# Let's discuss some incredibly inconsistent (quality-wise) tv series **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 12, 2008, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-some-incredibly-inconsistent-quality-wise-tv-series/433299 "2008-01-12T17:00:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-some-incredibly-inconsistent-quality-wise-tv-series/433299/21 "2008-01-15T19:29:12Z")
Buffy is pretty easy to figure out, though. You have some goofy, campy episodes in the first two seasons (that I like, but others don’t), consistantly high-quality episodes from mid-season two through season three, consistantly mediocre material in season five, and garbage in seasons six and seven. I’d say that season four of Buffy qualifies, though. Pick an episode of season four at random, and you could either come up with “Hush” or “Beer Bad.” ---
**Author:** ![Inner\_Stickler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inner_stickler/32/318_2.png) [@Inner\_Stickler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inner_Stickler)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 9:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-some-incredibly-inconsistent-quality-wise-tv-series/433299/22 "2008-01-15T21:10:56Z")
[QUOTE=Gatopescado] M_a_s_h_ [/QUOTE] If you cap everything, the board software downgrades every letter but the first. Curiously enough, it is typically written as M_A_S\*H. Apparently it was a mobile army surgical h. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-some-incredibly-inconsistent-quality-wise-tv-series/433299/23 "2008-01-15T21:17:04Z")
I’ll say it. The current Battlestar Galatica is ‘uneven’ at best. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-some-incredibly-inconsistent-quality-wise-tv-series/433299/24 "2008-01-15T21:26:41Z")
The Michael Scott character from **The Office** is annoyingly inconsistent throughout the shows run. Sometimes he’s just a cartoonish bumbling idiot running amuck with no consequences to his actions and little to no common sense. Like trashing the warehouse with a forklift or ruining Phyliss’ wedding. Then in other episodes he’s got a human side with depth and comes off as a guy who is just misunderstood. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-some-incredibly-inconsistent-quality-wise-tv-series/433299/25 "2008-01-15T21:36:44Z")
The reverse is true of “Just Shoot Me.” Most of the episodes were tepid to horrendous, but every once in a while a true gem would emerge. Like “Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot, Chicken Pot PPPPIIIIIEEEE.” ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-some-incredibly-inconsistent-quality-wise-tv-series/433299/26 "2008-01-15T21:49:30Z")
[QUOTE=shy guy] Buffy is pretty easy to figure out, though. You have some goofy, campy episodes in the first two seasons (that I like, but others don’t), consistantly high-quality episodes from mid-season two through season three, consistantly mediocre material in season five, and garbage in seasons six and seven. I’d say that season four of Buffy qualifies, though. Pick an episode of season four at random, and you could either come up with “Hush” or “Beer Bad.” [/QUOTE] Season 4 is where we’re stuck. Ever since they went to college the writers just started scratching their heads, like “what now?” “shit, dude, I don’t know, let’s do another “drinking is bad” episode.” ---
**Author:** ![ArizonaTeach](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/45deac/32.png) [@ArizonaTeach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ArizonaTeach)\ **Post date:** [January 15, 2008, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-some-incredibly-inconsistent-quality-wise-tv-series/433299/27 "2008-01-15T21:50:38Z")
[QUOTE=Bridget Burke] How many times have I yelled at the TV while watching the _Doctor Who_ spinoff _Torchwood_? The first season was apparently rushed. Character development arcs were sketchy. Most of the characters are deeply flawed. Captain Jack was not nearly as charming as he’d been while traveling with The Doctor. But a few episodes were excellent. So I’ll be tuning in when Season 2 starts this month on BBCamerica. [/QUOTE] **Doctor Who** itself, both old and new, would fit this category pretty well, too. I can’t think of another recent episode of **any** show that is both universally loved and loathed by fans more than “Love and Monsters,” so that tells you a lot right there. But also, for every “Blink” we have a “Daleks in Manhatten.” Old school Who, well, you **never** know what you were getting there. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lets-discuss-some-incredibly-inconsistent-quality-wise-tv-series/433299.md?page=1)