that their actions are for the greater good, Izzie puts the hospital in jeopardy trying to save Denny. Or, in season 5, Lexi’s intern class starts performing surgery on each other. Between this and the interdepartmental dating, it’s a wonder that the hospital stays in business.
Glee
In order to escape the stressful reality of high school, a group of misfits decides to join William McKinley’s glee club. Fox’sGleewas created by Ian Brennan, Brad Falchuk,and Ryan Murphy, with Leah Michele, Jane Lynch, and Matthew Morrison leading the cast. The series ran for six seasons between 2009 and 2015 and won six Primetime Emmys.
Gleeis one of the more controversial teen dramedies of its time, but even at its most unbelievable, a few aspects of the show are retreaded many times. Romance is a huge part of the conflict and drama onGlee, and the characters are partnered up in seemingly every partnership imaginable.A budding love story onGleeis almost always accompanied by a love triangleso that there’s a consistent obstacle keeping people apart. More often than not, this coincides with who will get the solo at the latest competition.
There are few seasons when the Glee club isn’t on the brink of being disbanded entirely, and the success of the program is determined by how well the group performs at Sectionals, Regionals, or Nationals.
There are few seasons when the Glee club isn’t on the brink of being disbanded entirely, and the success of the program is determined by how well the group performs at Sectionals, Regionals, or Nationals. This makes the fight between characters all the more fierce whenthey get into fight after fight about who will perform the solos at the events.Each character is a diva in their own way, and the show takes full advantage of the fact that this means no one will be content, no matter who gets the lead part.
Gossip Girl
Set in New York, 2021’s Gossip Girl chronicles the lives of a new generation of private school teenagers who navigate social dynamics and scandals. Through the pervasive influence of social media, their secrets are exposed, while the anonymous titular blogger reveals the complexities of their intertwined relationships.
Besides the fact that every episode ofGossip Girlsaw the anonymous website create chaos and division between its characters, there were plenty of recurring dynamics and plot points throughout the teen drama.Gossip Girlfollowed the lives of a group of wealthy teenagers who later became young adults and would do scandalous, terrible things to each other. One of the most vindictive of the group is Blair Waldorf, butGossip Girllets Blair feel the consequences of her actions.
Throughout the show,Blair goes too far and hurts those around her beyond repair, only for it to blow up in her face.This happens when she applies to Yale but gets rejected over her treatment of a teacher and when her marriage to Louis blows up because she’s lying about her feelings for Chuck. Each character has an equivalent to Blair’s pattern, with Serena throwing her life away for the wrong man or Dan making destructive decisions so he can feel included in his classmates’ lives.
Suits
Suits is a legal drama series that premiered in 2011, centering on Mike Ross, a college dropout with a photographic memory who lands a job at a top New York law firm despite lacking a law degree. Partnering with one of the city’s best legal closers, Harvey Specter, they navigate the challenges of high-stakes cases and firm dynamics.
Mike and Harvey are two sides of the same coin, and when Harvey takes Mike under his wing and turns him into a brilliant lawyer, their lives are never the same.Suitswas an interesting show as some episodes were more episodic and followed a similar structure, while other seasons were completely dedicated to a serialized arc. Regardless, almost every conflict came down toHarvey and Mike teaming up to find a loophole that no one else spottedwith Mike’s incredible mind and Harvey’s creativity.
Every season until the finale of season 5 sees Mike come within inches of having his secret exposed, only to be saved at the last minute.
Additionally,the show’s premise was always destined to come to a head,as Mike couldn’t live as a fraud forever, and his evasion of the consequences couldn’t last forever. Every season until the finale of season 5 sees Mike come within inches of having his secret exposed, only to be saved at the last minute. It was almost a relief when Mike went on trial for his deception, andSuitswas forced to switch up its narrative and have Mike take accountability.
Shameless
Shameless is a Black Comedy, Family Drama created by Paul Abbott and starring William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, and Justin Chatwin. The premise follows the Gallagher family and their closest friends as they deal with a not-so-helpful father, Frank Gallagher. His children each find their own path, growing into their own flawed people without much guidance or help from the family patriarch.
Though Frank starts as the primary antagonist ofShameless, no one in the Gallagher family fails to make plenty of the same mistakes their father did.Shamelessalways attempts to push boundaries and comment on contemporary social and political issues through the lens of the imperfect but scrappy Gallaghers. One of the most consistent parts of the show is thatas soon as something starts going right for someone in the family, they find a way to ruin it.Fiona consistently cheats on almost every love interest, and Lip throws away every academic and career opportunity that comes his way.
This behavior trickles down to the younger generations, but Fiona and Lip’s plot points rise to the top of the most repetitive. The consequences ofthe family’s actions always bring them to the edge of Fiona losing custody of the kids, losing the house,or being sent to prison. At first,Shamelessspread out these conflicts to give them a bigger impact, but by the end of the show, it seemed that each character was on the brink of losing everything.
Once Upon A Time
Once Upon a Time is an adventure fantasy-drama series created for ABC that features fairy tale characters and their Disney incarnations in a modern setting. When Emma Swan and her son Henry accidentally drive into the town of Storybrooke, they soon discover the inhabitants are those from fairy tales, and they have no knowledge of the modern world inhabited by Emma and Henry. Robbed of their pasts and given new identities by the Evil Queen known as Regina, the hope of the town’s residents lie solely in the hands of Emma, who has stronger connections to the town than she knows.
World-ending events are part of a day’s work for the fairytale characters inOnce Upon A Time, meaning life-threatening danger is a frequent occurrence. Most of the show revolves around Emma’s desire to establish a family and build a connection with her son, Henry, but the show always puts obstacles in the way. More often than not,Emma’s character development hinged on sacrificing things for Henryor being transported to a different realm and trying to find her way back to him. These are the central conflicts in the first three seasons.
Saving Henry, finding Henry, or preventing Henry from getting hurt were the primary aims of almost everyone in the show.
TheOnce Upon A Timefamily treeonly gets more confusing throughout the show, but almost everyone is connected to Henry in one way or another. Saving Henry, finding Henry, or preventing Henry from getting hurt were the primary aims of almost everyone in the show.Family is one of the most important themes inOnce Upon A Time, and so being separated from family, only to find them again, happens practically every season.
10 TV Shows That Abandoned Major Storylines & Were Better For It
There were a few occasions where a television show was actually better off for abandoning certain storylines before they were resolved.
One Tree Hill
Set in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina, One Tree Hill chronicles the complicated and intertwined lives of its residents. Following half-brothers and rivals Lucas and Nathan Scott as they compete both for positions on their school basketball team and for the affection of their fellow students, Tree Hill’s community is built around community spirit and the complex workings of the ever-growing Scott family.
ThoughOne Tree Hillgained recognition within the teen drama genre for its outlandish storylines as the seasons progressed, it began similarly to its contemporaries. One defining factor of the early seasons ofOne Tree Hillwasthe never-ending love triangle between Brooke, Lucas, and Peyton.While it seemed obvious from the beginning that Lucas and Peyton were meant to be, the audience slowly warmed up to Brooke. It started to feel terrible that she was consistently caught in the crossfire of the will-they-won’t-they dynamic between Lucas and Peyton.
However, the true common denominator washow many times the series had Lucas attempt to be with anyone other than Peyton,only for him to realize he was in love with her at the last second. This happens over and over with Brooke in high school and then with Lindsey, who he almost marries before he remembers that Peyton is his one true love. Additionally, Nathan and Haley have similar marital problems throughout the show, with many of their conflicts boiling down to the pair’s different ambitions that take them in separate directions.
