Summary
It’s difficult for even the best TV shows to revive after a terrible season. Whether this bad season comes at the beginning or end of the series' run, it can mean disaster for the show becausea decline in ratings and reviews can lead to cancelation.However, what a TV show does in the wake of failure says more about the creative team behind the project than their initial missteps. It only takesone great storyline to save a declining TV show, and this often has to do with the beloved characters who keep the audience coming back for more.
When a decline in quality comes later in the show, a loyal fanbase and past success can likely propel the show into renewal.
In the case of some series, thefirst season is the worst of the TV show, and this can end a series before it begins. When a decline in quality comes later in the show, a loyal fanbase and past success can likely propel the show into renewal. This track record means the writers and creators get the chance to revitalize the series. One element that remains consistent in series that come back from the brink of cancelation is that the plots and character arcs are inventive, andthe show isn’t afraid to evolve with the times and its audience.
10 Amazing TV Shows Where The Worst Season Is Still Good
Most TV shows will experience a slump if they get more than a few seasons aired, but for some, the series kept a high level of quality throughout.
Star Trek: The Next Generation
Cast
Star Trek: The Next Generation follows Captain Jean-Luc Picard and his crew aboard the USS Enterprise NCC-1701D as they embark on interstellar explorations, seeking out new worlds and civilizations.
Star Trek: The Next Generationseems like a recipe for success when looking back on it today, but this wasn’t the case when the series first premiered. Stars like Patrick Stewart and LeVar Burton were not household names to sci-fi fans, and audiences were unsure how to balance the new characters and plots with the expectations that audiences had fromThe Original Series. This meant thatTNGseasons 1 and 2 were full of clunky storylines and little character development,leaving viewers uninterested in this spinoff of the beloved franchise.
WhileTNGseason 3 was still finding its footing, it put the show on the right track,which would eventually result in seasons 4 and 5. These two middle seasons are credited with developing the reverence and love forTNGthat allows viewers to look back on the series with nostalgia. Each TV series in theStar Trekfranchise brings something unique to the table. However, seeing how wellStar Trek: The Next Generationshifted to become a hallmark of the universe after a rough start proves that it’s one of the bestStar Treknarratives.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
Steve Carell’s Michael Scott needed to be a separate character from the irredeemable one that Ricky Gervais originated.
When Americans remake British TV shows for U.S. audiences, there must be changes made to suit the demographics and type of humor that Americans are used to consuming on television. For the U.S. version ofThe Office,season 1 was too aligned with the original U.K. iteration,and this was unappealing to many viewers who were experiencing the series for the first time. However, it was clear that there was something worth saving in the offbeat sitcom. Steve Carell’s Michael Scott needed to be a separate character from the irredeemable one that Ricky Gervais originated.
Season 2 leaned further into the development ofJim and Pam’s relationship inThe Officeand slowly began to reveal more about Michael, allowing the viewer to empathize with him further.Seasons 2 through 5 are some of the best of the entire show,and this is because of the core cast and character dynamics that are established in season 2. More heart and warmth is imbued into the series following season 1, which is something American audiences respond well to. Additionally, these changes made it possible for the show to go on for as long as it did.
New Girl
New Girl is a television series that debuted in 2011, centering on Jessica Day, an eccentric young woman. Following a breakup, she moves in with three single men, navigating her quirky personality and forming unexpected friendships in her new living situation.
AsNew Girlprogressed into its later seasons, it began to lose steam because the characters began to age out of the show’s central conflicts. The last three seasons of the show are the worst, but season 6 was the high point in between a terrible season 5 and an unnecessary seventh and final season.Season 6 had the exciting developments of Jess and Nick finally getting back togetherafter many seasons apart and the inspired crossover withBrooklyn Nine-Nine, which capitalized on the personality clash between Jess and Det. Jake Peralta.
Conversely, season 5 was missing the show’s most important element: Zooey Deschanel. With Deschanel on maternity leave, Megan Fox was introduced, which led to the series being forced to establish a new roommate dynamic, even though it could never live up to the original chemistry of the main characters. Cece and Schmidt’s wedding is the best part of season 5, but this can’t make up for the fact thatNew Girlwas struggling to stay afloat that season.Eventually, Deschanel returned, and the show stopped trying to maintain the love triangle between Nick, Jess, and Reagan,making things better.
True Detective
True Detective is an anthology series exploring intricate criminal investigations through multiple timelines. Each season examines dark personal and professional secrets revealed during the course of solving complex cases, highlighting the impact of crime on individuals both within and outside the law enforcement community.
Season 2 failed to live up to this, as the story lacked the propulsion of season 1.
Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are a compelling acting duo, and even though their time onTrue Detectivelasted only one season, it was a memorable one. However, this meant there were high expectations for season 2, asTrue Detectiveseason 1 was one of the tightest and most consistent seasons of televisionin the 2010s. Season 2 failed to live up to this, as the story lacked the propulsion of season 1. Though the actors who embodied the roles were skilled, their characters were not complex enough to live up to McConaughey and Harrelson.
As a show fueled by its writing and character arcs,True Detectiveis a series that only works when an unforgettable actor is at the helm, and this is whyMahershala Ali savedTrue Detectivein season 3.Additionally, many of the problems faced by season 2 were resolved in season 3, as the series allowed itself to return to its roots and mirror some of the success of season 1. With a methodical pace and fresh creative perspectives, season 3 set up the potential forNight Country, the series' latest outing, and revived interest in the show.
