It’s always exciting when aTV show takes a massive risk that really pays off, but it can be insanely frustrating when these surprising writing decisions fall flat on their face. Whilehuge twists, impulsive character decisions, or unusual storytelling choices can keep things interesting, they also have the potential to alienate audiences and lead to storylines that the writers opt to quietly discard rather than continue telling an unpopular plot. This has been a problem across comedy, drama, and even fantasy series that have tried something new with their storyline, only to have viewers flat-out reject the risk.
Many of thebest TV shows of all timehave taken massive risks, only for them to not work out and have to backtrack on their storylines. This has seen previouslydeceased characters inexplicably returnto life, established backstories being badly rewritten, or even final seasons that ruined the legacy of the entire show in retrospect. WhileTV shows can sometimes recover from risks that didn’t work out, others end up calling it a day on a lackluster final note.
10Game Of Thrones (2011 - 2019)
Going beyond the source material
Game of Throneswas a true television phenomenon, and its intense popularity and committed fan base broke HBO viewership records. As a sprawling ensemble fantasybased on George R. R. Martin’sA Song of Ice and Firebook series,Game of Thronespowerfully adapted the books in a way that pleased long-time readers and new viewers alike. However, Martin still has not finished the two entries in the book series, andGame of Thronestook a massive risk and continued past the source material to disappointing results.
Game Of Thrones: What Went Wrong With Season 8
Game of Thrones became one of the most beloved TV series of all time, but its final season is one of the most hated. What went wrong in season 8?
While the earliest seasons ofGame of Thronesstuck closely to the book’s story, after Jon Snow’s death in season 5, there was no more original material to adapt, and the writers started making it up as they went along. This risk did not pay off and was made even worse as Martin, who had been involved as a consultant and even wrote some episodes’ scripts, said he was “out of the loop” for the show’s final seasons (viaDeadline.) Game of Thrones finished with a disappointing final season that alienated viewers and made the whole show worse retrospectively.
Game Of Thrones
Cast
Based on George R. R. Martin’s ongoing A Song of Ice and Fire novel series, Game of Thrones is a fantasy drama set in the fictional continents of Westeros and Essos. It follows noble families like the Starks, Lannisters, and Targaryen vying for control of the Iron Throne while a rising threat from the undead looms in the North. The series received significant critical success and amassed a loyal fan base due to its high production values, sprawling sets, iconic characters, and shocking twists.
9Doctor Who (1963 - Present)
Revealing the Doctor was never from Gallifrey
Doctor Whois a true British institution that’s beloved across generations and has continually reinvented itself for every era. As a sci-fi answer toJames Bond, the time-traveling Doctor’s ability to regenerate means he’s continually recast with new actors who help update and modernize his character for new audiences. While many aspects ofDoctor Whohave changed over the years, some foundational tenets have remained, and central to this was the idea that the Doctor was from the planet Gallifrey, a fact that was first introduced inThe Time Warriorserial, which aired in 1973 and 1974.
However, “The Timeless Children” with Jodie Whittaker as the Thirteenth Doctor took a massive risk and messed with the lore of the Doctor’s backstory.This episode revealed that the Doctor was not Gallifreyanand instead had their DNA used to give Gallifreyans the ability to regenerate, which called into question whether there was a limit to their regenerations. This was a divisive risk, and although it was good for the longevity ofDoctor Whoas a series, it was controversial with fans who felt the series was tampering with a core aspect of its identity.
Doctor Who
Doctor Who: Doctor Who is a British sci-fi television series debuting in 1963, following The Doctor, a time-traveling alien Time Lord. The Doctor explores the universe in the TARDIS, accompanied by companions, confronting various adversaries and striving to save civilizations while addressing injustices.
8Dallas (1978 - 1991)
Killing Bobby Ewing
The CBS soap operaDallaswas one of the most popular TV shows of its time, as countless viewers tuned in to watch the affluent and feuding Texas family, the Ewings, and the drama surrounding their oil company. As a prime piece of aspirational television,Dallasshowcased the lives of the ultra-wealthy and gave viewers a glimpse into the dramatic goings-on of those in the upper echelons of society. With several iconic storylines, like the ‘Who shot J.R.? mystery,Dallastook a major risk when they killed off Bobby Ewing(Patrick Duffy) at the end of season 8.
Killing off Bobby was a major risk that didn’t pay off, and the writers knew they needed to find a way to reintroduce the character. To do this,Dallastook the biggest swing any television show had dared to try as they revealed at the end of season 9 that Bobby’s death was a dream experienced by his wife Pam and that everything that had happened since occurred in her imagination. This was a ridiculous solution to a massive problem, and although the audience was happy to have Bobby back, the cast was upset about their forgotten storylines (viaPeople.)
