The upcoming release of House of the Dragon calls to mind its predecessor, Game of Thrones, and many viewers are left wondering whether this newest story set in Westeros will be characterized by the same inconsistent quality that marred the last season of Thrones.
While the titanic HBO show is arguably one of the most notable examples of this quality gap phenomenon, there are a number of notable instances that have occurred in the history of television. Reddit users have helpfully identified a number of the worst quality gaps in TV, thus showcasing the danger of sloppy and inconsistent writing.
Game Of Thrones (2011-2019)
Stream On HBO Max
Game of Thrones looms large in the discussion of quality gaps, particularly since, for the first several seasons of the series, it established itself as one of the best on HBO. However, by the final season, cracks in the façade were easily visible.
SageOfTheWise draws particular attention to two mid-episodes from the finale season, "A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms" and "The Long Night." They argue that while the former was a marvelous character study, the latter “is just so terrible and made such a mockery of not only the previous episode, but basically the entire series up to that point, that the show was just unrecoverable at that point, regardless of the rest of the season.” While "The Long Knight" was a masterclass in building up the tension that should have reached its apogee in the next episode, it largely squandered all of that, with its pitch-black fight scenes, its anticlimax (Arya killing the Night King), and overextended length.
The Simpsons (1989-present)
Stream On Disney+
Few animated series have achieved quite the level of cultural ubiquity as The Simpsons, which is essentially an American institution. Given its longevity, it’s not surprising that it has its fair share of episodes that suffer from being released next to a strong one. This is especially true of “The Principal and the Pauper,” which follows "The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson" - both from season 9.
With its claim that Principal Skinner has been an imposter all along, it made benkalli “stop watching the show it was so bad.” The rancor surrounding the episode is a potent reminder to creators to be cautious about betraying their audience’s expectations. While the former was a very funny episode that brought out the show's strengths, the latter's unexpected revelation about Principal Skinner was viewed by many as a grievous retcon and betrayal of the fandom. Given who central Principal Skinner was (and remains) to the show, it's easy to see why fans would see this as such a grievous dip in quality.
American Horror Story: Double Feature (2021)
Stream On Hulu
American Horror Story is arguably one of Ryan Murphy’s best series, and now entering its second decade, it has attained remarkable longevity. The most recent season was regarded by many as its best when it began, with many calling it a return to form - until the end. The episode “Gaslight” was particularly well-regarded, but the finale, "Winter Kills," was far too rushed to really land.
As VagabondDoppelganger writes: “The episode after, the finale of the arc "Winter Kills", was a complete mess that threw away everything good about the season.” In particular, "Gaslit" was something of a climax, seeing the ending of several characters (notably Mickey and Karen) and the conclusion of several story arcs. The finale, however, veered in some bizarre directions, leading to a rapid vampire plague that, while clearly intended to end the series on a shocking note, ended up feeling forced, rushed, and anticlimactic.
Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Stream On Netflix
Seinfeld looms large in the popular culture imagination, and it has earned its place as one of the best sitcoms of all time. Given how many years it managed to be on the air, however, it was no stranger to poorly-received episodes. Shf500 draws particular attention to the difference between the season 4 finale and season 5's "The Pilot" and "The Mango," the latter of which they argue was lacking.
They write: “Maybe it's because Season 4 was great IMO and my expectations for Season 5 were sky high.” While the season 4 finale was notable for featuring the pilot of Jerry's series--and was thus a moment of self-reflexivity for the show as a whole--the premiere of the second was largely a return to form for the series. While it was entertaining in it own way, it simply lacked the self-aware bite that makes "The Pilot" such a fantastic conclusion to a season.
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)
Stream On Paramount+
Star Trek is an extraordinary popular culture phenomenon, with numerous iterations helping to keep it relevant. Star Trek: The Next Generation is often regarded as one of the best of the series, with its dynamic cast, its fascinating storylines, and its engagement with a host of philosophical and political issues.
