A show’s first season is sometimes the best it gets. Whether it’s the show trying to prove itself to audiences or a failure to meet the highs of the first season, some shows simply fall off after their premiere.
Here are the shows that stunk after a great first season.
Heroes
The NBC drama debuted in 2006 to rave reviews. It was a superhero show starring Hayden Panettiere that was unlike anything else on the air. Unfortunately, the show would never recover following the 2007 WGA Writer’s Strike.
Westworld
HBO’s drama based on the 1973 Michael Crichton film blew people away when it debuted in 2016. Its engrossing narrative and incredible twist, combined with an all-star cast, had people excited for its second season. Sadly, subsequent episodes became more and more confusing.
Chilling Adventures of Sabrina
Before Wednesday, Netflix’s dark and creepy smash hit was their adaptation of the popular Archie Comics character Sabrina Spellman. While its first season was a success, the same isn’t true for subsequent seasons.
Twin Peaks
The mystery of who killed Laura Palmer captivated viewers during the debut season of David Lynch’s breakthrough series. Unfortunately, the network forced Lynch to solve the mystery, and the show never recovered.
Jessica Jones
Before the Marvel Cinematic Universe grew too big for its own good, Netflix adapted some lesser-known stories. The first of which is Jessica Jones, featuring David Tennant as the villain Kilgrave. Tennant’s performance was so good that nothing following it came close.
Glee
The music comedy/drama aired on Fox from 2009 through 2015. It became a pop culture sensation thanks to the covers of popular songs. Many fans, however, now look back and realize the show overstayed its welcome.
Prison Break
The Fox drama was critically claimed for its first season, but many argue that the writers were shocked the show was picked up for several subsequent seasons. Some argue that the second season was just as good, but after the third season, it was all downhill.
The Walking Dead
The only show that came close to matching Game of Thrones in terms of popularity was AMC’s The Walking Dead. While Game of Thrones maintained its quality until the show passed the books, some argue that The Walking Dead fell off after its first season. The biggest reason? Too much filler content.
The Witcher
It’s hard to believe that the Netflix series is still going, but it is. Even more surprising is the fact that it will continue without its star Henry Cavill, as he was replaced following season three. At least we’ll always have that first season to rewatch.
House of Cards
Speaking of Netflix’s original series, House of Cards was the first the streaming service produced, and it was a home run. Watching Frank Underwood play political chess was captivating television. Sadly, the writers were never able to stick the landing, and the show overstayed its welcome.
Jericho
The CBS series was canceled after its first season despite a cult following. Fans were so disappointed they began a mail-in campaign that actually worked and brought the show back on the air for a second season. Sadly, the magic was gone.
8 Simple Rules
This one is a bit unfair, as the death of John Ritter drastically changed the future of the series. The first season was a surprise hit for ABC, and fans were excited for the future. While the show would continue with James Garner and David Spade filling in, it was never the same.
Stranger Things
While the fourth season saw a return to form for the show, many didn’t feel the same about the second and third seasons. I agree that the second season felt weak, but I am not afraid to admit I loved Stranger Things III.
The debut of Stranger Things felt like a beautiful homage to Stephen King, while the following seasons played too heavily into nostalgia. Here’s to hoping they deliver a satisfying ending.
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Image Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
