Though it’s possible to come back from a failed season of television, some TV shows get even better in the wake of a bad second season. There’s a theory that thebest season of a TV show is season 3, and for many of these series, this had to be the case after the performance of season 2.It’s no secret that season 2 can be the most challenging installment of a show,as this is when a series must push itself and do something unexpected while still appealing to its audience base.
When shows likeThe Walking Deadflag, they often have the opportunity to redeem themselves thanks to their strong premise. Other series aren’t so lucky, and are put on the chopping block after one false move. Luckily,viewers, critics, and executives saw something special in these showsand were proved right by how well they bounced back from failure. This helped cement the longevity of these series and encourage new audiences to tune in and get wrapped up in the exciting stories.
Starring the iconic Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard,Star Trek: The Next Generationis one of the most successful spinoffs following the cultural impact ofStar Trek: The Original Series. Set after the events ofTOS,TNGexplored new territory and pushed the boundaries of what theStar Trekfranchise could be.TNGseason 2 was important for the overall development of the show,but compared to the strength of the later installments, there’s no comparison.
The difference between seasons 2 and 3 is stark, as season 3 transformed the series into a character-driven thrill ride.
ManyStar Trek: TNGepisodes are better than you think, especially in the later seasons when the series hit its stride. However, the difference between seasons 2 and 3 is stark, as season 3 transformed the series into a character-driven thrill ride. This paved the way for the two best seasons, 4 and 5, which cemented the legacy ofStar Trek: The Next Generationand opened the door for further spinoff movies and the long-awaitedStar Trek: Picardin 2020.
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ThoughThe Walking Deadhad plenty of ups and downs throughout the series' 11-season run, it’s incredible that the show came so far after the lackluster second season. The long-term success ofThe Walking Deadfranchise is impossible to ignore, as its many spinoffs have easily found strong audience bases. However, all of this notoriety and popularity wouldn’t have been possible ifThe Walking Deaddidn’t come back from the slower pace of season 2.
While a shift in pacing and tone can sometimes be the refresh that a series needs, this wasn’t the case forThe Walking Deadseason 2. It’s easy to get frustrated watching the season and waiting for the action to pick up and for the characters to make any forward movement. Fortunately,The Walking Deadcourse-corrected with season 3, introducing Michonne(Danai Gurira), who would become a vital character in the series.
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There have been a few attempts to bring the iconic book character, Jack Reacher, to the screen, but none have been as successful as Amazon Prime’sReacher. With a strong first outing that quickly earned the series renewal, there were high hopes forReacherseason 2 that the show didn’t quite exceed. WhereReacherseason 1 stood out among typical action TV shows,the second season felt like a rehash of the first installmentand was too quick to rely on tired tropes of the genre.
Critics Love Reacher, And These 8 Reasons Explain Why Season 3 Has A 97% Score On Rotten Tomatoes
The reviews for Reacher season 3 offer nearly universal praise for the third installment of the hit action thriller show on Amazon Prime Video.
However,Reacherseason 3 isn’t facing these problems. Alan Ritchson remains a highlight of the series, bringing depth and intrigue to Jack Reacher, a character who could easily be written off as one-dimensional.Reacheris going further in season 3, expanding upon Reacher’s pastand opening the world up to new and more dangerous villains. Additionally, Reacher has more constraints on his actions in season 3, providing intrigue and tension from the start.
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Friday Night Lightsseason 1 is an unbelievable season of television. Seamlessly introducing the characters and the dynamics of the small town of Dillon,Friday Night Lightsis engaging from the first moments of the show.The series is at its best when it focuses on the fact that it’s the interpersonal dramasthat propel the story rather than melodramatic reveals and outlandish plot developments. Season 2 loses this sense of realism and makes the characters behave in ways that make no sense.
The fact thatFriday Night Lightsseason 3 dropped many of these plotlines and returned to the format of season 1demonstrates that the writers and showrunners knew they had lost momentum. Even when many of the original characters left in season 4 and Coach Taylor (Kyle Chandler) started coaching for a new high school,Friday Night Lightswas still in a better position than season 2. However, even the poor performance of season 2 can’t detract from the series' excellent reputation.
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HBO’s sci-fi Western seriesWestworldhad terrible luck over the course of its seasons. After an iconic first season that brilliantly expanded upon the groundwork laid by the original 1973 movie, season 2 was bogged down by the many plot threads and open-ended mysteries that season 1 had worked so hard to cultivate. Whereseason 1 kept its pacing deliberate and was determined to adhere to the show-don’t-tell rule of television,season 2 lost this aspect of the show.
ThoughWestworldwas tragically canceled before the final season in a shocking move by HBO, the series started to find its footing again in seasons 3 and 4.
