For years, TV shows have enjoyed a golden era of quality—until they don’t. Sometimes the decline is slow and hard to notice, but other times it’s clear-cut with a specific season, episode, or scene marking the drop from good to bad. Some fans stick around, hoping things will improve, while others are so disappointed that they quit watching.
Glenn’s death on The Walking Dead
Even though comic readers saw it coming, Glenn Rhee’s death in *The Walking Dead* was too much for some fans. Glenn had been the heart of the show, and despite the showrunners’ attempts, no one could fill his shoes. His brutal death at the hands of Negan led many viewers to switch off in large numbers.
When new doctors showed up in Scrubs
Scrubs fell into this trap during its ninth season when it shifted focus from JD, Turk, Elliot, and the others to a new group of med students. This change ultimately contributed to the show’s cancellation.
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Elena leaving The Vampire Diaries
Shows often struggle to keep viewers after losing a main character, and for *The Vampire Diaries*, that character was Elena Gilbert. The show had always centered on Elena, and while fans liked her friend Bonnie, she didn’t serve as the series’ core, leading many to stop watching.
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When Mulder went missing on The X-Files
*The X-Files* was centered around the dynamic between FBI Agents Fox Mulder and Dana Scully. However, after seven seasons together, Mulder disappeared and was replaced by Agent Doggett. In reality, David Duchovny left due to contract disputes and eventually returned, but by then, many viewers had already tuned out.
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Supernatural continuing after the perfect ending
Showrunner Eric Kripke initially planned for Supernatural to end after five seasons, with a fittingly tragic conclusion that gave the Winchester brothers a perfect send-off. However, due to fan demand, the series continued without Kripke, leading to another ten years of repetitive storylines.
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Luke and Lorelai’s Gilmore Girls breakup
After five seasons of back-and-forth, Luke and Lorelai finally got together on *Gilmore Girls*, and fans were thrilled. However, their relationship didn’t last, as the writers introduced ridiculous obstacles like secret daughters. This move backfired, and after their breakup in season six, outraged fans stopped watching.
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When True Blood went off the rails
The first two seasons of True Blood stayed close to Charlaine Harris’ books, but by season three, the show began to diverge. By season four, it had strayed completely from the source material, leading to a drop in storytelling quality. The introduction of were-panthers, fairies, and witches proved too much for some fans.
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Killing Lexa in The 100
When The 100 first aired, it was a refreshing new take on teen programming. Clarke’s same-sex relationship with Lexa was one of the show’s strongest aspects, providing much-needed representation. However, when the show killed off Lexa, it caused a significant loss of viewers.
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The OC after Marissa Cooper died
Marissa Cooper was initially supposed to die in The OC’s first season after a wild night in Tijuana, but her popularity led to her being kept on. However, her luck ran out in the third season finale, and her departure marked the beginning of the show’s decline, as it struggled to continue without her.
When Prison Break went back to the start
Prison Break’s first season was fantastic, featuring Michael deliberately getting himself imprisoned to help his wrongly convicted brother, Lincoln, escape. However, when the second season ended with Michael in a Panamanian prison, the third season reversed the roles, with Lincoln now helping Michael escape. Many viewers found this twist to be repetitive and dull.
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Once Upon a Time continuing after a happy ending
In the final moments of Once Upon a Time season six, it seemed like everyone was getting their long-awaited happy endings, providing a beautiful conclusion to the show. However, season seven came along and reversed six seasons of progress, including the frustrating decision to age up Henry from a young boy to a man.
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Poussey’s death in Orange is the New Black
Among a cast of dubious characters, Poussey from Orange is the New Black was universally loved by fans. They were devastated when, in season four, Poussey was shockingly and brutally killed. Her death left many viewers struggling to continue watching the show.
When Jack Bauer’s family tried to kill him
24 was always going to be challenging to sustain due to its unique format, and by Jack Bauer’s sixth “bad day,” the ideas were starting to run dry. This time, the antagonists turned out to be Jack’s previously unmentioned family, which felt too contrived and left many loyal viewers dissatisfied.
