The Best Places To Stop Watching 10 Great TV Shows That Fell Off A Cliff

While it's not rare for a TV show to improve in later seasons or maintain the same quality for multiple seasons, it is rare for such a trend to continue across many seasons. While some popular TV shows have terrible second seasons and never live up to the glory of a great pilot season, there are examples of TV shows whose first seasons are their worst. But, eventually, most of them fall off after a few good seasons. Various factors from the departure of major cast members to changes in the creative department cause such regrettable downfalls.

Executive decisions also often disrupt TV shows, like with the few flawed TV shows that improved but got canceled. However, it is most disappointing when a great show, which has the potential of becoming one of the best of all time, suddenly fails to live up to the expectations it set. Strict fans of such shows might even argue that it would have been better for them and the show if it got canceled instead of falling off. Some shows are best left incomplete so as to not experience the disappointment that plagues viewers who have seen them fully.

10 The Duel with Ra's al Ghul - Arrow (2012-2020)

Season 3, Episode 9

While the rest of Season 3 is still worth watching to find out how things end, Arrow starts going off the rails once Oliver Queen faces off against Ra's al Ghul and miraculously survives a fall from the top of the snowy mountain. Up until then, the CW superhero show is like a tight crime thriller with an episodic format that almost feels like a long movie, with great continuity, barely any plot holes, and a refreshing lack of plot armor, considering the genre.

However, with Oliver's survival, the rules started to get bent more, and soon enough, with the appearance of Damien Darhk, the amount of supernatural content increased too much for the grounded vibe to remain. There have been supernatural aspects in the show from the beginning, and Season 2, arguably the best season, largely relies on a supernatural element, but the introduction of dark magic and metahumans completely changes the tone. Instead of committing, the showrunners try to maintain the same vibe, thus creating a mess that never sorts itself out. However, Season 5 is worth watching for the compelling villain.

9 Rita's Death - Dexter (2006-2013)

Season 4, Episode 12

Many fans consider Dexter Season 4 to be the show's finale because it ends on a poetic note with the death of Dexter's wife through plans set in motion by his latest victim, the Trinity Killer. It's a bittersweet conclusion to his story because, as an antihero, he plays loose with his morals, and one might say he gets what he deserves, in being able to kill the latest killer, but still lose someone so close to him.

Dexter: New Blood, picking the story up a decade after the show's finale, aired for exactly one disappointing season in 2021, and now the character is set to return with Dexter: Resurrection, which is going to air in the summer of 2025.

Dexter had problems with its writing all along, as the plots became more outlandish, and it began feeling like Dexter had irrationally strong plot armor. However, Season 4's conclusion is compelling because of the thematic implications and the tense buildup to the season finale. After that, the show never recovered its quality, and Dexter's series finale in Season 8 is widely regarded as one of the most disappointing episodes in TV history.

8 Hannah's Final Tape is Heard - 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020)

Season 1, Episode 13

13 Reasons Why was never supposed to be a multi-season show. While creative freedom often creates great stories, extending the material beyond what's there in the original book leads to a messy narrative that loses sight of the story's intent and message. Recorded on multiple tapes, the reasons for Hannah Baker's suicide in 13 Reasons Why form the crux of the episodes of its first season. While the second season had a good intention of exploring how people react to her tapes and the repercussions, it doesn't handle sensitive topics well.

Rotten Tomatoes Ratings Of 13 Reasons Why Seasons
Season	Critics Score	Audience Score
1	77%	80%
2	28%	52%
3	11%	42%
4	25%	51%

The first season is controversial already because its tone seems to glorify suicide much more than the book, and also because it visually depicts Hannah Baker committing suicide. On top of that, using real life issues for dramatic tension, making every character suffer unspeakable trauma, including rape, which isn't written sensitively, is a misstep that the show consistently makes. By the time it ends with Season 4, it's far removed from its roots and creating entertainment out of teenagers' trauma.

7 Rick Defeats Negan - The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

Season 8, Episode 16

It is a hot take to claim that The Walking Dead fell off from Season 8, given how the ratings and the viewership for the show dropped after the season 7 premiere. When Negan kills Glenn in a brutal and shocking scene, it shakes many viewers to their core, and while the show was still airing, this is the point when many viewers quit. However, it is worth sticking around until the season 8 finale to see the long-foreshadowed showdown between Rick Grimes and Negan.

Rick Grimes had to be written off in Season 9, and ideally, it's best to not continue after season 8

The highly anticipated fight is a well-choreographed, high-octane action sequence that unfortunately becomes the ideal jumping-off point for viewers who intend to drop the show before it becomes disappointing. Andrew Lincoln's exit from The Walking Deadmeant that Rick Grimes had to be written off in Season 9, and ideally, it's best to not continue after season 8. The earlier shocking point that made viewers drop the show originally is faithful to the comics and doesn't warrant leaving the show.

6 Troy's Departure - Community (2009-2015)

Season 5, Episode 5

Community is perhaps the most creative sitcom of all time because it smartly subverts genre expectations, uses unconventional story structures, implements various narrative techniques, and parodies pop culture. While the chemistry between all the characters and their interpersonal drama is used for all kinds of unique misadventures throughout the seasons, it is undoubtedly the bond between Danny Pudi's Abed and Donald Glover's Troy that sets up the most entertaining plotlines.

