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TV Shows That Never Recaptured Their First-Season Magic

TV Shows That Never Recaptured Their First-Season Magic

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Courtesy of Netflix

40. Legion (2017-2019)

Courtesy of FX Network

39. Supergirl (2015-2021)

Courtesy of CBS

38. See (2019-2022)

Courtesy of Apple TV

37. A Discovery of Witches (2018-2022)

Courtesy of Acorn Media Group

36. My Name Is Earl (2005-2009)

Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

35. Emily in Paris (2020-Present)

Courtesy of Netflix

34. The O.C. (2003-2007)

Courtesy of Fox Network

33. Servant (2019-2023)

Courtesy of Apple TV+

32. Sleepy Hollow (2013-2017)

Courtesy of 20th Century Fox Television

31. Narcos: Mexico (2018-2021)

Courtesy of Netflix

30. Final Space (2018-2021)

Courtesy of Turner Broadcasting System

29. Shooter (2016-2018)

Courtesy of USA Network

28. Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003)

Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

27. Under the Dome (2013-2015)

Kevin Winter / Staff / Getty Images Entertainment

26. Fargo (2014-2024)

Courtesy of FX Network

25. Prison Break (2005-2017)

Courtesy of 20th Television

24. The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

Courtesy of American Movie Classics

23. American Crime Story (2016-Present)

Courtesy of FX Network

22. New Amsterdam (2018-2023)

Courtesy of NBC

21. Jessica Jones (2015-2019)

Courtesy of Netflix

20. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018-2023)

Courtesy of Amazon Studios

19. Designated Survivor (2016-2019)

Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

18. Westworld (2016-2022)

Courtesy of Home Box Office

17. Doom Patrol (2019-2023)

Courtesy of DC Universe

16. Empire (2015-2020)

Courtesy of Walt Disney Television

15. American Gods (2017-2021)

Courtesy of Starz

14. Titans (2018-2023)

Courtesy of HBO Max

13. Quantico (2015-2018)

Courtesy of Disney-ABC Domestic Television

12. The Rookie (2018-Present)

Courtesy of American Broadcasting Company

11. Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2024)

Courtesy of CBS

10. Riverdale (2017-2023)

Courtesy of The CW Network

9. Heroes (2006-2010)

Courtesy of National Broadcasting Company

8. Goliath (2016-2021)

Courtesy of Amazon Prime Video

7. The Flash (2014-2023)

Courtesy of The CW Network

6. The Sinner (2017-2021)

Courtesy of USA Network

5. Killing Eve (2018-2022)

Courtesy of American Movie Classics

4. The Morning Show (2019-Present)

Courtesy of Apple TV

3. The Witcher (2019-Present)

Courtesy of Netflix

2. True Detective (2014-Present)

Courtesy of Home Box Office

1. 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020)

Courtesy of Viacom

40. Legion (2017-2019)
39. Supergirl (2015-2021)
38. See (2019-2022)
37. A Discovery of Witches (2018-2022)
36. My Name Is Earl (2005-2009)
35. Emily in Paris (2020-Present)
34. The O.C. (2003-2007)
33. Servant (2019-2023)
32. Sleepy Hollow (2013-2017)
31. Narcos: Mexico (2018-2021)
30. Final Space (2018-2021)
29. Shooter (2016-2018)
28. Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2003)
27. Under the Dome (2013-2015)
26. Fargo (2014-2024)
25. Prison Break (2005-2017)
24. The Walking Dead (2010-2022)
23. American Crime Story (2016-Present)
22. New Amsterdam (2018-2023)
21. Jessica Jones (2015-2019)
20. Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan (2018-2023)
19. Designated Survivor (2016-2019)
18. Westworld (2016-2022)
17. Doom Patrol (2019-2023)
16. Empire (2015-2020)
15. American Gods (2017-2021)
14. Titans (2018-2023)
13. Quantico (2015-2018)
12. The Rookie (2018-Present)
11. Star Trek: Discovery (2017-2024)
10. Riverdale (2017-2023)
9. Heroes (2006-2010)
8. Goliath (2016-2021)
7. The Flash (2014-2023)
6. The Sinner (2017-2021)
5. Killing Eve (2018-2022)
4. The Morning Show (2019-Present)
3. The Witcher (2019-Present)
2. True Detective (2014-Present)
1. 13 Reasons Why (2017-2020)

Do you have a show you wish you could watch for the first time? Or specifically a first season? Some first seasons just can't be beat. As a story or show complicates itself with new episodes and long plot lines, the main heart of the show is hidden.

So, which TV shows never had a better season after the first? Probably one of the more popular series on this list is "The Flash." This exciting superhero TV show centered around Barry Allen as he accidentally becomes the Flash. This series went on for nine seasons. The first season was released on October 7, 2014. It had stellar reviews. Over four million people tuned in to watch the first season. By the last season, viewership dwindled to a little less than 1 million. Still, this is impressive!

"The Flash" is just one example of a TV show that had an excellent first season. The same goes for "Riverdale." So many fans loved the drama, beautiful outfits, and interesting characters in the beginning. The first season of "Riverdale" attracted millions of viewers. By the last season, less than half of a million viewers were tuning in.

It's hard to replicate the magic of a show's first season. During the first season of a show, the audience is introduced to the main characters and the 'meat' of the story. Characters are what makes a TV show great. (Click here for the most despicable TV characters ever.)

When the 'meat' or problem is solved, what's next? Whatever comes next isn't always smooth. Keep reading to discover TV shows that never had a better season than the first.

To determine the television shows that never had a better season than the first, 24/7 Tempo reviewed episode-level data on audience reception from IMDb. TV series were ranked based on the percentage difference between the average IMDb rating for episodes in the first season and the average across all other episodes. Only shows with at least 40,000 IMDb user reviews total were considered.

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