The time jump in Pretty Little Liars
After six years of playing high school students, the cast of Pretty Little Liars were starting to look too old for their roles. To address this, the story jumped forward five years. While this made the actors’ ages more believable, some viewers found it frustrating that the characters, now in their twenties, still hadn’t resolved their teenage drama.
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Rita’s death on Dexter
For four seasons, Dexter grappled with finding his place. In the season four finale, he chose to embrace family life with his pregnant wife, Rita. However, before they could begin their new life, Dexter’s nemesis killed her. Her death was a breaking point for many viewers, leading them to abandon the show.
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Gossip Girl coupling Dan and Blair
Over the years, *Gossip Girl* tried various couple pairings, but Dan and Blair never clicked with viewers. The characters had rarely interacted, and when they did, they were often at odds. Seeing them in a romantic relationship felt strange and unconvincing to many.
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Stranger Things should’ve been an anthology show
The first season of Stranger Things was a nostalgic nod to the ’80s, blending elements of *The Goonies* with sci-fi horror. Its success led to more seasons, but after the initial excitement, many viewers were disappointed by the repetitive direction the story took.
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Lex Luthor leaving ruined Smallville
Although Smallville lasted for ten seasons, it began to decline after Michael Rosenbaum, who played Lex Luthor, left at the end of season seven. The show struggled to maintain its quality with his departure, and repeatedly teasing his return without delivering on it further disappointed fans.
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When the Dawson’s Creek teens went to college
Dawson’s Creek was one of the most influential teen TV shows, but once the story moved beyond the creek, viewership declined. Although the characters were in college, they all conveniently remained in each other’s lives, which frustrated fans who found the portrayal of real life increasingly unrealistic.
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The Principal and the Pauper ended The Simpsons’
Although The Simpsons is now in its 35th season, its golden era began to decline during season nine with the episode The Principal and the Pauper. The revelation that Principal Skinner was actually an imposter clashed with the character’s established backstory, and it didn’t sit well with many fans.
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Arrow’s time jump
The DC TV show *Arrow* peaked during its third season, but it started to falter afterward. In the season eight episode *Present Tense*, the show took a drastic turn by jumping forward to the year 2040, focusing on a new Green Arrow played by Mia Smoak. This sudden shift confused audiences, leading many to stop watching.
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American Horror Story’s Roanoke
The anthology series American Horror Story was a hit in its first few seasons, but season six, Roanoke, saw a significant drop in viewers. The reality show-style presentation felt unnecessary, and the story itself was weaker compared to earlier seasons.
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Team Flash had too many superpowers
The Flash started with Barry Allen developing super-speed, but by the end of the show, nearly all his friends and family had powers too. By the end of the third season, Barry, Cisco, and Caitlyn (as Killer Frost) all had abilities. As more characters gained powers, the story became too chaotic for some viewers, leading them to tune out.
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Lost’s constant mysteries
Lost was a global television phenomenon, known for its sci-fi mystery and its ability to both confuse and entice audiences with numerous enigmatic elements. However, by the third season, the show had yet to provide any clear answers. Promo for the ninth episode teased major revelations, but ultimately failed to deliver, leaving viewers frustrated.
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Game of Thrones’ assault of a fan favorite
While many criticize the final season of Game of Thrones, some viewers stopped watching earlier, particularly after season five’s episode Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken. In this episode, Sansa Stark is sold into marriage with Ramsay Bolton and subsequently assaulted, a scene that deviated from the books and was widely regarded as being in poor taste.
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Opie’s death in Sons of Anarchy
In a cast of questionable Sons of Anarchy characters, Opie stood out as a moral compass—a shining beacon amid the chaos. He was the angel on Jax’s shoulder, balancing everyone else’s darker influences. However, in season five, Opie was brutally killed off, leaving Jax without his guiding influence and leading him down a dark path. This event angered many fans, causing them to abandon the show.
