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50 TV Shows That Were Great In The Beginning And Great Until The End, As Shared In This Online Thread
A good story can transport you to another world. It can make you forget your troubles and take you on adventures that you didn't even think were possible. However, crafting a compelling narrative is no easy feat.
Take television shows for example. Even those that start off strong can gradually lose their luster, leaving fans feeling disappointed. So let's give credit where credit is due.
Recently, a person on Reddit made a post, asking everyone on the platform which TV series never had a dip in quality, and the community delivered. From long-running sitcoms to short-lived dramas, here are some of the most popular responses.
This post may include affiliate links.
RELATED:
#2
No one's going to mention How It's Made?
#3
The Joy of Painting
RIP Bob Ross
Heather Daugherty 2 years ago
he's like watching a warm hug, with a side of happy little trees...
#4
Mr. Rogers Neighborhood. Fight me.
Heather Daugherty 2 years ago
I cried happy tears all through his documentary, "won't you be my neighbor". his exemplary kindness reached right through the screen...
#6
MASH. It only got better
A. Starhawk Hunt 2 years ago
Final episode, where Hawkeye realizes it wasn’t a chicken nearly broke me. Loved him. Still do.
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kitteh floof lover 2 years ago
i loved MASH so much, that back in the 70's, watching it new, i went into labor with my first baby, and told my husband we had to wait until the end of the episode to go to the hospital.
Qia Munther 2 years ago
The airing of the final episode was a HUGE event all over US. Special viewing parties were organized all over.
Terry Tobias 2 years ago
That episode was both heartbreaking and bittersweet. What a phenomenal show!
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ISeeWendiGo 2 years ago
Loved watching this growing up, especially during snowed in winter nights! Now my son and I enjoy watching reruns together!
Ozzyols 2 years ago
It says something about the a show when it ran nearly three time longer than the event it was portraying and never lost its power.
Dave van Es 2 years ago
I still rewatch it from time to time, and it still makes me laugh and cry
Phillip Moderow 2 years ago
Absolutely. Who among us ISN'T haunted by the glorious and disturbing theme song ? I've had it rattling around in my brain for a week now.
Cindy Cole 2 years ago
The series finale was too long and many of the characters acted differently in this episode.
Christine Packard Didier 2 years ago
I just finished binge watching this on hulu. I think I'll start over in a week or two.
Shyla Bouche 2 years ago
I disagree. I loved the newer cast. But, it would be a boring old world if we all agreed on everything!
Load More Replies... #7
The IT Crowd
#8
Twilight Zone the original Black and White.
Phillip Moderow 2 years ago
I'm a Twilight Zone junkie. Rod Serling was THE most visionary TV producer I have ever known. So many of his stories came to pass. And the actors -- OMG. Everybody who was anybody back then was in one or more episodes and they were ALL spectacular. I can even lip sync some of the famous lines, like: "What makes you think this is heaven, Mr. Valentine. This IS the 'other place' ! Mwahahahahaaaaaaa!" (Sebastian Cabot)
#9
The Good Place. The writers knew exactly what they wanted to do it, they did it, and didn't linger any longer even though it was surely successful enough that they could've gotten more seasons if they'd wanted to milk it.
#11
Futurama, but I may be biased.
#13
Avatar: The Last Airbender
#14
Frasier. Exactly the same level of quality from start to finish. It was never AMAZING but also never terrible.
#15
Fawlty Towers
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
True, but I wonder if the planned reboot will spoil that reputation
#17
On this Thanksgiving weekend, let us remember how WKRP in Cincinnati maintained excellence through all four seasons. Turkeys Away!
#18
Murder She Wrote. Angela Lansbury was and is a f****n queen
#19
Star Trek: The Next Generation greatest TV show ever made, by far, hands down. it actually got better with each season but every season is fantastic
#20
Mythbusters, i need more
Reinaldo Fuentes 2 years ago
Man, Grant's passing sucker-punched me. Such a sweet guy from all accounts.
#21
Sometimes I feel like I'm the only person who's watched these shows, but: The Librarians, Eureka, Warehouse 13
anaisbananas 2 years ago
Eureka had a awesome series finale. And the song that plays at the end is great. (You Are my home🎶) I enjoy watching Eureka every now and then.