ThoughWestworldwas tragically canceled before the final season in a shocking move by HBO, the series started to find its footing again in seasons 3 and 4. AlthoughWestworldseason 1 might have been a lightning-in-a-bottle moment, seasons 3 and 4 worked hard to get viewers back on board and explore larger themes and consequences of the narrative.Westworlddeserved better than its abrupt ending, winning back audiences and critics over time.
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Netflix’s beloved science fantasy TV show has never flagged in terms of popularity, but it’s widely agreed upon thatStranger Thingsseason 2 is the weakest outing. After the tight first installment,Stranger Thingshad some trouble navigating its explosive appeal and where the story was heading. Some ofthe show’s worst episodes, like season 2, episode 7, “The Lost Sister,” are part of the season,contributing to its more muddled tone.
However,Stranger Thingsrecognized some of its missteps and was quick to recover and re-establish itself as an iconic piece of contemporary TV. In season 3, the show grapples with the fact that the characters are growing up and facing the pangs of adolescence alongside their dangerous adventures. Additionally,season 4 was a stunning return to form, darker and more compelling,forcing all the characters to face their worst fears. Season 4 sets upStranger Thingsto conclude on an unforgettable fifth season.
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It’s hard to say what happened between the critically and audience-acclaimed first outing ofTrue Detectiveand the panned second season. Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are an unforgettable duo, and the slow, surreal unfolding of the central mystery never loses its potency. In contrast,season 2 still boasts strong performances and an atmospheric tone, but the mystery leaves something to be desired,never sparking interest in the viewer.
WhileTrue Detectivemight never again reach the heights of season 1, season 3 was a refreshing return to form, in no small part thanks to the central performance by Mahershala Ali.
WhileTrue Detectivemight never again reach the heights of season 1, season 3 was a refreshing return to form, in no small part thanks to the central performance by Mahershala Ali. The most recent iteration of the series,True Detective: Night Country, has helped reestablish the show as a relevant part of the TV landscape. SinceTrue Detectiveseason 5 is confirmed, it will be interesting to see where the next installment leads the series.
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Though Marvel’s more recent TV shows have gained traction in the media,Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.paved the way for their achievements with its successful 7-season run. Starring Clark Gregg as Agent Phil Coulson,the series tackles the work of the agents who deal with the aftermath of the Avengers' actionsand the fallout from the knowledge that superheroes have a place on Earth. By the end ofAgents of S.H.I.E.L.D.,the series was practically unrecognizable, but this was a good thing.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.seasons 3 and 4 are two of the strongest of the series, as the show began embracing the most exciting and otherworldly elements of its premise. Season 1 got the audience used to the show and made us care about the characters, butseason 2 didn’t do anything to spark engagement or take the story in an interesting new direction.As the show progresses, time travel is introduced, and the series is unafraid to get dark and uplift the whole ensemble of characters.
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020)
David Lynch’s magnum opus,Twin Peaks: The Return, isn’t just a fantastic season of television but a template for how to revive a series and make it better than ever. After a winding and surreal first season,Twin Peakssuffered too much intervention from the producers in season 2,which forced Lynch to abandon much of his original plan for the sake of what the higher-ups thought audiences would want (viaCollider). Fortunately, Lynch got to exercise almost complete creative control withThe Return, making it an incomparable piece of television.
10 Fantasy TV Shows From The 1990s That Still Hold Up
Though fantasy television has been having a renaissance in recent years, many iconic shows from the 1990s have aged well & remain genre hallmarks.
In many ways,Twin Peaks: The Returnis more similar to a long-form filmrather than a season of TV. However, it changed the way TV revivals are thought about and approached in the 21st century. In conversation with themes of legacy, nostalgia, and how we engage with media over time,Twin Peaks: The Returnunderstands itself and its place in television history better than anyone. Even though it took many years to get there, the final season of the show was worth the wait.
After a gripping first season that drew audiences in and made them question everything,Mr. Robotlost a lot of momentum in season 2.The thriller TV show stars Rami Malek as the hacker Elliot,who struggles with his connection to reality and those around him as he delves further into the hacker group, fsociety. In season 2,Mr. Robotdoes a lot of legwork in building out Elliot’s past and explaining how he developed into the person we know in the present.
Though this slows down the action and makes it difficult to stay engaged throughout season 2,Mr. Robotseasons 3 and 4 bounce back and use the exposition from season 2 to its advantage.When viewed through the lens of the series as a whole,Mr. Robotseason 2 has merit,as it is an important stepping stone to the most interrogative and compelling episodes of the series. Even though it can be tough to slog through the second season, it’s worth it by the end.
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