TV Shows That Get Better as They Go

[OsirisX]

It seems that a lot of shows peak in season 1, or at least progressively get worse the longer they go on. What are some shows that you feel get better as they go, instead? For me I would go with:

 

[SamanthaSamantha's icon]

I thought Cobra Kai kept getting better and better as seasons went on (although, the trope of Daniel/Johnny and Sam/Tori fighting for every little thing was getting quite tiresome by the end).

 

[Metroid_Hybrid]

I remember that 'Breaking Bad' started off painfully slow. But of course, the world building was essential for everything going forward..

 

[Adrastia]

Baywatch Nights. The second season became The X-Files but with David Hasselhoff. It didn't save the show but I thought it was a pretty cool experiment anyway.

 

[NotReallyHere]

Star Trek: The Next Generation is the easy choice for me. The first season is so hard to watch when going back to the series. It feels cheap and dated, compared to what was to come. The later seasons (particularly 3 - onward) are virtually timeless.

For a less common choice, I'd say Dead Like Me. I think it only got two seasons, but it really hit its stride as it went on.

Also, Mystery Science Theater! But I say that as someone who is firmly Team Mike, not Team Joel

 

[Viviana Santos]

The final season of this show is really something special, good lord..... I wasn't expecting that!

 

[esdfijkl]

The first season of Babylon 5 is pretty terrible (TKO is the worst episode, almost worth watching just to see how bad it is). However it pulls a complete 180 and seasons 2-4 are some of the best Space Opera out there. Season 5 is mostly garbage. Don't let the low budget and terrible dated CGI turn you away, it's a fantastic show, a must watch if you are into the genre.

Star Trek: Deep Space 9 has a wonderful pilot episode but many solo/self contained episodes in seasons 1-2 are pretty terrible (Move Along Home is excruciatingly bad). Season 3 is when it finally gets excellent (Right around the time Sisko shaves his head and grows a beard). From there it gets better and better until the final season where they introduce two new characters who completely ruin the show whenever they are on screen (Vic and Ezri). The last stretch of episodes are great minus a disappointing final showdown between Sisko and another character.

 

[Ikagura]

Archer? Or are we only counting live action shows?

I'd almost say Lucifer as much as I liked the grittier and more serious/down to earth first season (although S6 wasn't mandatory imo).

Futurama in many ways. I liked the first season but it has more iconic episodes as it went on.

 

[BigTony]

Archer? Or are we only counting live action shows?

I was put off by the first few episodes for a long time but really enjoyed the show when I gave it another go. Though I think the show started to dip in quality half way through.

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American Dad first few seasons had more of a focus on heavy handed social commentary it wasn't bad but I think the show got better when they shifted more towards obsurdist humor

 

[Ikagura]

I was put off by the first few episodes for a long time but really enjoyed the show when I gave it another go.

The first season had some good episodes (like the one in the dirigible) but I agree that the first few episodes were odd in several ways.

Though I think the show started to dip in quality half way through.

Which season? I agree that Archer Vice should've been the true finale of the series (considering how it ended) but I didn't mind some of the seasons (like The Figgis Agency and 1999).

Spoiler

The show finally ended before truly becoming like The Simpsons yet I feel that too many story arcs were unfinished (like what happened to Conway Stern and Veronica Deane?) despite the finale having an interesting antagonist (they should've been reintroduced for the finale next to Slater for his scheme).

 

[BigTony]

Which season? I agree that Archer Vice should've been the true finale of the series (considering how it ended) but I didn't mind some of the seasons (like The Figgis Agency and 1999).

I think around the third coma season was when I started to check out a bit I like the last few seasons but I didn't like how they made Archer incompetent around the end. the thing that makes Archer such a funny character to watch is that despite being an asshole manchild he's really good at what he does and when he fails it's not because he's dumb or bad at his job it's because he's a self destructive dickhead.

 

[Ikagura]

I think around the third coma season was when I started to check out a bit I like the last few seasons but I didn't like how they made Archer incompetent around the end. the thing that makes Archer such a funny character to watch is that despite being an asshole manchild he's really good at what he does and when he fails it's not because he's dumb or bad at his job it's because he's a self destructive dickhead.

You're right, he's insufferable yet still doing his job well.

I also think that the show started adding too many highly technological stuff in the later seasons when it's supposed to be set around the late 60's early 70's... There are even things that are too advanced even for our era.