So, after Glover's exit, the show lost one of its greatest comedic talents. Troy's weirdly overdramatic tone and Glover's comic timing made his screen presence endlessly entertaining, and the show suffers a dip in quality after the latter's departure. The episode in which Troy leaves the college is also one of the funniest and wildest episodes of the entire show, so it could even feel like the ideal high point to drop the show. Later episodes often feature contrived plotlines or forced humor, and it's very apparent that the show badly misses Glover's wit.

5 Claire Becomes President - House of Cards (2013-2018)

Season 5, Episode 13

It's not surprising that House of Cards dropped its usual 13-episode length for a shorter season after the Season 5 finale, and then wrapped up with Season 6. The show had become a center of controversy after allegations of sexual assault were levied against lead actor Kevin Spacey by Anthony Rapp, and then by crew members of the show.

Spacey issued a public apology after the allegations were made against him, and then left the show. His character was written off for season 6, and without Frank Underwood, House of Cards just wasn't the same. Claire's presidency would have been an interesting avenue to explore, especially through Frank's responses to her actions, but without Frank, the show loses a lot of its momentum.

4 When The Show Branched Into Subplots - Killing Eve (2018-2022)

Happens Throughout Season 3

There's no specific point at which Killing Eve falls off, but it isn't difficult to see how season 3 is inferior to the previous two seasons. This trend is continued by season 4, which ends with the most disappointing series finale of all time. The strength of the show lies in the relationship between Villanelle and Eve, and the first 2 seasons almost solely focus on them, barely featuring any scenes without at least one of the two characters. However, with season 3, the show became an ensemble show and lost momentum.

While they're not all poorly written, many of the side characters in Killing Eve aren't as compelling as Eve or Villanelle. Moreover, even scenes with the characters began branching off into other subplots instead of focusing on their obsession with each other. Perhaps the writers felt that viewers would feel bored if it kept just being about their relationship, but then,Killing Eve should perhaps have just been a miniseries. The Season 2 finale is such a cliffhanger that it's difficult to leave the show there, but one could abandon it any time it loses its charm in Season 3.

3 Peter and Sylar Face Off - Heroes (2006-2010)

Season 1, Episode 23

Heroes never lived up to the standard it set in its remarkable first season. Among other reasons, the writers' strike of 2007 occurred soon after the first season finished airing, and season 2's production was disrupted. The writing suffered, and the show failed to capture the fascinating charm of its characters and concepts which made its first season so remarkable. Today, Heroes even has confirmation of a spin-off, but the second season's fall from grace was so bad, many viewers dropped the show and recommend only watching the first season.

Rotten Tomatoes scores for Heroes seasons
Season	Critics Score	Audience Score
1	82%	93%
2	50%	66%
3	50%	50%
4	29%	52%

Moreover, Heroes was originally supposed to be an anthology, with each season focusing on different characters. However, the unexpected amount of love received by the first season prompted executives to request a different approach. They wanted the characters to recur, but some characters were conceptually going to indefinitely grow in power, so the writers had to introduce inconsistent stop gaps to explore them further. Just watching Season 1 will protect viewers from the emotional turmoil of watching a masterpiece getting ruined.

2 Michael Scott's Departure - The Office (2005-2013)

Season 7, Episode 22

One of the greatest sitcoms of all time, and often considered the best of its genre, The Office is a hilarious workplace mockumentary that follows the shenanigans of the regional manager of a paper company. Michael Scott, the manager of the Scranton branch of Dunder Mifflin, is never up to any good and subjects his coworkers to ridiculous tomfoolery, often disrupting workflow. The man's almost always well-intentioned, but can be a problem as a boss because he's focused on doing anything but work.

Steve Carell's performance as Michael Scott is so iconic that the former is always linked to his character from The Office. He perfectly balances the childish adventurousness and the irresponsible adult in Michael. When he left after the Season 7 finale, the show changed forever, and not for the better. Michael was given a beautifully emotional sendoff, and watching him walk away is perhaps the last thing one should watch if they want to drop the show while it's still at its peak.

1 The Ending of Season 6 - Game of Thrones (2011-2019)

Season 6, Episode 10

Game of Thrones is the biggest cautionary tale against taking creative freedom beyond the source material. The show is a top-tier medieval fantasy drama for its first five seasons but starts to show signs of falling off from Season 6. The momentum of the incomplete plotlines will keep viewers invested for the sixth season as well, but that's about it. With the Sept of Baelor blowing up, Daenerys declaring Tyrion her Hand, and Jon Snow being hailed as the new King in the North, things seem promising, but it's the best place to stop watching the show.

The only thing more disappointing than one's favorite show getting canceled is it falling off like Game of Thrones.

After Season 6, things go badly off the rails. It's apparent that the writers don't know how to resolve the open narrative threads, and characters start exhibiting uncharacteristic behavior. By the time the Season 8 finale arrives, there's no hope left for the show, and fans have rightfully been enraged at the disappointing series finale. Almost every female character, but particularly Daenerys, are female TV characters who deserved a better ending. The only thing more disappointing than one's favorite show getting canceled is it falling off like Game of Thrones.

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