Great TV Show Premises That Fell Flat Over Time

In the realm of television, many programs begin with promising concepts but stumble as seasons progress. This article examines four notable shows that once had a strong premise but ultimately disappointed viewers. Let's explore the reasons why these series regressed and whether they could have been better.

Once Upon a Time

Imagine your child found a magical book and could summon any fictional character. That was the premise of Once Upon a Time. This concept seemed like a masterpiece, given the vast array of intellectual property owned by Disney, which could have been leveraged creatively. However, the show took a turn for the worse as it devolved into a predictable and somewhat cringe-worthy family drama.

Initially, the mix of classic fairy tale characters could have been a hit. Unfortunately, the limited budget for live-action television restricted the show's potential. Instead of daring arcs that pitted such diverse characters against each other (e.g., the Seven Dwarves versus the Lost Boys), the storytelling settled into a more formulaic and predictable narrative. The second season became too silly, and by that point, the show had lost its allure. Fans, myself included, eventually stopped tuning in.

Sliders

Sliders is another show that started strong but never quite lived up to its potential. A standout moment was when one of the actors mentioned that he left the show after finding out the writers were planning to rip off another episode from a movie they had watched. This indicates a concerning lack of originality and creativity.

Initially, the premise of traveling through multiple dimensions seemed like a fresh and exciting concept. However, as the series progressed, the writers seemed to run out of ideas. Rather than continuing to innovate, they began to rely on ripping off established stories, further diminishing the show's quality.

Manifest

The critically acclaimed series Manifest was another case where initial promise did not translate into sustained excellence. The show began with a strong pilot episode, setting up a promising premise around passengers who could control time and the scale of the world around them. However, as the series progressed, it failed to capitalize on that setup.

The attempt to recreate a plane's disappearance through manipulating weather patterns ultimately backfired, leading to a plot point that seemed incongruous with earlier developments. The show then fell into a rut of cliché storytelling and predictable character arcs. By the time the series was ready to delve deeper into its plot, it had lost its pacing and focus, making it seem like just another in a series of underwhelming episodes.

M*A*S*H

M*A*S*H, although not beginning as an origin story, has a unique premise that allowed for rich satire and commentary on war and its contradictions. The show was a groundbreaking series, and its early seasons were among the most beloved in television history. However, as the series progressed, it increasingly became a vehicle for political preachiness, losing much of its original charm and storytelling balance.

Despite its early promise, the latter seasons of M*A*S*H started to stray from what made the show so engaging. The satirical edge that made early episodes so incisive and entertaining slowly wore down, and the show began to focus more on didactic messages and less on nuanced character development. This shift ultimately diluted the show's impact and longevity.

Prison Break

Perhaps the most emblematic of these disappointing series is Prison Break. The first season was nothing short of enthralling, with a thrilling premise and a well-paced narrative that kept viewers on the edge of their seats. I, for one, was hooked, binging the entire 23 episodes in a single sitting. Season two maintained a similar level of quality and engagement. However, things quickly took a turn for the worse with the arrival of season three, which was marred by both production issues and a dwindling storyline.

The subsequent seasons introduced unwanted twists and plot developments that seemed to fatally undermine the show's original purpose. The desire to provide a satisfying resolution and tie everything up in a neat bow led to a sacrifice of the show's previously captivating and unpredictable nature. Season four further exacerbated this decline, ending the show on a somewhat fragile storyline amidst a series of unnecessary plot twists.

By the time a mini-series was produced, the original formula had seemingly been exhausted. Prison Break had lost its initial appeal, failing to deliver on its earlier promise and instead becoming a casualty of its own ambitions.

Ultimately, while these series started with strong concepts, the experience of watching them degrade over time serves as a cautionary tale for aspiring showrunners. The key takeaway is that no matter how promising a premise may be, sustaining its quality over multiple seasons can be incredibly challenging without a careful balance of creativity and consistency.