This really surprises me since I was hooked by the pilot and loved the first two seasons, but eventually got so mad with the crazy 24-like terrorist plots that I dropped it by season 5.

Bob’s Burgers- I wasn’t into it when I watched it way back when it first started. When I started to date my wife she and her sister would watch it and I started to like it more. I’d say it’s one of my favorite animated shows now and often throw it on when I’m in the mood for something light.

This is mine except I didn't give it a chance. I watched the first couple episodes. I think the day they aired. I was even hungry for a new sitcom to watch after Friends ended. Didn't like it. Didn't really get the style of it and didn't find it funny. Apparently I should have stuck with it. I'm not the only one that didn't like the first few episodes but seems like everyone else gave it a chance.

Enterprise - Stuck with it for the entire first season. Didn't really care for it especially compared to other Trek. Plus back then there was a much bigger hurdle to watching shows back then so I just dropped it. Like I would have kept watching if it was as easy to watch as streaming is nowadays. Didn't go back for years until I finally watched the whole series when it came out on DVD. Still not my favorite trek but I appreciate it a lot more than I did back then.

I keep hearing I need to give Babylon 5 another (longer) chance. I may do that one someday.

Grimm.
Dropped it after 6 episode when it originally aired. Binged it this year and loved every second.

I watched it from the beginning and yes it did take a while to find it's footing. I loved the Xindi arc in season 3 and all the season 4 stuff (except the horrible finale).

You do... Seasons 2-4 are some of the best sci-fi (or TV period) ever produced. Season 1 had a couple clunkers but it set up the rest of the show.

Maybe it helped that I binged it. But I never had a problem with the finale. I felt like the real Enterprise finale was the episode before. And yeah there's a lot of stuff not wrapped up but it was cancelled so it's no surprise there were a lot of loose ends. Plus it was nice to see a jump forward in time where we finally get to see the formation of the federation. And I thought the set up with the holodeck program was as good as any to make that jump forward in time. Yeah I can see how it does take some time away from the Enterprise cast but they were there. It's not like the cast didn't play themselves as a holodeck program. But I also see why people are pissed about it.

And I think the real problem with Enterprise for me was that it wasn't different enough from Trek of that time. Even though we were promised it would be totally different and explore a different timeline in Trek it still felt like the same Trek. Of course I appreciate that now. But at the time it still felt a bit tiresome. Like too similar but not as good as Trek of that time.

Here’s one that’s a little different situation than the rest here : The Leftovers

The reason I say the situation is different is because of how this show changed. I watched the premiere, and like everyone I was haunted by the opening scene, which is now iconic and ‘stolen’ by MCU in Infinity Wars.
But after that opening the show settles into the most somber, depressing show. I couldn’t make past episode 2. I quit the show and didn’t think twice about it. And there was pretty much no buzz for the rest of the season. But when Season 2 came out, the buzz was back. People said it was beautiful, inspired, changed. The podcasters on The Watch talked about how you should just watch a You Tube summary of Season 1 and then watch starting Season 2 on HBO. This was really unconventional, but I loathed S1 enough to give this alternative idea a try. The Leftovers S2 and S3 are absolutely amazing. Yes it took a while to know who everyone was and why they were where they were now. But I don’t regret missing out on the first season. I think it was the right call in this particular case.

Same here... the two part one that ended with Archer addressing the fledgling Federation. It's not that the holodeck finale is bad... it was nice to see another part of the Pegasus TNG episode (which is a great episode) but just didn't work as an Enterprise series finale. Plus they killed Trip off for no reason.

Yeah, the first season of the US version of the Office was rough, since IIRC they were basically just repeating what the British version did and none of the characters were as fleshed out as they would later be. Similar for Parks and Rec... I couldn't stand Andy. Shoot even stuff like Seinfeld season 1 is almost universally looked down on. Luckily all of these not only survived that rough first season but got popular enough that lots of people tried again.

Meanwhile stuff like Heroes is basically the polar opposite.

Fortunately Parks and Rec's first season was only 6 episodes... I watched it but wasn't too sure if I would continue with s2. They brought in Adam Scott/Rob Lowe and the show jelled.

Only Murders in the Building...started this when it first came out, don't remember a thing, but never caught up. Saw S4 ep1 (prior to that I watched S3 EP 10, just to get a feel of S4) and loved it. I'm more than halfway through S1. I'm totally hooked and love this show now.

Person of Interest

Arrested Development. Just didn't quite get it the first time I tried to watch it. Gave it another shot after seeing Jessica Walters on Archer and it took hold.

Breaking Bad. The first few episodes are a little shaky, and when they dissolved the guy in the tub, I figured it was heading into gross out horror stuff for cheap thrills, so I bailed. After hearing so much about how solid it was overall, I dived right in and loved it. I was dreading the fly episode after reading about it online, but even that wasn't too bad.

Same here…

Oh that's another one I need to go back and finish. I watched the whole first season then dropped it. I have it on DVD

And liked.

For me; absolutely Only Murders in the Building. I saw the first two eps of S1 moons ago when it first started, but couldn’t get into it. Gave it another shot and it’s probably my number one streaming show on now. Followed closely by Slow Horses.

Person of Interest - bailed 5 or 6 episodes into its first season when the show initially aired. Returned to the show for some reason and it ended up becoming one of my all-time favorites.

You know something. That show for me too. My dad raved about it and he doesn’t rave about anything. But this he loved. I tried it, didn’t take. Gave another shot and still remember that finale to this day.

Better Call Saul.
I was very disappointed by the first season, which I felt was a bit too hokey at times and didn't sell the premise of needing Saul's backstory told.
A few years later, I revisited it, and while I still didn't like that first season much, I reluctantly continued with the second season. I'm glad I did!
I don't remember exactly, but I think I ended up binge-watching seasons 2, 3, and 4 leading up to the release of season 5.

Nowadays it’s rare that anyone is willing to give a series a second chance. Especially with so many shows piling up non stop on so many networks and platforms.

I originally didn't like The Bear after how chaotic the first two episodes of season 1 were. I stopped watching it and started it again from the beginning a year or two later. I love seasons 1,2, and 4 now.

It took me a 3rd chance to start enjoying Babylon 5.

I've tried It's Always Sunny in PA twice now. Twice I've made it about midway through season 3 before bailing and still can't get into it.