However, the episode “Sub Rosa” has been widely criticized by members of the fandom, with BigBobbert bluntly stating that it is the one “where Beverly Crusher has sex with a ghost,” unfavorably comparing it to its predecessor, “Lower Decks.” "Lower Decks" is especially notable for focusing on junior officers rather than the usual senior officers, giving viewers a more nuanced perspective of the Enterprise. Unfortunately, "Sub Rosa," by contrast, feels crude and more than a little exploitative in its storyline.
The Witcher (2019-present)
Stream On Netflix
The Witcher has quickly established itself as one of the most successful series on Netflix. Though the non-linear narrative of season 1 left some viewers confused, for the most part, the episodes were of consistent quality.
ImMufasa was particularly unimpressed with season 2, writing that “Season 2 episode 1 of the witcher and episode 2 (or just the rest of the season)” were notable examples of the quality cap phenomenon. It is often the case, as this commenter points out, that the opening episode in a season can set unrealistic expectations of what will follow. The season 2 premiere, "A Grain of Truth," seemed as if it was going to line up fairly well with the books, but, in "Kaer Morhen," it revealed that it was going to take the story in some unexpected and, ultimately, nonsensical directions.
The Orville (2017-present)
Stream On Hulu
Though there are many shows like The Orville, in some ways, the series stands on its own as not just a pastiche of series like Star Trek but also as an evocative and funny series. Though many episodes have been very well-received by audiences and critics, there is a notable difference between the second and third episodes of season 2.
StarChild413 summarizes it this way: “The Orville S2, "Home" was amazing-if-sad but the preceding episode "Primal Urges" was a complete hot mess that felt like what everyone expected The Orville to be like initially when they heard it was made by the Family Guy guy.” As is often the case, it is the tonal inconsistency that is alienating for many viewers. "Primal Urges" in particular was alienating for many viewers in that it seemed to take the idea of pornography addiction far too lightly for a series that was supposedly more thoughtful, while "Home" featured both very strong special effects and a bittersweet storyline.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Stream On Hulu
Buffy has gone down in history as a series notable for its feminist politics, for its well-structured dialogue and patter, and for becoming one of the best series on the WB. While it attained a great deal of acclaim both during its run and after, it also had a fair number of episodes which showed a significant difference in quality.
Notmyrealfarkhandle has this to say: “Buffy Season 2: Go Fish (terrible) followed by Becoming (2 parter and arguably the best season finale of the series).” "Go Fish" is notable for being one of the series' weaker offerings, with a monster of the weak that was far from impressive and a number of glaring plotholes, whereas the subsequent finale managed to successfully wrap up the season's storylines in a way that felt honest to the characters and a powerful episode of television. Buffy is a notable example of the fact that television, due to its long run, can’t help but produce episodes that are lackluster.
The X-Files (1993-2018)
Stream On Hulu
Few supernatural television series have achieved quite the status of The X-Files, which remains one of the best of the genre. It is a quintessential 1990s creation, full of suspicion and conspiracy. Knightboat17, though a fan of the show, writes: “Ice followed by Space, Ice is one of the best episodes of the show whereas Space is one of the worst, if not the worst.”
"Space," indeed, is widely disparaged within the series’ fandom, given that it features very unscary graphics and a villain whose motivations remain unclear. "Ice," on the other hand, with its taut pacing and its suspenseful atmosphere, showcased the series at its best.
Lost (2004-2010)
Stream On Prime Video
Lost was a series that delighted in keeping viewers on the edge of their seats, constantly trying to determine what was going to happen next. Indeed, it was precisely its narrative complexity that allowed it to keep running as long as it did, though it would also lead to a number of lackluster episodes.
Notmyrealfarkhandle asserts that “Lost maybe did it twice in the same season.” “Flash Before Your Eyes” and “Stranger In a Strange Land” are one of their notable examples, the former of which was a strong (if inconclusive episode), while the latter was derided by many as being nothing more than glorified filler. The former was particularly notable for the way that it fleshed out the relationship dynamic among various characters. The latter, on the other hand, failed to resolve any of the storylines and, ultimately, did little to move the plot forward in an appreciable way.