Which of your current favorite TV shows is most likely to jump the shark first?

[Zeldar]

@Tarwater

Breaking Bad has come very close to jumping the shark. I was extremely dissatisfied with the way a certain mystery was resolved in the final couple episodes of the latest season.

My expectations for the final season are so high, and the elements of the story that need resolving so many and multifold, that the writers have to be on the top of their game to craft anything but a disappointing series finale. If their writing is as sloppy as it was for the last episodes of season four, they could very well be heading for a trite, simplistic climax to what has been an otherwise incredible story.

I can’t quarrel with your thoughts but I do have faith in that crew of writers and producers. They have shown a devotion to their job that goes beyond that of all my favorite shows. I trust they will keep things from sinking into the “end-of-series blahs” that so many shows have done. I can accept their caving in to end-of-season pressures by giving us a real wrap-up to the tension that had built up concerning the character you refer to. But I think that character’s contributions had about reached the high point and letting him go was tidy if somewhat disappointing.

There are (as you say) quite a few other issues to drive the final season. Of all the showrunners I have seen/heard interviews with, Gilligan strikes me as the most diligent and protective of his creative vision. On that score, my next favorite is Justified’s Graham Yost. OTOH, I think Sons of Anarchy’s Kurt Sutter may have painted himself and the writing staff into a corner. I hope not, but that’s how it looks at the moment.

[etv78]

@tumbleddown

I’m not entirely caught up, but I’m gonna guess this means that Will finally threw the strop that’s been threatening, and left. But we know that we’re going to meet JJ’s mom in the season finale, so maybe he’ll be back? Or it’ll just be random Mrs. Jareau, and Garcia and Kevin’s wedding, is my guess.

We got JJ and Will’s wedding! And Prentiss is heading Interpol!

[BunnyTVS]

@Morbo

With the exception of one episode* I thought Season 2 had already jumped.
*Nazis

They were season 3.

[TBG]

Most of my shows either jumped long ago, or are close enough to the end that they’re not really worth consideration for this topic.

So I’ll just say Once Upon A Time, since it’s new, popular, and has plenty of shark jump potential it will have to avoid in season 2.

[Nom_de_Plume]

I wonder if Big Bang Theory is becoming shark-jump bait. Howard got married; Leonard and Penny finally got together, then broke up, then got together again, then broke up, and now are together again (as a beta test)

I love Community, but I just read the series’ creator, Dan Harmon, is out. Also, the show is moving timeslots. I think those are two sure signs of demise.