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When Buffy went to college
Another teen show that struggled with the transition to college was Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In season four, Buffy attempts to balance her life as a slayer with being a college student. The season’s main villain, Adam, was underwhelming, but the real letdown came with the introduction of Buffy’s dull boyfriend, Riley Finn.
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Westworld’s second season
The first season of the sci-fi drama Westworld ended with several hosts breaking free and escaping into neighboring ‘worlds.’ Expectations were high for the exploration of these new environments, but the show soon returned to its original setting, which felt uninspired and like a missed opportunity.
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Mr. Mercedes jumped the shark in season two
The first season of Mr. Mercedes offered a thrilling cat-and-mouse game between a mass murderer and a detective, ending with the killer in a coma, which seemed like a definitive conclusion. However, in season two, the killer gains the ability to control people with his mind, a twist that many fans found too strange.
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Ross and Rachel’s break in Friends
In season three of Friends, Ross and Rachel’s infamous “we were on a break” argument became a running joke. By the season four premiere, when the issue was revisited, many viewers were frustrated that the storyline was still being dragged out.
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Heroes was hit hard by the writer’s strike
After a fantastic first season, anticipation was high for Heroes’ second season. However, the show was hit hard by the 2007 writer’s strike, resulting in a season that felt hollow compared to the first. The drop in quality was apparent from the opening episode, leading many viewers to tune out.
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The identity of Gossip Girl ruined the reboot
During Gossip Girl’s original run, audiences were captivated by the mystery of the eponymous blogger’s identity. However, the revival series took a different approach by revealing Gossip Girl’s identity as a faculty member from the first episode. This change, combined with the less engaging teen drama, led many viewers to lose interest.
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Angel lost its way with Connor’s arrival
In Angel, the spin-off from *Buffy the Vampire Slayer*, Angel moves to LA and starts a detective agency to help those in need. While the show took bold risks, not all were successful. Many fans view the arrival of adult baby Connor at the end of season three as the beginning of the show’s decline.
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Glee should have ended with graduation
Glee was a global sensation in its first season, but the excitement faded quickly for many viewers. Those who stayed lost interest after the original New Directions graduated. The show then split its focus between the remaining original characters and a new class of singers, resulting in a confusing and disjointed experience that left few viewers engaged.
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Jim and Pam’s ‘will they won’t they’ romance
After three seasons of The Office rooting for Jim and Pam to get together, their union was finally realized, but it didn’t meet fans’ expectations. Once they were together, the couple became dull and uninteresting, leading to a drop in overall show interest.
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Grey’s Anatomy struggled to fill a Cristina shaped hole
Although Grey’s Anatomy is still on air, its core audience has decreased significantly since Sandra Oh’s Cristina left the show. Fans often saw Cristina as a crucial complement to Meredith, and her departure in the tenth season left a noticeable void in the series.
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Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. failed to deliver on superheroes
When Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. began, it promised appearances from major Marvel stars and suggested that watching the show would provide essential information for the films. However, it quickly became clear that neither promise was fulfilled. The show fell into repetitive storytelling patterns, and few viewers stayed beyond the second season.
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When the hacking stopped, so did interest in Mr. Robot
The first season of Mr. Robot was praised for its authentic portrayal of hacking techniques, offering a realistic look at the process rather than the usual Hollywood depiction of instant access. However, in season two, hacking took a backseat and became an afterthought amidst the convoluted plot, leaving some viewers frustrated.
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Alex dying in The Expanse
In The Expanse, Alex, the pilot of the Rocinante, was a fan favorite and a crucial part of the crew’s dynamic. However, his death in the season five finale left the remaining crew scattered, and the show’s magic diminished in season six.
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When Walter White watched Jane die
Walter White starts off as the sympathetic protagonist in Breaking Bad, but his darker side soon emerges. In season two, he breaks into Jesse’s home while Jesse and Jane are unconscious from drugs. As Jane chokes and dies, Walt watches without intervening. For some viewers, this moment revealed that Walt was more of a villain than a hero, which was too much to handle.
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