8 Great TV Shows Killed By 1 Awful Decision

April 21, 2024, 7 p.m.

Movies

8 Great TV Shows Killed By 1 Awful Decision

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Summary Some TV shows have been damaged due to poor storyline decisions, leading to disengaged audiences and a decline in quality.

Unpopular choices, such as retconning or killing off significant characters, have caused uproar among fans and critics alike.

Characters experiencing sudden shifts in behavior or relationships can negatively impact a show's narrative and audience reception.

Warning: This article discusses some darker topics, including suicide.

For some unfortunate TV shows, one awful decision made in their storylines also caused their demise. Plenty of TV shows have been subjected to criticism by their audiences because of bad judgment, whether that be within their plot, characters, or even production staff. There were even instances when a TV show abandoned a storyline because of backlash, forcing writers to make changes. On a rare occasion, some TV shows retconned an unpopular choice because of the storyline's negative reception from fans and critics.

However, not every TV show has survived an awful decision. Even if the show carried on after this, the damage was often already done, and audiences were heartbroken, or even angry at the direction they took, becoming disengaged from the series. With so many people working on these projects both on and off-screen, nobody in particular could be blamed, but this didn't stop the audience uproar. Unfortunately, there were some TV shows that, with one singular mistake, essentially killed themselves off.

Relevant TV Show Air Dates Prison Break 2005–2017 The Mentalist 2008–2015 Misfits 2009–2013 Sherlock 2010–2017 Riverdale 2017–2023 That '70s Show 1998–2006 How I Met Your Mother 2005–2014 Modern Family 2009–2020

8 Michael Imprisoned In Sona Federal Penitentiary

Prison Break

Prison Break Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available Prison Break tells the story of two brothers who must unravel a political conspiracy while escaping from one of the most secure places on Earth. When petty criminal Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell) is falsely convicted of murdering the Vice President's brother, his own brother, Michael Scofield (Wentworth Miller), has himself incarcerated in order to stage a daring prison break using the blueprints of the facility he has tattooed on his body. Cast Curtis Lum , Sarah Wayne Callies , Marina Benedict , Amin El Gamal , Wentworth Miller , Steve Mouzakis , Dominic Purcell , Bobby Naderi , Christian Michael Cooper Release Date August 29, 2005 Seasons 5

Prison Break season 2 was praised for its inventive storylines, which followed Lincoln's (Dominic Purcell) attempt to escape incarceration. The show's premise was so simple that audiences immediately knew what it was about from the title. This also caused the show's downfall simply because it jumped from relying on this concept too much to not enough. Prison Break season 2 focused on the escapees, but by the end, Michael (Wentworth Miller) and T-Bag (Robert Knepper) were thrown into a new prison, which felt like a needless way to put them back at square one again rather than an obstacle.

What made season 1 so engaging was Michael's engineering skills and how carefully he planned his and Lincoln's escape.

Prison Break went against its premise with this storyline because of the lack of preparation. What made season 1 so engaging was Michael's engineering skills and how carefully he planned his and Lincoln's escape. Michael's various map tattoos in Prison Break also aided them, which gave him an edge as a character and as a possible ally to criminals. However, when Michael ended up in Sona Federal Penitentiary, he wasn't able to do any of this. This suspended the belief that he could be an escape expert, and although the show was generally well-received, it never replicated season 1's charm.

7 Killing Red John

The Mentalist

The Mentalist (2008) The Mentalist is centered on a famous psychic, Patrick Jane, who reveals to the world that he is a fake in order to start working for the California Bureau of Investigation. But the motive for his new job is simply to find the man responsible for the death of his wife and daughter. Cast Simon Baker , Robin Tunney , Tim Kang , Owain Yeoman , Amanda Righetti , John Troy Donovan , Rockmond Dunbar , Joe Adler Release Date September 23, 2008 Seasons 7 See at Amazon

The main premise of The Mentalist focused on psychic Patrick Jane's (Simon Baker) hunt for Red John, a notorious serial killer who was behind the death of his wife and daughter. After a six-season hunt, it was revealed that the sheriff of Napa Country, Thomas McAllister (Xander Berkeley), was Red John. In a tense and exciting scene, Jane finally got to take his revenge on Red John and strangled him to death, which would have been a fitting end for the show. Instead, The Mentalist continued for one final season but no longer had a core storyline to follow.

