Every TV buff has come across shows which unapologetically sucked them into a rigorous binge over the weekend. These shows, with their exciting themes and out-of-pocket plots, hit just the right spots to keep viewers hooked. Be it the first time we rushed through all the episodes of The Bear in a single afternoon or express-binged the six delightfully unhinged seasons of Schitt’s Creek, there’s nothing quite like good TV. However, there have been instances when a beloved show turns rancid like rotting milk when the release of a new season mercilessly butchers the previously engrossing storyline. A series that once brought audiences endless joy suddenly becomes the bane of their existence.
This decline occurs with TV franchises that are renewed simply due to their hype, with production houses trying to bank on the fanfare. Fans will never forget the disappointing ending of Game of Thrones and how Grey’s Anatomy dragged on for ten seasons too long. The downfall of these shows doesn’t just pertain to storylines; it extends toward the forceful dragging of characters as the creators destroy everything the viewers love about them. Our list consists of shows with the most impactful debut season that eventually turned into shoddy train wrecks, messing with the protagonists to the extent of a cardinal sin. Without further dilly-dallying, let’s sink our teeth into it!
1. Gilmore Girls (2000)
We start with the popular teen drama Gilmore Girls, starring the hilarious and quirky mother-daughter duo, Lorelai (Lauren Graham) and Rory Gilmore (Alexis Bledel). Gilmore Girls Season 1 debuted on October 5, 2000, and has received critical acclaim for its cross-generational appeal, witty banter, and bouts of good old teen drama. What began as an adorable coming-of-age series about first love, familial bonds, and Yale, turned into a deteriorating show with problematic plots and character arcs. Towards the end, the series was brimming with adultery and entitlement — bursting at the seams with downright sloppy writing. The most triggering aspect of them all is Rory Gilmore — a depleting asset who inevitably ruins the storyline.
Her blatant lack of awareness and accountability becomes frustrating, almost like watching a good kid grow into a horrible human being. The show dragged on for seven seasons with an unnecessary, four-part miniseries revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, further establishing how Rory Gilmore went from being a protagonist to conniving villainess over the years. Not to mention how beloved side characters like Lane (Keiko Agena) and Jess (Milo Ventimiglia) don’t get the ending that they deserve, with Lorelai and Luke’s (Scott Patterson) love story being the sole redeeming factor of the show in later seasons.
Watch Gilmore Girls on Netflix
2. Stranger Things (2016)
Stranger Things helped cement Netflix as the era-defining streaming giant it is today. Created by the Duffer Brothers, it explores the sci-fi genre with bouts of eeriness and horror that make it a show like none other. The critically acclaimed series is set in the fictional small town of Hawkins, Indiana, whose residents are plagued by a hostile alternate dimension, known as the Upside Down. Its heartfelt characters, thrilling plot, 80’s vibe, and stunning visual effects make it a unique watch. Stranger Things Seasons 1 and 2 were television masterpieces, and had the viewers sitting at the edge of their seats the whole time.
Not to play devil’s advocate, but the showrunners could’ve wrapped things up brilliantly after two seasons instead of forcing a painfully artificial plot progression. Stranger Things started losing its core values at the onset of Season 3 as it became romcom-esque, with significant screen time dedicated to Mike (Finn Wolfhard) and Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) love story, overuse of previously explored themes about the Upside Down, and minimal impact save for Hopper’s (David Harbour) death. If audiences were pissed about Season 3, the following season just got even worse.
With the introduction of random new characters and a lack of continuity in the growth of the core cast, the whole series turned into mumbo jumbo. Fans survived the watch purely due to their long-standing loyalty to the show as opposed to its one-of-a-kind storytelling. The fact that Hopper returned in Season 4 was reason enough to mock the show’s directional endeavors. The introduction of Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) was possibly the best thing to come out of that season. The final season of Stranger Things is set to release in 2025, and let’s just say that despite all of the above, fans are still hoping for the best.
