Top 10 Episodes That Killed TV Shows
#10: “There's No Place Like Home”
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“Once Upon a Time” (2011-18) It was only a matter of time before a certain icy queen appeared on “Once Upon a Time.” “Frozen” was a gob-smackingly successful movie that entered Elsa into the pantheon of Disney heroines. The famous blonde made her “Once Upon a Time” debut in the season three finale, “There's No Place Like Home,” and her introduction was met with a mixed response. While some liked the cliffhanger introducing her, others found it forced and financially-driven. Others still disliked the inclusion as the show typically focused on traditional fairy tales over modern blockbusters. Meanwhile, many fans didn’t like the arc because it felt like the series was running out of fresh ideas. “Once Upon a Time” arguably lost some good will as a result.
#9: “Broken Hearts”
“Homeland” (2011-20) Most of “Homeland”’s first two seasons were prestige TV, earning wide popularity and numerous Emmys, including Outstanding Drama Series. And then it just kind of…became meh. Suddenly it seemed like few people cared anymore, and it arguably started with “Broken Hearts.” The episode notably sees Abu Nazir taking Carrie and orchestrating the hacking of Vice President Walden’s pacemaker. Brody retrieves the device’s serial number and Nazir’s associate causes a heart attack by manipulating it. The episode as a whole earned some criticism, with many finding it over the top and unconvincing. It came near the end of the second season, and it seemed like “Homeland” had a harder time afterward. Viewership ultimately declined as the series progressed.
#8: “The Dearly Beloved”
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“The O.C.” (2003-07) It’s never good when a dramatic moment becomes a laughing stock. “The O.C.” was a popular teen drama that aired on Fox, and it inevitably delved into melodramatic soap opera territory at times. One of the unintentionally goofiest episodes comes at the end of season two. In it, brothers Trey and Ryan get into a fight, prompting Ryan’s love Marissa to shoot Trey. The plot development is questionable enough, but the filmmaking turned the episode into a literal meme. Overly-dramatic slow-mo punctuates the shot, as does a refrain from Imogen Heap’s “Hide and Seek.” This scene was parodied by “SNL,” which in turn led to the famous “MMM Whatcha Say” meme. From this point on, it got harder to take “The O.C.” seriously.
#7: "Riot FOMO"
“Orange Is the New Black” (2013-19) This series was on such a high that “pretty good” just didn’t cut it. The first few seasons were widely acclaimed, helping establish Netflix as a TV contender and turning Uzo Aduba into an award-winning star. But something was immediately off with season five’s premiere. The writing wasn’t as sharp, the humor not as funny, and the drama not as emotional. It almost felt like it couldn’t effectively build on its own depth. More than that, the episode marked the start of an underwhelming season, with 13 episodes controversially taking place over 3 days. The critical reception and interest in the show dipped as a result. It ended with a spectacular seventh season, but by then many fans had already checked out.
#6: “Song Beneath the Song”
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“Grey's Anatomy” (2005-) The last place you’d expect to find a gimmicky musical episode is on a serious medical drama. Yet here we are. The seventh season of “Grey’s Anatomy” features the bizarre episode “Song Beneath the Song.” This was something of a passion project for series creator Shonda Rhimes, who had envisioned doing a musical episode for years. But few other people were having it. Network executives reportedly didn’t believe in it, and cast member Patrick Dempsey later called it “a big mistake.” Some fans now single it out as the show’s “jump the shark” moment - when “Grey’s Anatomy” turned from must-watch event TV to just another medical drama.
#5: "Till the Next Goodbye"
“That '70s Show” (1998-2006) Many people agree that “That ‘70s Show” should’ve ended with the departure of Eric. The seventh season concludes with him going to Africa, which marked the beginning of the end for the sitcom. After all, he was the heart of the story in some ways, and his exit in this episode left a gaping hole that couldn’t be filled. Sure, an attempt was made to keep the gravy train rolling, but to no avail. Most folks disliked newcomer Randy Pearson, who lacked chemistry with the cast and felt like an inferior blend of Eric and Kelso. This makes sense, as Kelso was also absent for much of season eight (which would be the last). Gone with Eric was the show’s acclaim and popularity.
#4: "This Is the Way the World Ends"
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“Dexter” (2006-13) The first four seasons of “Dexter” are classics, but cracks started to show in season five. The sixth was no better, ending in a divisive moment with Dexter’s sister Deb catching him red-handed. Some saw it as a way to spice up the story. But others saw it as a contrived and desperate ploy for relevancy. The cliffhanger itself could’ve been something, but “Dexter” never capitalized on it. That, combined with the episode’s mixed reception overall, only lent credence to the whole “ratings ploy” argument. Deb’s characterization was also criticized - especially her disturbing attachment to her adoptive brother. It all felt like the start of an out of control spiral the show would only fall deeper into.
#3: "The Empty Hearse"
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“Sherlock” (2010-17) A thrilling modernization by the BBC, “Sherlock” brought the famous sleuth into the 21st century. The first two seasons expertly blended standalone mysteries with an overarching narrative, but many fans did not like the direction of the third. It all started with “The Empty Hearse,” which provided nothing but confusing potential answers to how Sherlock survived his fall without giving fans anything conclusive. For many, this was a bad sign of things to come - of the show putting forth increasingly elaborate questions and then giving half-hearted answers. There were a ton of mixed responses to season three and a more outright hostile reaction to four. Symbolically, the downfall began with a “hearse.”
#2: “Last Day on Earth”
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“The Walking Dead” (2010-22) Ask someone when they stopped watching “The Walking Dead” and chances are many will mention this episode. Serving as the sixth season finale, “Last Day on Earth” is notable for two things - formally introducing Negan and containing one of the most shameless cliffhangers ever. Indeed, Negan beats one of the characters to death, only we don’t see who it is. All viewers see is a POV shot from the victim themself. This cliffhanger was viciously criticized. For many, it was nothing but a manipulative ratings ploy meant to bait viewers into watching the next season. Ironically, the trick killed numerous peoples’ interest in the show. Ratings subsequently dipped, and “The Walking Dead” arguably faded into “Oh, that’s still on?” territory.
#1: “Hollywood: Part 3”
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“Happy Days” (1974-84) The term “jumping the shark” is meant to denote an instance in a series that exemplifies its declining quality and attempt to remain relevant. Usually this is a cheap cliffhanger, a bizarre bit of writing, or a surreal moment that betrays the show’s tone. The term was born thanks to a TV event that occurred on the night of September 20, 1977. That’s when Arthur Fonzarelli from “Happy Days” quite literally jumped over a shark in an episode titled “Hollywood: Part 3.” Oh, and he did so on water skis. This resonated very poorly, with many finding it ridiculous and goofy. Granted, the show continued for another six seasons afterward. But with the history-making episode, the reputation of “Happy Days” found itself tarnished.