There are often television programs that we become invested in, shows that from the moment they premiere, we follow along at every turning point in a character or multiple characters’ lives. We frequently feel as though we experience their joys, sorrows, triumphs, and tragedies. This is a testament to how well a television program is created, when everything involved falls in line – from the casting and acting to the script and the editing – it endures longevity and demonstrates its popularity by delivering quality content in every episode. (Sometimes, directors don’t want certain actors for a role, but they end up embodying the role so well, that they become synonymous with the movie, like in the film, “Titanic,” and the role of Rose.)
Despite many of these programs enjoying success and acclaim, the most enduring series can still end up airing disappointing episodes from time to time. When this happens, it can leave us wanting more, and not being satisfied with how things left off.
To determine the most disappointing TV episodes of all time, 24/7 Tempo reviewed IMDb data on audience reception for all television episodes since 1970. Television episodes were ranked based on the percentage decline in IMDb user rating for individual episodes from the overall average IMDb user rating for all episodes in the series. Only episodes with at least 150 individual reviews of shows with at least 20,000 series reviews and at least four seasons were considered. Talk shows, biography shows, documentaries, game shows, and news programs were not considered. Only one episode per television series was included.
The episodes on this list saw at least a 29% drop in IMDb user rating compared to the overall series rating. All included shows ran for a minimum of 4 seasons and 25 episodes. Thirty-two of the series have an IMDb series rating of at least 8.0 out of 10, with “Game of Thrones” and “Rick and Morty” exceeding 9.0. Five of the longest-running shows with disappointing episodes lasted over 20 seasons each, including perennial hits “Saturday Night Live” and “The Simpsons” which combine for 85 seasons on air and counting. Four of the lower-rated episodes on our list are from separate Star Trek enterprises. (Check out TV Shows That Were So Popular They Were Turned Into Movies.)
Here are the most disappointing TV episodes of all time.
50. Star Trek: Enterprise, “These Are the Voyages…”
Source: Courtesy of United Paramount Network (UPN)
Source: Courtesy of United Paramount Network (UPN)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-29.3% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (57,295 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: May 13, 2005
49. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, “Let He Who Is Without Sin…”
Source: Courtesy of Syndicated
Source: Courtesy of Syndicated
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.6/10 (-30.9% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (68,398 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: November 11, 1996
48. iCarly, “iMeet Fred”
Source: Courtesy of Nickelodeon Network
Source: Courtesy of Nickelodeon Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.7/10 (-30.9% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 6.8/10 (43,142 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: February 16, 2009
47. Supernatural, “Bloodlines”
Source: Courtesy of
Source: Courtesy of The WB Television Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.8/10 (-31.0% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (469,038 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: April 29, 2014
46. Babylon 5, “TKO”
Source: Courtesy of Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN)
Source: Courtesy of Prime Time Entertainment Network (PTEN)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.8/10 (-31.0% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (33,707 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: May 25, 1994
45. Homeland, “Long Time Coming”
Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks
Source: Courtesy of Showtime Networks
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.7/10 (-31.3% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.3/10 (354,442 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: December 21, 2014
44. The X-Files, “Teso dos Bichos”
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.9/10 (-31.4% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.6/10 (240,465 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 8, 1996
43. True Blood, “Thank You”
Source: Courtesy of
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office (HBO)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.4/10 (-31.6% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.9/10 (255,358 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: August 24, 2014
42. 13 Reasons Why, “Senior Camping Trip”
Source: Courtesy of
Source: Courtesy of Viacom
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.1/10 (-32.0% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (308,561 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: June 5, 2020
41. Pretty Little Liars, “Game Over, Charles”
Source: Courtesy of ABC Family
Source: Courtesy of ABC Family
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.0/10 (-32.4% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.4/10 (174,992 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: August 11, 2015
40. Younger, “It’s the End of the World, Worm Girl”
Source: Courtesy of Paramount+
Source: Courtesy of Paramount+
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.2/10 (-33.3% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.8/10 (24,706 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: April 15, 2021
39. How I Met Your Mother, “Last Forever: Part Two”
Source: Courtesy of CBS
Source: Courtesy of CBS
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.5/10 (-33.7% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.3/10 (713,016 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 31, 2014
38. The Goldbergs, “Eracism”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-33.8% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (39,935 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: November 25, 2020
37. Power, “Exactly How We Planned”
Source: Courtesy of Starz
Source: Courtesy of Starz
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-34.6% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (50,680 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: February 9, 2020
36. Little House on the Prairie, “The Halloween Dream”
Source: Courtesy of
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.9/10 (-34.7% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (25,639 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: October 29, 1979
35. The Good Doctor, “Irresponsible Salad Bar Practices”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.2/10 (-35.0% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (108,067 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: February 15, 2021
34. Tales from the Crypt, “The Kidnapper”
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office (HBO)
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office (HBO)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.2/10 (-35.0% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (26,248 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: June 7, 1996
33. Scrubs, “My Night to Remember”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.4/10 (-35.7% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (265,620 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 1, 2007
32. Star Trek: Voyager, “The Fight”
Source: Courtesy of CBS Paramount Domestic Television
Source: Courtesy of CBS Paramount Domestic Television
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.0/10 (-35.9% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.8/10 (74,814 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 24, 1999
31. Rick and Morty, “Rickdependence Spray”
Source: Courtesy of Adult Swim
Source: Courtesy of Adult Swim
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.8/10 (-36.3% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 9.1/10 (571,318 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: July 11, 2021
30. The 100, “Blood Giant”
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network (The CW)
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network (The CW)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.8/10 (-36.8% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.6/10 (267,510 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: September 9, 2020
29. Doctor Who, “The Twin Dilemma: Part One”