The hunt for Red John was the driving force of the show and Patrick Jane's main motivation, and without it, the show fell flat

This was also an opportunity for the show to introduce a new threat, but unfortunately, it didn't. The Mentalist's season 7 had a different tone from previous installments and felt more like a standard crime procedural TV show or even a spinoff. The hunt for Red John was the driving force of the show and Patrick Jane's main motivation, and without it, the show fell flat. Plus, Jane and Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) were shipped off to Texas after McAllister's death, and changing the show's setting was another unusual choice from the show that simply didn't work.

6 Curtis' Death

Misfits

Misfits (2009) Misfits is a British comedy-drama sci-fi series that blends science fiction with dark comedy. It is centered around five young offenders who gain supernatural abilities after a bizarre electrical storm. Set during their community service, the show explores how each character deals with their newfound powers, shining a light on the darker sides of having special abilities. Cast Nathan Stewart-Jarrett , Joseph Gilgun , Iwan Rheon , Lauren Socha , Antonia Thomas , Karla Crome , Nathan McMullen , Robert Sheehan , Matt Stokoe , Natasha O'Keeffe Release Date November 12, 2009 Seasons 5

There was no doubt that Misfits was losing audience numbers in season 3, especially because Nathan (Robert Sheehan) had already left, and by the end, the show also lost Simon (Iwan Rheon) and Alisha (Antonia Thomas). At the beginning of season 4, Curtis (Nathan Stewart-Jarrett) was the only original member of the gang left. This was because Lauren Socha, who played Kelly, stepped away from the show after some controversy surrounding the actress. However, killing off Curtis just four episodes in was the final nail in Misfits' coffin, and it ended up killing the show.

After three and a bit seasons of Curtis learning about his various powers and how to live a normal life with them, he was very suddenly framed by a random girl for murder and killed himself to escape the repercussions.

Unfortunately, most of the new characters that were introduced weren't as interesting, and there were still plenty of unanswered questions about the original gang. Curtis' exit storyline also did a huge disservice to the character, which was disappointing. After three and a bit seasons of Curtis learning about his various powers and how to live a normal life with them, he was very suddenly framed by a random girl for murder and killed himself to escape the repercussions. This could have been a really interesting storyline for Misfits to expand upon, but Curtis was swept aside and barely mentioned again.

Misfits is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Peacock, and Hulu.

5 Moriarty's Suicide

Sherlock

Sherlock Where to Watch *Availability in US stream

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buy Not available Not available Not available In this incarnation of Sherlock from creators Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman assume the roles of Sherlock and Watson as they establish their partnership and begin solving strange mysteries throughout the U.K. and beyond. Set in a more 2010's modern setting, Sherlock's eccentric and complex nature is accentuated as he solves seemingly supernatural crimes with unparalleled intellect while struggling to connect with others on a human level. Meanwhile, Watson blogs the stories summarizing their cases while building a strained but caring friendship with his new partner. Cast Martin Freeman , Benedict Cumberbatch , Rupert Graves Release Date August 8, 2010 Seasons 4

Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott) was Sherlock Holmes' (Benedict Cumberbatch) greatest rival, so when the detective's biggest rival shot himself on the roof of St. Barts Hospital in "The Reichenbach Fall," the Sherlock writers dug themselves into a hole. In the original Conan Doyle books, there was lots of debate over whether Moriarty had faked his suicide or not, something the BBC adaptation was also vague about. Although Scott did appear in the show a few times after, it was always implied that it was pre-recorded footage and left Moriarty's fate ambiguous. However, there was a problem with doing this.

