5 Shows That Began Beautifully Only to Jump the Shark Later
It's not that hard to create a show that's interesting enough to attract viewers, but it's much harder to keep their attention until the very end.
In the fast-paced world of television, new shows come out every day, changing the trends of modern TV at the speed of light. There are many shows that are considered masterpieces by millions of people around the world, such as The Sopranos, Breaking Bad, or even Game of Thrones.
But not every show is lucky enough to make it to the end and continue to delight viewers. Some, while initially captivating audiences with an interesting plot, strong characters, and fresh ideas, eventually lost their way.
And here are 5 examples of TV series that started out great, but jumped the shark later in their run.
1. House of Cards (2013-2018)
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House of Cards, despite being a fan favorite for many people, is still one of the greatest examples of a show going wrong in the middle of success. The dark political thriller about the enigmatic and dangerous Frank Underwood and his wife Claire grabs your attention from the very first scene where we realize what kind of man Frank is (yes, the one with the dog).
Everything about the show was brilliant: the performances of Kevin Spacey, Robin Wright and other actors playing supporting characters, the sharp writing that made us realize that the world of powerful people is a dark place. But unfortunately, soon enough, the show somehow lost its dark charm and turned into something completely different.
“Apparently, the showrunners decided the American viewing public would not believe in a president with the same deranged character as Underwood in the first two seasons, and so made him slightly more human. Few shows have aged this rapidly,” Redditor Few-Hair-5382 said.
2. Heroes (2006-2010)
When Heroes premiered in 2006, it brought a fresh perspective to the superhero genre, combining ordinary people discovering extraordinary abilities with a deep and meaningful core story. The first season was a huge hit that captivated a wide audience. The characters were well-developed and the storyline was filled with suspense and intrigue.
The show's decline began in its second season. A writers' strike resulted in a shortened chapter, leaving many plot points unresolved. But that's not all. Originally, the showrunners wanted to separate the seasons and start each one fresh. But instead, they decided to keep those who became popular after the first season in future chapters, turning the story into a one-dimensional tale with no development.
“It was my favorite TV show ever when it came out. The producers or whoever liked the main villain's actor so much they kept him on the show way longer than he was supposed to be instead of moving on to explore more diverse/interesting themes and stories,” Redditor Jace17 said.
3. Weeds (2005-2012)
Weeds was a groundbreaking dramedy that followed Nancy Botwin, played by Mary-Louise Parker, a suburban widow who turns to selling marijuana to support her family. The show was both funny and dark, tackling themes of morality, family issues and the American dream. The early seasons were an absolute blast, as fans now recall.
However, the show began to lose its charm, first after the season 3 finale, when the entire neighborhood burned down, and then again around season 5, when Nancy's increasingly reckless decisions began to feel repetitive and less believable.
4. The Man in the High Castle (2015-2019)
Based on Philip K. Dick's novel, The Man in the High Castle initially offered a fascinating alternate history in which the Axis powers won World War II and divided the United States. The show's complex world-building, along with its exploration of totalitarian regimes and human resistance, definitely made it a thought-provoking and visually stunning piece of television.
After the first two seasons, however, the show began to lose it. The plot became unnecessarily complicated, with too many twists and turns that undermined the once perfect premise.
“S1 awesome, S2 pretty good, S3 just a hot mess. However... I think there was a missed opportunity to do a spin-off with Joel de le Fuente's great Inspector Kido as the Yakuza kingpin of post-occupation San Francisco. That could have been fire,” Redditor Seattle_gldr_rdr said.
5. Dexter ( 2006-2013)
The original Dexter was a revolutionary crime drama that followed Dexter Morgan, played by Michael C. Hall, a forensic expert who also happens to be a vigilante serial killer. The first four seasons were praised by fans for the way it handled the character development, but starting with season 5 Dexter began to lose its edge.
“It started out as a great thriller, full of surprises... then turned into a soap opera about the personal life of every cast member and their love affairs,” Redditor NitWhittler said.
