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Top 10 Shows That Couldn't Finish What They Started

Top 10 Shows That Couldn't Finish What They Started
VOICE OVER: Rebecca Brayton
These shows came out of the gate hot but failed to stick the landing. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the times TV shows had us hooked from their exciting first seasons but lost us on the way to their series finales. Our countdown of shows that couldn't finish what they started includes “Gossip Girl”, "Lost", "Game of Thrones", and more!

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today were counting down our picks for the times TV shows had us hooked from their exciting first seasons but lost us on the way to their series finales. Major spoilers lie ahead.

#10: 24 (2001-10; 2014)

For five seasons, one could make the argument that 24 was the best show on TV. It was probably the most exciting, with thrilling storylines, a unique time-based concept, and some brutally gritty drama. And then season six happened. The main problem with this batch of episodes is the inclusion of Jacks father and brother, who are revealed to be terrorists working with Charles Logan. By making the antagonistic threats a part of Jacks family, the show veered way too far into soap opera territory, and many complained that the storyline was ridiculously contrived. The nuclear bomb and its mindboggling lack of repercussions certainly didnt help.



#9: Roseanne (1988-97; 2018)

Roseanne was once the number one show on television. However, during its final seasonwell, the first final season, the show took a drastic turn. The average Conner family won the lottery. Instead of being a down-to-earth family in relatable situations, the characters suddenly were thrust into many outlandish plotlines due to their fortune. There were dream sequences galore, celebrity guest stars, and lots of nonsense that took the show further away from its roots. Even before the finales last second rug-pull, fans agreed that Roseanne had lost its spark. The only solace was that the poorly received season officially became non-canon after the shows revival.


#8: Gossip Girl (2007-12)

Throughout this drama series, the titular mysterious character of Gossip Girl narrates the show while revealing embarrassing and juicy details about people. In the final episode, its revealed Dan Humphrey, aspiring writer and love interest of Serena, was the mystery person. But this wasnt exactly a clever reveal. Dan being Gossip Girl creates a whole host of plot holes within the show. These include occasions where Dan couldnt have posted as Gossip Girl, when he leaked compromising info about himself or went after those close to him. Most bafflingly, there were times when he reacted to posts he allegedly made with shock when he was alone. This one reveal made the show make less sense and left it worse off than before.

#7: That 70s Show (1998-2006)

While this 70s themed sitcom may have been about hangin out with a group of quirky teens and their parents, Eric Foreman was seen as the main protagonist. So when actor Topher Grace departed the show at the end of season 7, That 70s Show was left without its central character. The rest of the cast did try to forge on without him. However, the subsequent season 8 was just a mess. A ton of plotlines like Hydes wife with an adult profession or Jackie and Fez getting together just didnt work. By the time Eric returned for the finale, the 70s were over.

#6: Scrubs (2001-10)

When Scrubs debuted on NBC way back in 2001 it felt like the perfect comedic antithesis to the wildly popular medical dramas of the time like Chicago Hope and ER. On top of the laugh-out-loud moments on the show however, were memorable characters and engaging storylines. By the time the shows eighth season wrapped up, it felt like everything had come to a close. But then season 9 came along with a mostly new cast of characters in a new location. Only a few fan favorites were delegated to supporting or cameo roles. Although it was supposed to feel like a continuation, it essentially felt like a different show. And, to be fair, thats what show creator Bill Lawrence intended as. But network executives meddled to keep the show under the same name. While it mightve found more success as a spin-off, it definitely didnt succeed as the technically final season of Scrubs.



#5: Heroes (2006-10)

This superpowered drama had one of the most pronounced sophomore slumps in all of TV. Initially, it told a mostly self-contained story of ordinary people with superpowers coming together to save the world in season 1. But season 2 meandered through several new and often unresolved plot points before ending abruptly due to the writers strike. The show never really recovered from the blunders made during season 2 and seemed to flounder for a direction. As much as we loved villains like Sylar, characters definitely overstayed their welcomes past season 1. When combined with elements like time travel and uneven CG, it became clear that Heroes really lost its way.


#4: How I Met Your Mother (2005-14)

Although the entirety of this sitcoms final season raised a few eyebrows because its mostly set over a few days, the shows last episode got them really upset. After getting to know and come to love the titular mother Tracy at last, fans got their hearts broken. We see Ted finally meet her before his ever-present narration reveals that she later died of an unspecified illness. This bad turn was then followed by a reveal that Ted still has feelings for Robin. Since the show sank a season into tracking her wedding with Barney, it also feels like her time was wasted. Ruining the entire premise of your show and character development is impressively bad.


#3: Dexter (2006-13)

Dexter was once seen as a prestige drama among its contemporaries like Breaking Bad and Mad Men. There are plenty of points where this show about a serial killer-killer has been said to have gone off the rails. While its infamous finale was criticized, the proverbial nail in Dexters coffin came earlier. The season 6 finale sees Dexters adopted sister Debra catch him in the act of slaying the seasons villain in a churchwhile on her way there to confess her very non-sisterly feelings for him. Deb learning the truth was a plot point that couldve had tons a lot of potential. However, it just put a character whod already gone through the ringer in earlier seasons through even more trauma. A continuation series, Dexter: New Blood, was able to right some of the original shows mistakes, but for some this was too little too late.


#2: Lost (2004-10)

This complex and mystical mystery-focused show was divisive and much discussed throughout its run. But the undebatable final straw for many occurred in its finale. Fans couldnt help but facepalm when the glowing source of the islands magical powers revealed in the final episode had a literal cork in it! Although were all for striking imagery, even the shows diehard fans had to admit that this turn was a little too on the nose. Of course this is on top of the already convoluted elements of time travel, dip in writing quality and lack of solid answers that were already turning fans away prior to the shows conclusion.


#1: Game of Thrones (2011-19)

Season 8 of Game of Thrones is largely agreed by most fans as being a step down from the rest of the show. It included Danys rash decision to become a Mad Queen and torch Kings Landing. But her crimes were nearly forgotten when Bran Stark was named as the next king of Westeros. He had spent a bulk of the last few seasons as mostly a passive character that delivered exposition to us and learned about the past because people told him to. And Brans powers of foresight turned him into a mostly flat character who spouted assorted facts with tinges of emotion. Having him on the throne was a boring choice. Fans felt like they and Westeros deserved a better story than this.

Which show do you feel squandered their potential? Let us know in the comments.

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