Audiences were so focused on how Sherlock faked his death that it was hard not to feel burned out by the potential of another character being alive or not.

Audiences were so focused on how Sherlock faked his death that it was hard not to feel burned out by the potential of another character being alive or dead. If Moriarty had been brought back from the dead, the show would have had to craft yet another tale to explain how the consulting criminal survived. After this, no villain ever truly matched Moriarty, and it felt like Sherlock had pushed out its best stories too quickly. Killing Moriarty off too early was Sherlock's greatest mistake, and the show didn't even bother to acknowledge if he was alive before it ended.

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4 Archie Being Framed For Murder

Riverdale

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buy Not available Not available Not available A darker take on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and their friends from the Archie Comics series, Riverdale is a CW supernatural mystery series that sees the group trying to illuminate the truth surrounding various strange occurrences and murders in the titular town. When a teenage girl is found dead in the once-quiet town, the event starts a series of ever-growing mysteries that ultimately lead to darker secrets in the town's history. Led by Archie, the Riverdale gang will attempt to navigate their new normal while dealing with all of the drama that comes with being high school teenagers. Cast Camila Mendes , Marisol Nichols , Ashleigh Murray , Cole Sprouse , Ross Butler , Madelaine Petsch , K.J. Apa , Luke Perry , Lili Reinhart , casey cott Release Date January 26, 2017 Seasons 7

A common complaint among Riverdale audiences was that the show became too complicated across its seasons, especially compared to the murder mystery storyline in season 1, which set the show's overall tone. A great example of this was when Archie Andrews (K.J. Apa) was framed for killing Cassidy Bullock (Harrison MacDonald) by Hiram Lodge (Bob Montana). It was completely ridiculous that this would happen, even in the world of Riverdale. It was very petty on Hiram's part, who caused Archie's prison stint because of the drama he had with his daughter, Veronica (Camila Mendes).

Archie in jail marked the beginning of Riverdale's slow and painful decline.

Archie in jail marked the beginning of Riverdale's slow and painful decline. Even K.J. Apa and Luke Perry, who played Archie's father, Fred Andrews, acknowledged the dark turn that Riverdale had taken in an interview at the iHeartRadio Music Festival in 2018. Unfortunately, Riverdale would go on to become even weirder, with baffling and nonsensical stories that delved into the supernatural and time travel. Although Riverdale blending genres wasn't a bad thing, all the absurd drama, even by the standard of teenagers, ruined it.

3 Introducing Randy

That '70s Show

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buy Not available Not available Not available That ‘70s Show was one of Fox’s most popular sitcoms upon its release in 1998. Starring Topher Grace (Eric Forman), Laura Prepon (Donna Pinciotti), Mila Kunis (Jackie Burkhart), Danny Masterson (Steven Hyde), Wilmer Valderrama (Fez), and Ashton Kutcher (Michael Kelso), That ‘70s Show revolves around the teens’ mishaps as they grow up in Point Place Wisconsin in the 1970s. Cast Topher Grace , Laura Prepon , Mila Kunis , Ashton Kutcher , Wilmer Valderrama , Debra Jo Rupp , Kurtwood Smith , Danny Masterson Release Date August 23, 1998 Seasons 8

Although it could be argued that Eric Foreman (Topher Grace) leaving That '70s Show was what killed it, a closer look shows it was actually his replacement, Randy Pearson (Josh Meyers), who killed the momentum. Topher Grace decided to leave the show to work on other projects, which was out of the writer's control. However, instead of focusing on the already funny and interesting characters the show had, That '70s Show forced a brand-new character into the final season, and it didn't work. Although there was nothing wrong with Meyer's performance, Randy as a character was severely underdeveloped.

Randy didn't have a distinct personality, and his quips and opinions about situations felt more like a running commentary than anything else.

