Everyone loves it when a great television show hooks viewers from the very beginning. Twin Peaks, The West Wing, Lost, these are all great shows that started out strong and never looked back. Well, mostly never looked back, but that’s neither here nor there.
Not every television show gets the benefit of starting strong, though. Some have to stumble around for a season or two before finally finding their footing. Consider The Office, for example. That first season is rough on a rewatch, but by the time the second season started rolling, it turned into television magic. The same can be said for Parks and Recreation, too.
What happens, though, when a great show never really breaks free from its shackles, but is still worth your time? That’s what we’re talking about today: television shows that, despite their flaws, are pretty good. Just because you’ve heard some bad things doesn’t mean you should miss out on these.
Schitt’s Creek
One of the biggest beneficiaries of the 2020 pandemic was Schitt’s Creek, which became an overnight binge-watching sensation when we had nothing better to do than sit inside and watch television.
Here’s the thing, though: by the time COVID-19 was a thing, Schitt’s Creek had already begun its sixth and final season. There’s a reason why the show never really took off at first: the entire first season is a rough watch. Obviously, this isn’t a novel concept in sitcoms, but it will take a concerted effort to stick with.
Even when the show finds its groove, some of the trappings of that first season are still persistent.
The Rehearsal
Nathan Fielder’s Comedy Central show, Nathan For You, is one of the most critically acclaimed comedy shows of all time. It’s also incredibly awkward, which is a defining feature of Fielder’s comedy.
HBO’s The Rehearsal takes that awkwardness to a whole new level. The concept is simple: what if people could rehearse various situations before they actually play out in real life? It’s weird, it’s absurd, and it proves that Fielder is a genius.
The show’s second season centered on Fielder’s desire to improve commercial aviation safety, which is a wild sentence to type when talking about a comedy show.
The Chair Company
If you think The Rehearsal isn’t weird enough, then may I interest you in Tom Robinson’s The Chair Company?
The easiest way I can describe this show is by comparing it to another Robinson project: Netflix’s I Think You Should Leave. It plays out like an extended sketch that keeps getting more and more over-the-top, absurdist, and surreal. It’s also incredibly brilliant and downright hilarious, but my goodness, is it a hard watch for some people.
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Barry
Okay, one more HBO series from a comedian, though to Bill Hader’s credit, he’s far more mainstream and “traditional” compared to Fielder and Robinson.
Here’s the thing, though: Barry starts as a fish-out-of-water comedy drama, albeit one with a dark theme. Rather than leaning in on the comedic tones, it goes all in on the more serious matters. Things get complex, heavy, and complicated. It’s one heck of a thrill ride, though.
Special shoutout to the season two episode “ronin/lily,” which not only aired after the highly anticipated Game of Thrones episode “The Long Night,” but also surpassed it.
Black Sails
Since I brought it up, this seems like a good time to talk about one of the many Game of Thrones-inspired shows that were, unsurprisingly, dismissed as a cheap knock-off.
To be fair, that’s how Black Sails begins: a cheap knock-off that doesn’t come close to matching the quality of its inspiration. Game of Thrones but with pirates isn’t enough to carry a show.
Having said that, once it finds its footing, Black Sails really, erm, sails. It breaks free from the Game of Thrones stigma and instead leans into its true inspiration: being a prequel to Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island.
Blue Mountain State
One of the defining features of any late 2000s/early 2010s comedy is how crude and juvenile they are. It really was a different time back then, but it’s also important to never judge a book by its cover.
At first glance, Blue Mountain State is yet another dumb comedy spoofing something like Friday Night Lights that gets lost in the shuffle. If you take the time to sit down and give it a legitimate chance, though, you’ll be rewarded with one of the funniest sitcoms most people have never heard of.
The League
Speaking of a product of its time, The League is very much what you’d expect from a show about a fantasy football league that aired in the late 2000s and early 2010s.
However, there’s a reason why the show lasted for seven full seasons despite such a seemingly thin premise. Yes, fantasy football is a large part of sports pop culture today, but all of the jokes, even the ones that feel like they’d be in poor taste, are done surprisingly well.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Speaking of never judging a book by its cover, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend premiered on The CW in 2015. That alone is, undoubtedly, resulting in some biased opinions on the show before you’ve ever watched it.
Here’s the thing: the biggest flaw is the show’s premise, which seems shallow. In reality, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is a deep, meaningful experience that is well executed. It’s a little niche, as it’s a romantic-comedy musical, but if you’re willing to give it a try, you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised.
Babylon 5
There’s so many things going against Babylon 5 that it’s remarkable at how well it’s aged with modern television viewers.
First, it’s very much a product of its time. Not necessarily in terms of the writing, but the budget, effects, and performances. This is very much a low-budget sci-fi show that aired in the 1990s.
If you can look past the bad CGI and varied acting performances, you’ll be treated to a masterpiece.
Into the Badlands
From 90’s sci-fi television to the modern day. There’s just something about the genre that tends to amplify some frustrating moments in television.
Into the Badlands isn’t immune to these issues, especially when it comes to some issues with its writing. That said, there’s two areas the show shines: its character dewvelopment and choreography.
If you’re looking for a great piece of escapist sci-fi entertainment, Into the Bandlands is an excellent choice, even with its flaws.
Twin Peaks
Where do I begin with you, Twin Peaks?
The pilot is some of the best television you’ll ever see. The first season is magical. The second season features the network forcing David Lynch and company to solve the mystery of “who killed Laura Palmer,” then takes a massive nose-dive in quality as it meanders, before ending strong.
Then there’s the third season, Twin Peaks: The Return, which is pure Lynchian horror, but also incredibly confusing. It’s also one of the best shows of all time; just don’t expect to get many answers.
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