Friday Night Lights
Based on the book of the same name, Friday Night Lights is a sports drama series that centers around the Dillon Panthers, a high school football team in Texas. The show focuses on the small town and the community they share, tackling major social and political issues and the players' challenges as they go through an increasingly difficult season.
Based on the hit book and movie of the same name, the TV showFriday Night Lightstook the world by storm for the way it connected audiences of all kinds with the small-town dramas of Middle America. Season 1 was an instant hit and showed the series' potential for balancing real-world issues with the traditional elements of a teen drama. However,season 2 made several missteps by introducing convoluted plotsthat were forgotten by the time season 3 rolled around. This included Landry covering up a murder and Coach Taylor leaving Dillon for another job.
It was a relief whenFriday Night Lightsseason 3 dropped Landry’s murder storyline, as well as the other parts of season 2 that diverged from the show’s original premise.Season 3 was somewhat of a soft reboot forFriday Night Lights,though not as much as season 4. However, it was much more important that season 3 reestablished the show’s quality, as many of the characters aged out of high school and completed their arcs in season 3. Touching tributes and a strong final football game contributed to a season that allowed the series to get back on track.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who: Doctor Who is a British sci-fi television series debuting in 1963, following The Doctor, a time-traveling alien Time Lord. The Doctor explores the universe in the TARDIS, accompanied by companions, confronting various adversaries and striving to save civilizations while addressing injustices.
Jodie Whittaker’s seasons were a low point forDoctor Whoand its fans, even though there were some good episodes in her seasons.
Throughout its many seasons,Doctor Whohas gone through many evolutions, and not just when the Doctor regenerates into a new actor. However,each time the Doctor regenerates, it poses a new problem for the series,as audiences grow accustomed to seeing a certain face embody the beloved character. If all goes well, the new Doctor will quickly be accepted, but this doesn’t always happen. Jodie Whittaker’s seasons were a low point forDoctor Whoand its fans, even though there were some good episodes in her seasons. It’s important to remember that every Doctor has had a bad season.
Despite the sense that the modern era ofDoctor Whopeaked with David Tennant,Ncuti Gatwa has breathed new life intoDoctor Who.This revitalization of the series hasn’t been seen since Peter Capaldi brought his era back from the brink in seasons 9 and 10. Additionally, while Tennant’s seasons are warmly remembered, seasons 2 and 3 had many flaws that were saved thanks to his amazing chemistry with Catherine Tate in season 4. As Gatwa continues on his path as the Doctor, great things can be expected from him.
Lucifer
Lucifer, released in 2016, follows Lucifer Morningstar, the former Lord of Hell, who retires to Los Angeles. There, he partners with LAPD detective Chloe Decker to solve crimes. As he distances himself from the underworld, a potential threat looms, risking the unleashing of humanity’s darkest forces.
For its first several seasons,Luciferwas treated as a crime procedural with a supernatural twist,even though it was clear from the beginning that the show could be much more than that. Tom Ellis made a compelling Lucifer, and the best parts of the first three seasons came when he was allowed to explore his character and the nuances of being a fallen angel on Earth. ThoughLuciferplayed with the fantasy elements of the show’s premise, they didn’t take center stage until after season 3. Of all ofLucifer’s seasons, the third is the most predictable.
There’s no question that the budget and resources of being part of a streaming service, especially one as popular as Netflix, was a large part of the increase in the quality ofLuciferseason 4. While the new season wasn’t perfect and showed some growing pains as the series adapted to its new home, it was a large improvement from season 3. As the series progressed,seasons 5 and 6 became the best of the series, as the show became more serialized.
10 TV Shows Where The Final Season Is The Worst
Some television shows last too long after their prime, resulting in disastrous last seasons that most audience members wish they had never seen.
The 100
The 100 is a sci-fi post-apocalyptic TV series set ninety-seven years after a nuclear war has destroyed civilization. When a spaceship housing humanity’s lone survivors send one hundred juvenile delinquents back to Earth in hopes of possibly re-populating the planet, they discover that Earth is still inhabited. Now constantly in a state of power flux with warring clans, cannibals, and mountain-dwellers, the juveniles must attempt to survive while re-establishing contact with the Ark.
While season 7, the final of the series, was a departure in content and theme, it still has value and should be remembered for how seamlessly it wrapped up the story. Additionally, compared to the improvement between season 3 and season 4, it’s not fair to compare the last installment of the show to the triumph of the mid-series comeback. After slowly building the tension and stakes for two seasons, season 3 didn’t follow through on the promise of the early episodes andfaced backlash for killing off Lexa despite her budding romance with Clarke.
The 100season 4 proved to audiences that it was worth sticking with the series and seeing where the characters ended up by the show’s conclusion.
However, everything changed when season 4 premiered, andThe 100proved that it could evolve with as much skill as a prestige drama.Season 4 is the strongest season when looking atThe 100seasons ranked worst to best. The many threads and different groups that the series had been developing since the beginning all converge to create the highest form of drama that the show had seen up to that point. Additionally,The 100season 4 proved to audiences that it was worth sticking with the series and seeing where the characters ended up by the show’s conclusion.