#22
Keeping Up With The Kardashians It maintained a standard. It was always absolute horse s**t from the start and never improved
#23
House MD
Temporary Dork 2 years ago
I'll always enjoy Hugh Laurie in his extra blue contacts but the story lines outside the medical mystery got unbearable with time.
#26
Keeping Up Appearances, Patricia Routledge, Clive Swift. The whole cast was talented, had impeccable timing, the innuendo it’s hilarious! I still laugh when I catch an episode. It’s very relaxing.
#27
Mindhunter
#28
Psych! I would argue there was a brief dip in a late middle season but it recovered
#29
The Bob Newhart Show
Geoffrey Scott 2 years ago
Some of his roles in movies...where he is having a convo on the phone...priceless
#31
Stargate SG-1. It was a show that knew what it was.
Terry Tobias 2 years ago
One of my favorites! Unfortunately, I began losing interest when Richard Dean Anderson left the cast and was no longer the Executive Producer. I didn't really care for the addition of Mitchell and Vala, and Daniel lost his nerdiness which had made him so appealing to me. I still watch the original repeats every day though!
#32
Phineas and Ferb I'm a little biased because it is one of my favorite comfort shows, but it maintained in my humble opinion a high level of quality throughout the entirety of it.
Stardust she/her 2 years ago
The episodes all followed the same formula but it never got boring.
#33
gravity falls, im suprised i havnt seen this
edit: i mean that i havnt seen this in the comments of the post, not the show, i’ve seen the entire show lmao, multiple times
3 Trash Pandas in a Trenchcoat 2 years ago
I was hoping I'd see this! One of my all-time favorite shows, sure some of the episodes aren't the BEST *cough* Roadside Attraction *cough* but overall a really well-written show that still has a strong fandom despite ending six years ago!
#35
Antiques Roadshow
Chewie Baron 2 years ago
Loved watching it but it always reminded me that school was the next day and it was soon time to go to bed!
#36
Fleabag
#37
What we do in the shadows. Stellar from start to end. I think there is new seasons coming out. But it's fabulous. Edit : you're allowed to not like the new season, but the threats are a little over kill my friends! Thank you for my first reddit rewards and all the up votes. I love you my people!
#38
Everybody Loves Hypnotoad
#40
Person of interest. Intelligent, well paced, and never predictable. The ending was just as well written, and thought out as the pilot episode.
#42
The Inbetweeners (UK)
#44
Freaks and Geeks. Hard to decline when you only have 1 season.
#46
Deadwood
#47
The Americans only improved with age. An absolutely fantastic series.
Johnnynatfan 2 years ago
This is one of the best shows ever made in my opinion and the ending was almost perfect.
#48
This Old House
#49
The Clone Wars
DennyS (denzoren) 2 years ago
This show added soo much dimension to the characters and gave Anakin his "redemption" in terms of his choices. Also...Ahsoka's story too, so win-win. My favorite Star Wars stuff are almost all from Clone Wars.
#51
Cowboy Bebop!
#52
Forensic files
T'Mar of Vulcan 2 years ago
YES!!! Sometimes when I can't sleep I lie on the couch, put on FF and let Peter Thomas' dulcet tones talk me to sleep. (It also works with The UnXplained and History's Greatest Mysteries.)
#57
The expanse. Every season kept delivering the best sci-fi I have ever seen.
#58
Raising Hope
#60
The Wire (lookin at you season 5 haters)
Mary Kelly 2 years ago
on of the finest dramas ever...ever...and i will fight anyone who says otherwise
#61
It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia. Sure an episode or two in a season might not be as hysterical as the others but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every season as a whole
#62
Daredevil only had one dip in quality and it was due to having to drum up interest in another show's storyline. Even then, it wasn't godawful, just not as interesting. Otherwise, perfect show from S1E1 to S3E13.
T'Mar of Vulcan 2 years ago
Great show. I think my favourite part in that entire thing was when Matt pretended to be Foggy and had to pretend he could see.
#64
Seinfeld
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
As a Seinfeld fanatic, I disagree. I have all the DVDs and have watched Seasons 3 to 7 over and over, but Seasons 8 and 9 just got progressively too silly
#66
Bojack Horseman
Tucker Cahooter 2 years ago
At least Netflix let them wrap it all up nicely (although I thought the last episode was a bit rushed)
What do you think ?
