# TV shows that became better over time? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 10, 2015, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-became-better-over-time/714727 "2015-03-10T22:21:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-became-better-over-time/714727/41 "2015-03-12T00:19:35Z")
> [@Simplicio](#): > > If it got better consistently across its run, after 25 years it would be now approaching some sort of cartoon apotheosis. Oops. Cheerfully withdrawn. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-became-better-over-time/714727/42 "2015-03-12T00:57:02Z")
> [@Hello\_Again](#): > > _Jericho_ started out as one cliche after another but it got good, then got canceled, then got reinstated by fan demand, then was killed by the writer’s strike. Still sad about it. I watched “Jericho” on Netflix last year - it really did get quite good. I’d say it had a serious amount of potential that was never realized. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-became-better-over-time/714727/43 "2015-03-12T11:09:34Z")
The first season (series) of Fawlty Towers may have “The Germans”, but the second season has “Waldorf Salad”, “Basil the Rat”, and my personal favourite “Communication Problems”. ---
**Author:** ![Rushgeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rushgeekgirl/32/3715_2.png) [@Rushgeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rushgeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-became-better-over-time/714727/44 "2015-03-12T13:16:47Z")
> [@protoboard](#): > > I like the Full House from the 90s better than the earlier seasons from the 80s. I’m just the opposite. I liked it earlier before the oldest girl started dating and became a snotty little mama and those dull twins tried to out-cute Michelle. Yeah I have a child who is obsessed with Full House. :o ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-became-better-over-time/714727/45 "2015-03-12T14:15:32Z")
Checking the Graph TV site others have mentioned shows an [interesting view](http://graphtv.kevinformatics.com/tt0286486) of _The Shield_. People loved the first three seasons and loved the last three seasons. And hated the fourth season. All of the episodes in first three and last three seasons were rated between 7.6 and 9.5 with the exception of one 5.9 episode. All of the fourth season episodes were rated between 5.0 and 5.3 with the exception of one 3.5 episode. It just goes to show how much everyone hates Glenn Close. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-became-better-over-time/714727/46 "2015-03-12T14:41:35Z")
As someone noted upthread, the Simpsons has been in a second renaissance, basically since around the time of the switch to HD. ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [March 12, 2015, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-became-better-over-time/714727/47 "2015-03-12T14:45:57Z")
> [@amanset](#): > > **Agents of SHIELD** mostly had a hideous first season, but improved towards then end. Now it is essential viewing. Oooh. I thought season one was quite good, actually. It held my attention. Not I’m even more impatient for Netflix to pick up season two! As for the OP, I think people are missing the question. MOST shows (that get renewed) are better after the first season; it’s very common for the first season to be a bit shaky with characterization, tone, writing, etc, and for all of those things to improve by season two. What the OP asked for is examples of a TV show improving late in its run, rather than taking the usual, seemingly inevitable downturn. For me the poster show for that is definitely _Deep Space Nine_. Also _Angel_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tv-shows-that-became-better-over-time/714727.md?page=2)