Randy didn't have a distinct personality, and his quips and opinions about situations felt more like a running commentary than anything else. His main purpose was being the new boyfriend of Donna (Laura Prepon), who clearly wasn't over Eric. As soon as the love of her life announced he was returning from Africa, Donna dumped Randy, and he didn't appear in the final episode, proving that he wasn't essential. Season 8 could have been fine with its remaining characters, but inserting Randy at the last minute and expecting audiences to engage with him was a ridiculous aspiration from the writers.

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2 Killing Off The Mother

How I Met Your Mother

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buy Not available Not available Not available How I Met Your Mother is a sitcom created initially for CBS by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas. Five friends living in New York City navigate their twenties and thirties as they try to find love, success, and purpose. The show is framed through one friend's eyes, Ted Mosby, as he retells the story of how he met his wife to his children. Cast Cobie Smulders , Josh Radnor , Jason Segel Neil Patrick Harris , Alyson Hannigan , Bob Saget Release Date September 19, 2005 Seasons 9

Even though How I Met Your Mother's awful decision came right at the show's very end, the after-effects rippled backward and impacted audiences' perceptions of its past seasons. After nine seasons of watching Ted (Josh Radnor) fall in love with Robin (Cobie Smulders) time and time again, he finally let her go so she could marry Barney (Neil Patrick Harris). It finally seemed that Ted was reaching his happy ending when he met Tracy (Cristin Milioti) at their wedding, but in the final moments of the finale, it was revealed that she had already died.

Despite it being the end, this awful decision definitely made audiences hesitant to rewatch How I Met Your Mother, knowing Tracy's fate.

"Last Forever: Part Two" caused such a backlash that How I Met Your Mother's alternative ending was released as part of the season 9 DVD. After years of audiences watching Ted's love life failures, it was heartbreaking to see him lose his wife in a matter of years and be left a single father. What made this worse was that Ted ended up chasing Robin again in the closing scenes, essentially reversing the character development he'd gone through. Despite it being the end, this awful decision definitely made audiences hesitant to rewatch How I Met Your Mother, knowing Tracy's fate.

1 Haley Getting Back Together With Dylan

Modern Family

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buy Not available Not available Not available Modern Family is a comedy series that follows the unconventional Pritchett-Dunphy-Tucker family as they redefine what makes a family in their modern age. Broken into sub-families, the three diverse groups shake up the nuclear formula with empty nesters, adopted children, gender neutrality, and more as they attempt to navigate the various pitfalls and comedic misadventures of their dysfunctional but warm-hearted family dynamic. Cast Ed O'Neill , Sofia Vergara , Julie Bowen , Ty Burrell , Jesse Tyler Ferguson , Eric Stonestreet , Sarah Hyland , Ariel Winter , Nolan Gould , Rico Rodriguez Release Date September 23, 2009 Seasons 11

Modern Family's Haley Dunphy (Sarah Hyland) went through the most character development throughout the show, but it was swiftly lost in one key storyline in season 10. When the show began, Haley was introduced as the Dunphys' eldest daughter, obsessed with her phone and a generally spoiled, bratty teenager. Over time, Haley grew up and began appreciating her family more, moved on from her high school sweetheart Dylan (Reid Ewing), and developed a career for herself in fashion. She even learned what a proper relationship should be like through her time with Andy (Adam DeVine).

It was at this point that audiences could see that Modern Family had run out of ideas and ruined Haley's character development within a matter of episodes.

Haley and Arvin (Chris Geere) were very different people, but the fact she entered a relationship with him showed she'd grown as a person, and it was clear she did love him. However, as soon as Dylan appeared again, Haley fell back into his arms, cheated on Arvin, and left him for her ex-boyfriend. Despite wanting to take things slowly at first, Haley and Dylan quickly ended up married and parents to twins. It was at this point that audiences could see that Modern Family had run out of ideas and ruined Haley's character development within a matter of episodes.