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 the best 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 like The Walking Dead flag, 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 shows and 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.
10
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994)
One of the best spinoffs of the original series
Starring the iconic Patrick Stewart as Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Trek: The Next Generation is one of the most successful spinoffs following the cultural impact of Star Trek: The Original Series. Set after the events of TOS, TNG explored new territory and pushed the boundaries of what the Star Trek franchise could be. TNG season 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.
Many Star Trek: TNG episodes 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 of Star Trek: The Next Generation and opened the door for further spinoff movies and the long-awaited Star Trek: Picard in 2020.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987–1994) |
92% |
90% |
9
The Walking Dead (2010–2022)
Despite its early misstep, The Walking Dead became an unforgettable franchise
Though The Walking Dead had 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 of The Walking Dead franchise 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 if The Walking Dead didn’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 for The Walking Dead season 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 Dead course-corrected with season 3, introducing Michonne (Danai Gurira), who would become a vital character in the series.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
The Walking Dead (2010–2022) |
79% |
78% |
8
Reacher (2022–Present)
Lee Child’s beloved book series has finally received a worthy adaptation
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’s Reacher. With a strong first outing that quickly earned the series renewal, there were high hopes for Reacher season 2 that the show didn’t quite exceed. Where Reacher season 1 stood out among typical action TV shows, the second season felt like a rehash of the first installment and was too quick to rely on tired tropes of the genre.
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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, Reacher season 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. Reacher is going further in season 3, expanding upon Reacher’s past and 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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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Reacher (2022–Present) |
95% |
81% |
7
Friday Night Lights (2006–2011)
This sports TV show found its way back after a confused second season
Friday Night Lights season 1 is an unbelievable season of television. Seamlessly introducing the characters and the dynamics of the small town of Dillon, Friday Night Lights is 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 dramas that 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 that Friday Night Lights season 3 dropped many of these plotlines and returned to the format of season 1 demonstrates 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 Lights was 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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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Friday Night Lights (2006–2011) |
97% |
93% |
6
Westworld (2016–2022)
HBO’s sci-fi Western deserved to have it’s final season see the light of day
HBO’s sci-fi Western series Westworld had 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. Where season 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.
Though Westworld was 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.
Though Westworld was 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. Although Westworld season 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. Westworld deserved better than its abrupt ending, winning back audiences and critics over time.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Westworld (2016–2022) |
80% |
75% |
5
Stranger Things (2016–Present)
Stranger Things season 5 can’t come soon enough
Netflix’s beloved science fantasy TV show has never flagged in terms of popularity, but it’s widely agreed upon that Stranger Things season 2 is the weakest outing. After the tight first installment, Stranger Things had some trouble navigating its explosive appeal and where the story was heading. Some of the 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 Things recognized 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 up Stranger Things to conclude on an unforgettable fifth season.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Stranger Things (2016–Present) |
91% |
90% |
4
True Detective (2014–Present)
True Detective’s iconic first season is still the series’ strongest installment
It’s hard to say what happened between the critically and audience-acclaimed first outing of True Detective and 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.
While True Detective might 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.
While True Detective might 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. Since True Detective season 5 is confirmed, it will be interesting to see where the next installment leads the series.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
True Detective (2014–Present) |
79% |
59% |
3
Agents Of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020)
Before the MCU’s TV shows took off, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. was the best of them
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’ actions and the fallout from the knowledge that superheroes have a place on Earth. By the end of Agents 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, but season 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.
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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. (2013–2020) |
95% |
91% |
2
Twin Peaks (1990–2017)
Twin Peaks: The Return is one of David Lynch’s best works
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 Peaks suffered 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 (via Collider). Fortunately, Lynch got to exercise almost complete creative control with The Return, making it an incomparable piece of television.
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In many ways, Twin Peaks: The Return is more similar to a long-form film rather 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 Return understands 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.
|
Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Twin Peaks (1990–2017) |
78% |
92% |
1
Mr. Robot (2015–2019)
Rami Malek’s performance helped save this thriller series
After a gripping first season that drew audiences in and made them question everything, Mr. Robot lost 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. Robot does 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. Robot seasons 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. Robot season 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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Title |
Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score |
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score |
|
Mr. Robot (2015–2019) |
94% |
93% |
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The Way Home Season 3 Finale: Kat, Elliot, Del, Colton's Fates Revealed
The Way Home season 3 finale answered fans’ questions regarding what Colton Landry knew about time travel — and the pond — but it also left Us with even more unknowns. Warning: Spoilers below for season 3, episode 10 of The Way Home. The Friday, March 7, episode kicked off [...]| Play | Cover | Release Label |
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