Shows that "Hit Their Stride" AFTER Season 2
08-20-04, 11:29 AM
#1
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Shows that "Hit Their Stride" AFTER Season 2
taking a cue from the currently running 24 thread:
so, what shows "hit their stride" after the completion of Season 2? (This does not necessarily mean Season 3, mind you...)
my nomination goes for The Simpsons which had a few excellent episodes in Season 3 but truly started being brilliant in Season 4.
-di doctor-
Originally posted by nny
quote:
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Originally posted by Rogue588
Isn't it true [for the most part] that a show usually hits its stride around the third season?
[The only example I could think of right now is the X-Files. Feel free to back my statement up with other examples. ]
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Have we ever done a thread on this?
For me, seasons 3-5 seem to be the best, but there's been a recent trend of really good first seasons lately. Alias, Smallville, and 24 all had great first seasons and then fell off greatly in quality. Even though I've enjoyed both shows since their first season, I wonder if The Shield and Nip/Tuck will ever be able to equal the greatness of their first seasons. And for a completely different show, I think ATHF got much worse after the first season.
Maybe it's because shows are getting cancelled faster nowadays, so the shows with weaker first seasons aren't getting the opportunity to become great.
quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by Rogue588
Isn't it true [for the most part] that a show usually hits its stride around the third season?
[The only example I could think of right now is the X-Files. Feel free to back my statement up with other examples. ]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Have we ever done a thread on this?
For me, seasons 3-5 seem to be the best, but there's been a recent trend of really good first seasons lately. Alias, Smallville, and 24 all had great first seasons and then fell off greatly in quality. Even though I've enjoyed both shows since their first season, I wonder if The Shield and Nip/Tuck will ever be able to equal the greatness of their first seasons. And for a completely different show, I think ATHF got much worse after the first season.
Maybe it's because shows are getting cancelled faster nowadays, so the shows with weaker first seasons aren't getting the opportunity to become great.
my nomination goes for The Simpsons which had a few excellent episodes in Season 3 but truly started being brilliant in Season 4.
-di doctor-
Last edited by DrRingDing; 08-20-04 at 11:31 AM.
08-20-04, 11:37 AM
#3
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Simpsons
Seinfeld
Cheers
L.A. Law (although it was very good in S1 & S2)
Law & Order (addition of Jerry Orbach as Briscoe)
As for the original post. Smallville - a great season 1?
S2 was far superior to S1. Of course, mediocrity set in again in S3.
Seinfeld
Cheers
L.A. Law (although it was very good in S1 & S2)
Law & Order (addition of Jerry Orbach as Briscoe)
As for the original post. Smallville - a great season 1?
S2 was far superior to S1. Of course, mediocrity set in again in S3.
08-20-04, 11:41 AM
#4
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maybe i should start a complimentary thread about great first and second seasons followed by lackluster seasons for the rest of the course! 
08-20-04, 01:49 PM
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Buffy, Angel, Simpsons, Seinfeld, South Park. Those are probably my favorite shows that lasted at least 5 seasons and they all got much better after season 2. For some reason I can't think of too many others right now, but very few shows that I love make it to 5 seasons.
Two that come to mind that I know I'm in the minority on are Sopranos and SFU. Seasons 3 and 4 of Sopranos were definitely my favorite and season 3 of SFU is infinitely superior to the other seasons.
I have a tendency to hate the second season of shows for some reason. I hated season 2 of SFU and 24, thought Buffy season 2 was incredibly overrated, and season 2 of Once and Again was by far the worst TV Herskovitz and Zwick ever did. I really dislike the monster of the week formula, but I still thought everything about season 2 of Smallville was worse than season 1. Even though season 1 was mostly MOTW, they always saved at least the last few minutes of the episode for some great moments from the long lasting arcs. I guess the writers weren't good enough to make the quality last longer than a few minutes because the plots for the last 2 seasons have been pathetic.
Two that come to mind that I know I'm in the minority on are Sopranos and SFU. Seasons 3 and 4 of Sopranos were definitely my favorite and season 3 of SFU is infinitely superior to the other seasons.
I have a tendency to hate the second season of shows for some reason. I hated season 2 of SFU and 24, thought Buffy season 2 was incredibly overrated, and season 2 of Once and Again was by far the worst TV Herskovitz and Zwick ever did. I really dislike the monster of the week formula, but I still thought everything about season 2 of Smallville was worse than season 1. Even though season 1 was mostly MOTW, they always saved at least the last few minutes of the episode for some great moments from the long lasting arcs. I guess the writers weren't good enough to make the quality last longer than a few minutes because the plots for the last 2 seasons have been pathetic.
Last edited by nny; 08-20-04 at 02:03 PM.
08-21-04, 08:25 AM
#8
Moderator
I agree w/ Mike, Stargate SG1 is the first one that came to mind. Although I think it took a little longer than he did I don't think it really picked up until the middle of the third season w/ the 4th being the first solid one.
I don't think it really picked up until the middle of the third season w/ the 4th being the first solid one.
08-21-04, 11:59 AM
#9
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Originally posted by nny
thought Buffy season 2 was incredibly overrated
thought Buffy season 2 was incredibly overrated
08-21-04, 06:25 PM
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Originally posted by Jason
Futurama. The first two seasons were very good, but the true highlights, like "Jurrasic Bark" came later.
Futurama. The first two seasons were very good, but the true highlights, like "Jurrasic Bark" came later.
08-21-04, 07:47 PM
#13
DVD Talk Hero
Pretty much every show that makes it past the 2nd season improves.
The better question would be what show doesn't improve after a couple seasons? Well, maybe 24, or Alias - but those were so high-concept to begin with that there's realy nowhere else they could go. And of course, some shows run out of steam by their 6th or 7th season (I'm lookin' at you X-Files and Buffy), but when most shows make it past their 2nd season, their 3rd, 4th and 5th seasons are usually considered their best.
The better question would be what show doesn't improve after a couple seasons? Well, maybe 24, or Alias - but those were so high-concept to begin with that there's realy nowhere else they could go. And of course, some shows run out of steam by their 6th or 7th season (I'm lookin' at you X-Files and Buffy), but when most shows make it past their 2nd season, their 3rd, 4th and 5th seasons are usually considered their best.
08-21-04, 11:52 PM
#14
DVD Talk Legend
St. Elsewhere
Here's a show that started "pretty good" and only got "GREAT" after they jettisoned some of those superfluous characters from the first Season.
Best Show Ever.
Don't believe me? I'll bre--
Here's a show that started "pretty good" and only got "GREAT" after they jettisoned some of those superfluous characters from the first Season.
Best Show Ever.
Don't believe me? I'll bre--
08-22-04, 12:20 AM
#15
DVD Talk Godfather
My memory is fuzzy but the first two seasons of ER had their moments, but season 3(the whole Omar Epps storyline, I think it is 3) is where it picked up. (I was hooked from the first ep. though)
08-22-04, 08:38 AM
#16
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Red Dwarf
08-22-04, 02:45 PM
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Originally posted by danganet
I am looking in my crystal ball and see.....
Arrested Develpoment
I am looking in my crystal ball and see.....
Arrested Develpoment
08-23-04, 02:43 PM
#19
DVD Talk Gold Edition
As for the original post. Smallville - a great season 1? S2 was far superior to S1. Of course, mediocrity set in again in S3.
S2 was far superior to S1. Of course, mediocrity set in again in S3.