Source: Courtesy of Amazon Freevee
Source: Courtesy of Amazon Freevee
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-36.9% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (38,488 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 22, 1984
28. The Blacklist, “Misère”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.0/10 (-37.5% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (272,312 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: April 23, 2021
27. Miami Vice, “Missing Hours”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.6/10 (-38.7% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (28,922 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: November 13, 1987
26. Black Mirror, “Mazey Day”
Source: Courtesy of
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.3/10 (-39.1% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (615,076 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: June 15, 2023
25. Fear the Walking Dead, “Amina”
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics (AMC)
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics (AMC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.1/10 (-39.7% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 6.8/10 (138,790 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: May 22, 2022
24. Man vs. Wild, “Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls and Prime Minister Modi”
Source: Courtesy of Discovery Channel
Source: Courtesy of Discovery Channel
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.9/10 (-40.2% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.2/10 (23,072 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: August 12, 2019
23. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, “The Good Ones”
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
Source: Courtesy of Fox Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 5.0/10 (-40.5% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.4/10 (344,394 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: August 12, 2021
22. Snowpiercer, “Ouroboros”
Source: Courtesy of TNT
Source: Courtesy of TNT
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.1/10 (-40.6% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 6.9/10 (59,775 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 7, 2022
21. Grey’s Anatomy, “Leave a Light On”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.4/10 (-42.1% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.6/10 (330,268 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 5, 2020
20. Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, “Intimidation Game”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.4/10 (-45.7% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (118,057 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: February 11, 2015
19. Dexter, “Remember the Monsters?”
Source: Courtesy of CBS
Source: Courtesy of CBS
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.7/10 (-46.0% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (748,830 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: September 22, 2013
18. Bewitched, “Samantha and the Loch Ness Monster”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.1/10 (-46.1% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.6/10 (23,489 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: September 29, 1971
17. The Rookie, “Double Trouble”
Source: Courtesy of
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.3/10 (-46.3% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (58,266 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 21, 2023
16. Two and a Half Men, “Of Course He’s Dead: Part 1 & 2”
Source: Courtesy of CBS
Source: Courtesy of CBS
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.8/10 (-46.5% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.1/10 (274,590 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: February 19, 2015
15. The League, “Adios y Bienvenidos”
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.4/10 (-47.0% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.3/10 (51,221 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: November 18, 2015
14. The Witcher, “Out of the Fire, Into the Frying Pan”
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.2/10 (-47.5% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (553,840 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: July 27, 2023
13. The Flash, “The Good, the Bad and the Lucky”
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network (The CW)
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network (The CW)
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.8/10 (-49.3% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.5/10 (363,757 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 15, 2023
12. The Walking Dead, “Diverged”
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics (AMC)
Source: Courtesy of American Movie Classics (AMC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.1/10 (-49.4% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (1,050,088 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: March 25, 2021
11. Riverdale, “Chapter Ninety-Four: Next to Normal”
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network (The CW)
Source: Courtesy of The CW Network (The CW)
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.2/10 (-50.8% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 6.5/10 (152,242 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: September 29, 2021
10. Doctor Who, “Orphan 55”
Source: Courtesy of
Source: Courtesy of BBC America
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.2/10 (-51.2% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.6/10 (235,731 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: January 12, 2020
9. American Horror Story, “The Future Perfect”
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
Source: Courtesy of FX Network
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.9/10 (-51.3% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (334,835 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: October 20, 2021
8. The Simpsons, “Lisa Goes Gaga”
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Television
Source: Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Television
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.0/10 (-54.0% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (425,664 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: May 20, 2012
7. The Golden Girls, “Empty Nests”
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
Source: Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company (NBC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.6/10 (-56.1% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.2/10 (45,374 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: May 16, 1987
6. Game of Thrones, “The Iron Throne”
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office (HBO)
Source: Courtesy of Home Box Office (HBO)
- Episode IMDb rating: 4.0/10 (-56.5% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 9.2/10 (2,213,032 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: May 19, 2019
5. Killing Eve, “Hello, Losers”
Source: Courtesy of AMC+
Source: Courtesy of AMC+
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.4/10 (-58.0% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.1/10 (128,396 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: April 10, 2022
4. Saturday Night Live, “Donald Trump/Sia”
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images
Source: Kevin Winter / Getty Images
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.1/10 (-61.3% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.0/10 (51,210 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: November 7, 2015
3. Roseanne, “Roseambo”
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
Source: Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company (ABC)
- Episode IMDb rating: 2.7/10 (-61.4% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 7.0/10 (45,317 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: November 19, 1996
2. Star Trek: The Next Generation, “Shades of Gray”
Source: Courtesy of Syndicated
Source: Courtesy of Syndicated
- Episode IMDb rating: 3.3/10 (-62.1% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (131,080 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: July 15, 1989
1. House of Cards, “Chapter 73”
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
Source: Courtesy of Netflix
- Episode IMDb rating: 2.6/10 (-70.1% decline from show average)
- Entire series IMDb rating: 8.7/10 (521,731 votes)
- Initial broadcast date: November 2, 2018