The Terror had a second season!? I really liked the first season and had no idea it was going to continue as an anthology. I take it the second season doesn't measure up to the first?
Heroes. The first season wrapped up its story beautifully. The second season was an aimless disaster.
I've read online that the original plan was for each season to tell a stand-alone story with a different set of heroes but the network was insistent on keeping the popular characters from season one on for season two. Peter Petrelli's power is universe-breaking after he learns to control it, so the show ended up tying itself into a pretzel to explain why the answer to every problem isn't "get Peter to snap his fingers and fix it". There was also a writer's strike in the middle of the season, which didn't help.
I actually think season 2 of Prison Break was a perfectly natural and well done (for the intended tone) continuation of the story. I know people snarkily point out the title doesn't strictly apply anymore, but I think convicts on the run from a manhunt fits. The show was from the beginning always a political conspiracy thriller baked inside of a prison story anyway.
The following seasons get increasingly absurd, but they are enjoyable in a silly way.
Strong agree. I think Prison Break slowly goes off the rails with more spies and conspiracy. It's not out of nowhere given Lincoln's original crime is murdering the Vice President (allegedly), but it does eventually just get ridiculous.
I still like the later seasons for the characters, but it is wildly different from where they started.
It gets comical how the characters say that phrase so much instead of using his name, for audience benefit.
I appreciate each season changing things up with a different central conceit. As absurd as the Central American super prison and spy craft seasons were at least the show kept changing instead of spinning its wheels.
While season 2 of The Mandalorian had the distinct flavor of introducing executive producer mandated spin-off hooks, I still found it quite good overall. The finale was the perfect ending to the Mando and child storyline.
The perfect ending. We didn't need anymore after that ending.
Everything Mando related after that has gone totally off the rails by undoing that ending, and the show has become a parody of itself.
Westworld comes to mind for me
Agreed. I like the following seasons okay but the first season is nearly perfect on its own.
The ending of season 1 was perfect. Anything after that is an excuse for nudity and gore.
Season 2 was rough, but I think season 3 was a good soft reboot. After that it's all downhill again, but it almost righted itself.
Kiksuya.
The obvious examples for me are Altered Carbon, The Terror (although its anthological and a third is in production) and Westworld.
The Terror had a second season!? I really liked the first season and had no idea it was going to continue as an anthology. I take it the second season doesn't measure up to the first?
It's considered bad. I haven't watched it. It's set in a Japanese internment camp during WW2.
Dang. Hopefully third season redeems it, but I won't hold my breath.
altered carbon. Season 2 was so cheap in comparison
Joel Kinnaman. Accept no substitute.
I'm sure there could have been a replacement that worked.
But in no possible universe could it have been Anthony Mackie.
First season stayed close enough to the books, second season strayed too far after coping with first season changes and deviating from the actual plot
Heroes. The first season wrapped up its story beautifully. The second season was an aimless disaster.
I've read online that the original plan was for each season to tell a stand-alone story with a different set of heroes but the network was insistent on keeping the popular characters from season one on for season two. Peter Petrelli's power is universe-breaking after he learns to control it, so the show ended up tying itself into a pretzel to explain why the answer to every problem isn't "get Peter to snap his fingers and fix it". There was also a writer's strike in the middle of the season, which didn't help.
it got wierd after sylar went good, and then it just went in a different direction.
Prison Break
The Rig
I actually think season 2 of Prison Break was a perfectly natural and well done (for the intended tone) continuation of the story. I know people snarkily point out the title doesn't strictly apply anymore, but I think convicts on the run from a manhunt fits. The show was from the beginning always a political conspiracy thriller baked inside of a prison story anyway.
The following seasons get increasingly absurd, but they are enjoyable in a silly way.
Strong agree. I think Prison Break slowly goes off the rails with more spies and conspiracy. It's not out of nowhere given Lincoln's original crime is murdering the Vice President (allegedly), but it does eventually just get ridiculous.
I still like the later seasons for the characters, but it is wildly different from where they started.
The Vice President's brother!
It gets comical how the characters say that phrase so much instead of using his name, for audience benefit.
I appreciate each season changing things up with a different central conceit. As absurd as the Central American super prison and spy craft seasons were at least the show kept changing instead of spinning its wheels.
Ah right the brother! It's been too long.
And yeah, it got worse but it didn't get boring.
I couldn’t get past the first episode of The Rig because it seemed cheaply made.
You're not wrong, it was watchable but barely.
Jessica Jones
Gonna go with Handmaid's Tale, gets progressively worse with each season
There's a really whackadoo cult member in there. I can't watch it.
Firefly. After the first season everything that made the show great is just missing.
The movie was enjoyable
He said what he said.
Altered Carbon
Weeds
Kevin Nealon was the glue that held that together.
HEROES. It died an ugly death because of a writer's strike. It's unfortunate, but I support the writers.
You can hate on the end all you want but don't pretend like it stopped being good after the first season
And he spoke to the truth, so they voted him down
If you are counting anime, Sword Art Online.
A.P. Bio. They slowly tied to normalize it and it lost all its edge.
Welcome To Flatch. Season 1 was awesome! Season 2 they tried to make it a "normal" show and it was awful.
glenn howertons show, no wonder he went back to ISAIP, couldnt hack it outside the show.
Squid Game. The Mandalorian maybe?
While season 2 of The Mandalorian had the distinct flavor of introducing executive producer mandated spin-off hooks, I still found it quite good overall. The finale was the perfect ending to the Mando and child storyline.
The perfect ending. We didn't need anymore after that ending.
Everything Mando related after that has gone totally off the rails by undoing that ending, and the show has become a parody of itself.
We won't know on Squid Game until Season 3 comes out. 1 was more iconic than 2, but still good.
I'm going to get downvoted to oblivion, but Stranger Things. Season 1 was perfect, and in my opinion the rest have sort of been all over the place.
Found the Fox executive /j
That is an unpopular opinion, but valid. I still haven't finished the Hulu run yet. It doesn't hit the same.
While I enjoy the later seasons, I can broadly agree with your point.
I just came here to say: The one scene with the crosswalk was insane. I all but spat my drink. If you know, you know.
Friday Night Lights
i heard walking dead, and lost. most animes are pretty bad after the 2-4 seasons. hence why some japanese ones only go through 2 seasons max.
List is too long.
The US version of The Killing.