Watch Stranger Things on Netflix
3. The Umbrella Academy (2019)
Based on the comic book series of the same name by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy Season 1 sported a strong debut in 2019. The show is a fun mix of dysfunctional family meets superheroes, with an offbeat storytelling style and equally whacky characters. The story revolves around adopted sibling superheroes who reunite to solve the mystery of their father’s death, while simultaneously dealing with the threat of a looming apocalypse. The Umbrella Academy Season 1 was gripping and unique, while the ones that followed failed to impress with the introduction of new characters, confusing timelines, and the most underdeveloped subplots.
The show’s core banked on character-driven storytelling that faced an imminent decline — particularly those of Klaus (Robert Sheehan) and Vanya/Viktor (Elliot Page), which suffered from inconsistent writing and unsubstantial character growth. The narrative turned messy, making The Umbrella Academy Seasons 2 and 3 seem disconnected and pulling away from its initial charm that captivated fans. The fourth and final season of the show is set to premiere on August 8, 2024.
Watch The Umbrella Academy on Netflix
4. 13 Reasons Why (2017)
Another Netflix teen drama series that should’ve called it quits after two seasons is 13 Reasons Why. Based on Jay Asher’s novel of the same name, the series is centered around high schooler Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) and the repercussions faced by all the characters after the suicide of fellow student Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford). Season 1 was a raging success highlighting Hannah’s masterful, albeit problematic, method of leaving behind cassettes that detailed why she chose to end her life — calling out all those who had contributed to her misery. 13 Reasons Why Season 2 delivered a gripping plot and was the perfect opportunity to bid adieu to viewers with some much-needed closure.
Seasons 3 and 4 were overkill and didn’t even garner relevance to the title case. Instead, they focused on exploring various sensitive issues teenagers face in today’s age. The overall intent of the final seasons felt preachy and explored the existing characters with little to no redeeming factors. However, the most infuriating aspect of all was the death of Justin (Brandon Flynn), whose tumultuous journey was the only one that made those final installments a bearable watch — serving as the perfect example of lazy writing to garner a sympathy vote.
Watch 13 Reasons Why on Netflix
5. Riverdale (2017)
Immediately after its debut in January 2017, an unreal amount of hype was created around Riverdale — the reimagined TV adaptation of Archie Comics. Owing to the dead-accurate casting, murderous plot, and Gen Z-coded storyline, it is no surprise that Season 1 was a massive hit. Unfortunately, the series got messier, more confusing, and ridiculously absurd moving forward as fans were left perplexed, thinking, “What did I just watch!?”. Riverdale can be best described as that one favorite T-shirt that fades with each wash to the point where it becomes unwearable.
The Gryphons and Gargoyles arc in Season 3 led the way to the series’ demise, making it a target for ridicule for its tawdry character writing and fragmented plot lines. Brimming with time jumps, random musicals, and distasteful shag fests, the teen drama slowly transitioned into a high-budget Gen Z soap opera. It’s genuinely unfathomable how the show was renewed for seven seasons, with its role in launching actors like KJ Apa, Lili Reinhart, and Camila Mendes as the only silver lining.
6. Elite (2018)
Elite is a Spanish Netflix teen drama set in the fictional elite high school, Las Encinas. A gripping and power-packed high-school drama series that delves into themes of sexual exploration, murder, drugs, class disparity, and even a dash of incest — Elite was a delightful entertainer up until Season 3. Too much of a good thing is bad, and that’s precisely what happened to the show in the following seasons. The show introduced full-fledged, new characters and barely retained the original cast members, which disappointed the fans and took away from the show’s wow factor.
Netflix needs to learn when to pull the plug on some of their popular original series. As is customary with shows of this nature, the plot lacked coherent storytelling, and the new faces failed to make a lasting impression. Fans would much rather rewatch Elite Seasons 1 to 3 than sit through the horned-up snooze fest that is the later seasons. Beloved cast members Ester Expósito, Miguel Bernardeau, Itzan Escamilla, and Arón Piper set the show’s tone, and their absence robbed it of its essence. Elite Season 8 is set to premiere on July 26, 2024, and will be the series’ final installment. Also, don’t forget to check out top shows and movies to stream this weekend!
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