DuchessDegu 2 years ago
My lovely horse, running through the fiiiieeelds 😆
Load More Replies...
Aster Oli 2 years ago
Guys if you disagree with people don’t downvote them, just ignore them. downvoting is mean and I’m here to save the internet
Load More Replies...
Gustav Gallifrey 2 years ago
Peter Falk was put on Earth for one ultimate purpose: to be Columbo. And what a magnificent purpose and realisation it was!
Load More Replies...
Kenny Kulbiski 2 years ago
Lucifer? Although I might be the only person who admitted watching it.
Mike Fitzpatrick 2 years ago
I watched this religiously, even the reruns.
Load More Replies...
VodkaInMySweetTea 2 years ago
News Radio. The feel of the show obviously changed after Phil Hartman tragically passed away, but that was one of the funniest and most charming shows on tv. Nothing else like it.
Gustav Gallifrey 2 years ago
So well done sometimes. When Buffy asks a lass (who had been turned into a dog) where she'd been all that time, she replies 'I was a dog'. And when she in turn asks Buffy where she has been, Buffy answers simply 'dead'. And they're both utterly deadpan about it, no surprise, not a raised eyebrow.
Load More Replies...
ValdaDeDieu 2 years ago
Sooo... Nobody on Bored Panda watched BURN NOTICE? RESIDENT ALIEN? THE UNIT? ALIAS? LA FEMME NIKITA? HOGAN'S HEROES? C'mon guys! Let's make this topic 100 Greatest TV Shows.
LillieMean 2 years ago
Middle. Well, it has idealization of Christianity as well as the American dream, but there is some fundamental optimism combined with humor. Not to mention the not-so-quality trips for the blue snack bag. And what about the hole in the wall or freezing Sue's head. Weird Ashley is my favorite. They are all jokes that run through the series.
Mariele Scherzinger 2 years ago
I loved "Married with Children". The earlier seasons were fairly held-back, but then they became progressively wackier.
lunicornshiver 2 years ago
Bates Motel. From the first until last season, the stories are getting better. Wish people had known more about it.
DeoManus Argentem 2 years ago
So glad to see "Eureka" (maybe my favorite of all time), and "The Librarians" represented. But no "Defiance"?! So good, and could have gone so many ways following the finale!
Dutchman Callypso 2 years ago
Dark (a German Netflix show). An absolute masterpiece from start to finish.
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 2 years ago
One of my friends has a thing for Northern Exposure. Anyone remember MTV producing a show called "Fear"? Fake as anything but somewhat entertaining.
TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Had some ups and downs, but overall a great show
StrangeOne 2 years ago
Sailor Moon. I know the seasons can drag on but the character and story development for a cartoon is phenomenal. The characters do age but the story tends to jump from past to present, and characters are time travelling. The plots thicken, and move forward, despite battling and killing the episode's bad guys. It draws the viewer in and kept you anticipating the next episode. My preference is the English dub. I just found the voices and soundtrack better. But that's just me.
Livingwithcfs 2 years ago (edited)
Last of the summer wine, One foot in the grave Waiting for God, Open all hours. All British classics
Rougarou Cher 2 years ago
Ugly Betty is one I've watched from start to finish many many times.
Philly Bobcat 2 years ago (edited)
"Mrs. Brown's Boys!" (I'm in the USA but have the 3 seaons, the christmas shows, the lives shows and D-Movie.) All are hilarious and I'm still hoping a season 4 will come although it's been a few years past now. Also, the show "Not Going Out" was a fun series!