Dallas
One of the most popular soap opera series of all time, Dallas aired in 1978 as a part of CBS' line up and follows the wealthy oil baron family, the Ewings, as those from within and close to them plot and scheme their way to the top of the social ladder. The series ran for fourteen seasons before it concluded in 1991.
7The Simpsons (1989 - Present)
Messing with Skinner’s backstory
Everyone will have a different opinion on when the Golden Age ofThe Simpsonscame to an end, but nobody can deny the show has had a dip in quality since its earliest seasons. While the Flanderization of many of its characters has contributed to it, there was one major risk the show took that signaled the beginning of the end of the show’s glory days. This was the season 9 episode “The Principal and the Pauper,” which, despite being filled with hilarious classic moments, also changed Principal Skinner’s backstory in a way that was impossible to come back from.
Part of the appeal ofThe Simpsonswas not just the family but the entire population of Springfield, who had definitive backstories that viewers knew and understood. With the revelation that Skinner was actually a troubled Vietnam veteran named Armin Tamzarian who had stolen the real Skinner’s identity,The Simpsonsundid years of development that was essential to understanding his character.Skinner’s relationship with his mother was a defining trait of his character, and this story meant that aspect of him didn’t make any sense anymore.
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an animated series set in the fictional town of Springfield, following the daily lives of the Simpson family—Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa, and Maggie. Premiering in 1989, the show is renowned for its satirical commentary on politics, media, and American culture, featuring numerous celebrity guest appearances.
6Scrubs (2001 - 2010)
Scrubs: Med School
Scrubsfollowed the lives of the employees of Sacred Heart Hospital through the experience of J.D. (Zach Braff), who also narrated the show. With hilarious slapstick humor and surreal cutaway gags,Scrubshad a style that was also its own and audiences connected with its unique mix of humor and heart.Scrubsran for eight successful seasons before it took a divisive riskthat didn’t pay off for its ninth and final season.
The last season ofScrubssaw Braff and other members of the cast exit the show as main characters and be replaced by a new crop of medical students. This final season was subtitledMed Schoolto differentiate it from the rest of the show and was badly received, earning the lowest-ever ratings of any season ofScrubs(viaTV by the Numbers.) With Lucy (Kerry Bishé) taking up J.D.’s role as the main character and narrator,Scrubshad lost a central aspect of its identity, and viewers rejected the revamped show.
Scrubs
Scrubs is a Sitcom and Medical Comedy/Drama created by Bill Lawrence that follows a group of medical students throughout their daily lives at the Sacred Heart Teaching Hospital. The series stars Zach Braff, Sarah Chalke, and Donald Faison, as they work their way up from Medical Interns while juggling all sorts of hospital shenanigans.
5The Office (2005 - 2013)
Jim and Pam’s marriage troubles
The US version ofThe Officewas perhaps the most successful American remake of any TV show of all time. By carving out its own identity and unique sense of humor,The Officehas remained as popular among viewers and earned its status as countless viewers' number-one comfort show. One aspect of the original British version thatThe Officekept was the long-festering will-they-won’t-they romance subplot of Jim Halpert and Pam Beesly, who finally began dating in season 4, got engaged in season 5, married in season 6, and then started a family.
Audiences rooted for Jim and Pam since the beginning, and watching their romance blossom led to many of the show’s most impactful and emotional moments. That’s whyThe Officetook a major risk with the couple’s marriage troubles in the final ninth season.Jim and Pam’s relationship was a narrative anchor withinThe Office,and audiences did not react well to the strain that Jim’s desire to move to Philadelphia and start a sports marketing company put on their marriage. While the pair did overcome their issues, this was a subplot viewers would have preferred never occurred at all.
The Office
This mockumentary comedy series observes the mundane and humorous daily lives of employees at the Scranton branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company. It offers insights into office dynamics, personalities, and the eccentric behavior of both management and staff, depicting an ordinary workplace with extraordinary characters.
4Friends (1994 - 2004)
Rachel and Joey’s romance
Friendswas one of the biggest sitcoms of the 1990s and early 2000s, as viewers tuned in each week to watch the misadventures of Chandler, Ross, Joey, Monica, Rachel, and Phoebe. Running for an astounding ten seasons, the will-they-won’t-they dynamic of Ross and Rachel and the eventual love that Chandler and Monica found together were central to the show’s success. However,introducing a romantic relationship between Rachel and Joey felt like a step too far, and audiences reacted badly to this subplot, which felt more like the writers had run out of ideas than anything else.