Kate Jones 2 years ago (edited)
Top Chef. It's still on, but TC is a show that's gotten better with age and has become a standard for the entire food industry in a way that no other competition show has done. It started with a range of chefs, but now you can't even be on the show unless you're already in the top of your field. I raises the level of competition so that there are no 'filler' episodes where you have to get rid of the people who clearly don't belong first. With shows like ANTM or Project Runway, you feel like you can tell in the first few episodes who's clearly not good enough to be there. TC is not a show anyone could apply to and they don't care about what you look like or that you appeal to the audience. Tall, short, fat, thin, nice, mean...they've all been on the show. It's about your skill and your desire to really be the best. The best chefs in the world pay attention to it and it's one of the few shows where a win has gone on to actually have real world benefits.
savage silence 2 years ago
Check out the app called Tubi...they have ALOT of old series on there...I've been on it more than Netflix n Amazon Prime lately
LillieMean 2 years ago
I am! as the series progresses, the main character keeps getting new opponents who represent the fears of aging or growing up or the fear of death in the form of monsters, but nothing prepared Buffy and me for that episode. (You know what I'm talking about). This is a great coming age series. And I never once thought that the key would be an annoying addition, it brought out the role of an older brother from a character. Not to mention that I realized I was bisexual. This series really gave me a lot, but unfortunately the quality varied too much for it to be on this list.
Load More Replies...
PeridotPlatypus377 2 years ago
I want to say Wander over Yonder but technically it was canceled even though I still think the season 2 finale could stand up on its own as a series finale if necessary. There’s a lot of great shows that didn’t deserve to be cancelled but that’s probably going to have to be a separate list.
Sandy Price 2 years ago
Open all hours, red dwarf, nighty nite, the league of gentlemen and of course allo allo.
Aria the Dog Lover 2 years ago
I didn't read through this whole thing so these shows might be on here, but I'll list some of the ones i think should be on here. The Owl House, iZombie, ATLA, Gravity Falls, Amphibia is pretty great too.
Esme Gigi Genevieve Squalor 2 years ago
Galavant! Only 2 seasons, but it was perfection from start to finish.
I Am, In Fact, That Weirdo 2 years ago
They did, it's somewhere in the middle-ish area of the list
Load More Replies... Mariele Scherzinger 2 years ago
Also, Ripper Street. 30 Rock was awesome. Mozart in the Jungle. Turn.
Mariele Scherzinger 2 years ago (edited)
Forever. Only one season, but highly recommended. Same with Taboo. The Red Road, only two seasons, unfortunately.
General Anaesthesia 2 years ago (edited)
Covfefe, unpresidented person, woman, man, camera, TV!
Load More Replies... DuchessDegu 2 years ago
My lovely horse, running through the fiiiieeelds 😆
Load More Replies... Aster Oli 2 years ago
Guys if you disagree with people don’t downvote them, just ignore them. downvoting is mean and I’m here to save the internet
Load More Replies... Gustav Gallifrey 2 years ago
Peter Falk was put on Earth for one ultimate purpose: to be Columbo. And what a magnificent purpose and realisation it was!
Load More Replies... Kenny Kulbiski 2 years ago
Lucifer? Although I might be the only person who admitted watching it.
Mike Fitzpatrick 2 years ago
I watched this religiously, even the reruns.
Load More Replies... VodkaInMySweetTea 2 years ago
News Radio. The feel of the show obviously changed after Phil Hartman tragically passed away, but that was one of the funniest and most charming shows on tv. Nothing else like it.
Gustav Gallifrey 2 years ago
So well done sometimes. When Buffy asks a lass (who had been turned into a dog) where she'd been all that time, she replies 'I was a dog'. And when she in turn asks Buffy where she has been, Buffy answers simply 'dead'. And they're both utterly deadpan about it, no surprise, not a raised eyebrow.
Load More Replies... ValdaDeDieu 2 years ago
Sooo... Nobody on Bored Panda watched BURN NOTICE? RESIDENT ALIEN? THE UNIT? ALIAS? LA FEMME NIKITA? HOGAN'S HEROES? C'mon guys! Let's make this topic 100 Greatest TV Shows.
LillieMean 2 years ago
Middle. Well, it has idealization of Christianity as well as the American dream, but there is some fundamental optimism combined with humor. Not to mention the not-so-quality trips for the blue snack bag. And what about the hole in the wall or freezing Sue's head. Weird Ashley is my favorite. They are all jokes that run through the series.
Mariele Scherzinger 2 years ago
I loved "Married with Children". The earlier seasons were fairly held-back, but then they became progressively wackier.
lunicornshiver 2 years ago
Bates Motel. From the first until last season, the stories are getting better. Wish people had known more about it.