Even the cast ofFriendssaid that they were uncomfortable with the Rachel and Joey storyline (via People) as it felt like it went against the well-established romance between Rachel and Ross. Joey’s actor, Matt LeBlanc, even said he thought the relationship felt “incestuous” as the characters had developed a sibling-like bond throughout the show. Adding to this, the characters just didn’t have any chemistry, and viewers breathed a sigh of relief when they split up after dating for just a few episodes in season 10.
Friends
Friends is a television sitcom that debuted in 1994, revolving around six young New Yorkers navigating the complexities of adulthood. The series highlights their friendship as they support each other through personal and professional challenges, encapsulating the ups and downs of life in a comedic and relatable manner.
3Dexter (2006 - 2013)
Deb falling for Dexter
AlthoughDexterwas a wildly exciting show in its earliest seasons, it clearly lost its way as it went on, culminating in the disappointing “Lumberjack Dexter” finale. WhileDextermade several poor narrative decisions throughout its run, the most egregious risk it took was in season 6 when Debra Morgan went to therapy and concluded she was in love with her adoptive brother. While the character’s actors, Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall, were married in real life, this storytelling felt uncomfortable, incestuous, and downright wrong.
The dynamic between Deb and Dexter was always very clearly a strict brother-and-sister relationship, and to introduce romance into the mix just because they were not blood-related felt like a slap in the face to adopted children worldwide. Debra and Dexter grew up together since they were young children, and trying to justify this romance just felt awkward. Thankfully, the showrunners realized their mistake, and this storyline was dropped, but it really was one of the worst writing decisions in all ofDexter.
Dexter
Dexter is a television series following Dexter Morgan, a blood spatter analyst for Miami Metro Police who secretly leads a dual life as a vigilante serial killer. Released in 2006, the show focuses on Dexter’s internal conflict as he hunts down criminals who elude justice within the legal system.
2House of Cards (2013 - 2018)
Making Claire Underwood the protagonist
House of Cardswas Netflix’s first original drama and a major contributor to the early success of the streaming service. Kevin Spacey gave an extraordinary performance as the manipulative politician Frank Underwood, and the series fiercely explored themes of betrayal, corruption, power, and ruthlessness. However, behind-the-scenes accusations of sexual assault against Spacey put the show’s future in jeopardy, andHouse of Cardsmade the risky decision to continue for a sixth and final season without its main character.
The final season ofHouse of Cardsshifted focus to Frank’s wife, Claire Underwood (Robin Wright), and her challenges in the White House as the first female president of the United States. While Wright gave a great performance and aspects of the final season were engrossing,House of Cardswas all about Frank’s story, and the lack of character was sorely felt. ConcludingHouse of Cardswithout Frank in a way that pleased viewers was an impossible challenge, and while the writers did their best, it might have been better just to leave things unfinished.
House of Cards
Based on the novel of the same name by Michael Dobbs, House of Cards follows unscrupulous politician Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) as he makes ruthless attempts to further his career. When he’s passed over for an appointment as Secretary of State, Underwood decides to get ahead by any means necessary. His talent for manipulation and pragmatism sees him climb the political ladder despite his total lack of moral fiber.
1How I Met Your Mother (2005 - 2014)
Making Ted and Robin the endgame
Viewers followed the story of Ted Mosby’s love life for nine seasons, waiting for him to finally reveal to his children how he met their mother in the sitcom appropriately titledHow I Met Your Mother. With an incredible ensemble cast of close friends, one thing thatHow I Met Your Mothermade explicitly clear from the first episode was that Ted’s future wife was not Robin Scherbatsky, his on-again-off-again love interest throughout the show. This was why the death of the titular mother, Tracey McConnell, in the show’s series finale was a risky move that upset lots of viewers.
After spending years waiting for Ted to finally get his happily-ever-after with the Mother,Tracy’s death served to simply pave the way for Ted to confess his love for Robinand for them to end up together. This not only went against the very premise of the show but also felt disappointing, considering how much the romance between Robin and Ted’s best friend Barney Stinson had developed throughout the show.How I Met Your Motherdropped the ball in its final episode with a risk that just didn’t pay off.
How I Met Your Mother
How I Met Your Mother is a television series that follows a father telling his children about his past. Released in 2005, it explores his experiences and adventures with four close friends, leading up to meeting their mother, as depicted through a series of flashbacks.
Source:Deadline,People,TV by the Numbers