DeoManus Argentem 2 years ago
So glad to see "Eureka" (maybe my favorite of all time), and "The Librarians" represented. But no "Defiance"?! So good, and could have gone so many ways following the finale!
Dutchman Callypso 2 years ago
Dark (a German Netflix show). An absolute masterpiece from start to finish.
Kraneia The Dancing Dryad 2 years ago
One of my friends has a thing for Northern Exposure. Anyone remember MTV producing a show called "Fear"? Fake as anything but somewhat entertaining.
TotallyNOTaFox 2 years ago
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic - Had some ups and downs, but overall a great show
StrangeOne 2 years ago
Sailor Moon. I know the seasons can drag on but the character and story development for a cartoon is phenomenal. The characters do age but the story tends to jump from past to present, and characters are time travelling. The plots thicken, and move forward, despite battling and killing the episode's bad guys. It draws the viewer in and kept you anticipating the next episode. My preference is the English dub. I just found the voices and soundtrack better. But that's just me.
Livingwithcfs 2 years ago (edited)
Last of the summer wine, One foot in the grave Waiting for God, Open all hours. All British classics
Rougarou Cher 2 years ago
Ugly Betty is one I've watched from start to finish many many times.
Philly Bobcat 2 years ago (edited)
"Mrs. Brown's Boys!" (I'm in the USA but have the 3 seaons, the christmas shows, the lives shows and D-Movie.) All are hilarious and I'm still hoping a season 4 will come although it's been a few years past now. Also, the show "Not Going Out" was a fun series!
Kate Jones 2 years ago (edited)
Top Chef. It's still on, but TC is a show that's gotten better with age and has become a standard for the entire food industry in a way that no other competition show has done. It started with a range of chefs, but now you can't even be on the show unless you're already in the top of your field. I raises the level of competition so that there are no 'filler' episodes where you have to get rid of the people who clearly don't belong first. With shows like ANTM or Project Runway, you feel like you can tell in the first few episodes who's clearly not good enough to be there. TC is not a show anyone could apply to and they don't care about what you look like or that you appeal to the audience. Tall, short, fat, thin, nice, mean...they've all been on the show. It's about your skill and your desire to really be the best. The best chefs in the world pay attention to it and it's one of the few shows where a win has gone on to actually have real world benefits.
savage silence 2 years ago
Check out the app called Tubi...they have ALOT of old series on there...I've been on it more than Netflix n Amazon Prime lately
LillieMean 2 years ago
I am! as the series progresses, the main character keeps getting new opponents who represent the fears of aging or growing up or the fear of death in the form of monsters, but nothing prepared Buffy and me for that episode. (You know what I'm talking about). This is a great coming age series. And I never once thought that the key would be an annoying addition, it brought out the role of an older brother from a character. Not to mention that I realized I was bisexual. This series really gave me a lot, but unfortunately the quality varied too much for it to be on this list.
Load More Replies... PeridotPlatypus377 2 years ago
I want to say Wander over Yonder but technically it was canceled even though I still think the season 2 finale could stand up on its own as a series finale if necessary. There’s a lot of great shows that didn’t deserve to be cancelled but that’s probably going to have to be a separate list.
Sandy Price 2 years ago
Open all hours, red dwarf, nighty nite, the league of gentlemen and of course allo allo.
Aria the Dog Lover 2 years ago
I didn't read through this whole thing so these shows might be on here, but I'll list some of the ones i think should be on here. The Owl House, iZombie, ATLA, Gravity Falls, Amphibia is pretty great too.
Esme Gigi Genevieve Squalor 2 years ago
Galavant! Only 2 seasons, but it was perfection from start to finish.
I Am, In Fact, That Weirdo 2 years ago
They did, it's somewhere in the middle-ish area of the list
Load More Replies... Mariele Scherzinger 2 years ago
Also, Ripper Street. 30 Rock was awesome. Mozart in the Jungle. Turn.
Mariele Scherzinger 2 years ago (edited)
Forever. Only one season, but highly recommended. Same with Taboo. The Red Road, only two seasons, unfortunately.
General Anaesthesia 2 years ago (edited)
Covfefe, unpresidented person, woman, man, camera, TV!
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