10 TV Shows That Took a Turn for the Worse After Time Jumps

Article Overview

Time jumps can sometimes cause a decline in the quality of a TV show, as seen in

New Girl, Riverdale

, and

One Tree Hill

The placement of a time jump can be awkward and jarring, resulting in a difficult transition for viewers.

A time jump can cause a TV show to lose its original charm, as evidenced by

One Tree Hill

and

Glee

Several TV shows have utilized time skips to advance their plots or introduce new elements, but unfortunately, this storytelling device can sometimes negatively impact a series. Time jumps can be used to move the plot forward, change the format of the show, or address the departure of a main cast member. While some shows have successfully leveraged time jumps to refresh their storylines and characters, others have faltered in the aftermath of such significant changes.

Time skips often bring about substantial alterations to a show's cast and narrative, introducing new characters, incorporating off-screen development, or establishing a new setting. While series like House of the Dragon and Lost effectively utilized time jumps to their advantage, other shows have struggled with their implementation. A poorly executed time jump can be detrimental to a TV show, leading to a loss of its original charm once it moves into the future.

10. New Girl (2011-2018)

Season 6 To Season 7: Three Years

New Girl

New Girl was a breakout role for Zooey Deschanel, but its final season, which aired in 2018, was unnecessary. The series concluded season 6 with Jess and Nick finally getting together, providing a fitting end to the show. However, season 7 introduced a three-year time jump and felt like an awkward addition to the series. Each character moved on from the loft, and the season did not maintain the same quality as its predecessors.

9. Riverdale (2017-2023)

During Season 5: Seven Years

Riverdale, released on January 26, 2017, features a talented cast including Camila Mendes, Marisol Nichols, Ashleigh Murray, Cole Sprouse, Ross Butler, Madelaine Petsch, K.J. Apa, Luke Perry, Lili Reinhart, and Casey Cott. This drama series has not been rated and spans seven seasons.

8. One Tree Hill (2003-2012)

Riverdale's decision to jump seven years into the future in the middle of season 5 was a departure from the typical time skips seen in most shows at the end or beginning of a season. The placement of this time jump felt awkward and jarring, especially as the main cast went from being high school graduates in one episode to grown adults with developed lives in the next. From the time jump onward, Riverdale, already a complicated show, became even more difficult to follow, resulting in a decline in quality compared to its earlier seasons.

Season 4 To Season 5: Four Years

One Tree Hill, which aired from September 23, 2003, features a talented cast including Chad Michael Murray, James Lafferty, Hilarie Burton, Paul Johansson, Sophia Bush, Barry Corbin, Craig Sheffer, Bethany Joy Lenz, and Moira Kelly. The show falls under the genres of drama, romance, and sports, with a TV-14 rating. It ran for a total of 9 seasons.

One Tree Hill made use of a time jump from season 4 to season 5. After the characters graduated from high school, season 5 began four years later, with all the main characters suddenly 22 years old. The show's timeline was already somewhat complicated, with some seasons covering shorter periods of time than others. However, by season 5, the One Tree Hill cast had aged significantly beyond the characters they were portraying. The time jump allowed One Tree Hill to accommodate the passage of time, but the show ended up focusing on the characters as adults, which felt strange considering it was originally a teen drama.

7. Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)

Season 6: Five Years

Pretty Little Liars

The release date for "Pretty Little Liars" was June 8, 2010, featuring a cast including Troian Bellisario, Ashley Benson, Holly Marie Combs, Lucy Hale, Bianca Lawson, Laura Leighton, Chad Lowe, Shay Mitchell, and Nia Peeples. The show falls under the drama and mystery genres with a TV-14 rating and a total of 7 seasons.

In season 6, a time jump of five years occurred, allowing the storyline to progress as the characters navigated through college and eventually returned to Rosewood, where the mystery continued.

6. Jane The Virgin (2014-2019)

Despite the popularity of Pretty Little Liars' earlier seasons, the decision to include a time jump in its final season felt forced and unnecessary. The off-screen years resulted in a loss of character development, leading to a lack of cohesion when the gang reunited to track down A. Unfortunately, this change may have contributed to the decline of the show in its later season.

Season 3: Three Years

Jane the Virgin

Release Date October 13, 2014Cast Gina Rodriguez , Andrea Navedo , Justin Baldoni , Ivonne Coll , Brett Dier , Jaime CamilGenres Comedy , SatireSeasons 5

5. The Affair (2014-2019)

Following the passing of Michael Cordero (Brett Dier), Jane the Virgin incorporated a three-year leap in time. Despite the show continuing for two and a half seasons after this abrupt shift in the timeline, it deprived viewers of the chance to witness Jane (Gina Rodriguez) grieving for Michael, whom she had recently married in the series. However, it was later revealed that Michael had never actually died; his memories had been erased by Sin Rostro. Even though the moment of this revelation was impactful and emotional, it would have been even more powerful if the audience had been able to witness Jane's grief over the course of those years.

5. The Affair (2014-2019)

Season 4 To Season 5: 30 Years

Four Seasons of Drama was released on October 12, 2014, with a cast that includes Dominic West, Ruth Wilson, Maura Tierney, Joshua Jackson, Julia Goldani Telles, Josh Stamberg, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Omar Metwally, Irène Jacob, Sanaa Lathan, and Anna Paquin.

4. The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

The time jump in The Affair was prompted by a change in casting. With the original cast members leaving, the final season of The Affair leaped an impressive 30 years into the future, focusing on the story of Alison (Ruth Wilson) and Cole's (Joshua Jackson) daughter, Joanie (Anna Paquin). Although the final season of The Affair felt more like a spin-off than a conclusion, it still received positive ratings. However, some fans found season 5 to be a bit of a letdown compared to earlier seasons, as it seemed to have outstayed its welcome with the departure of the main actors. Despite this, Joanie's continued exploration of her mother's death remained a central theme throughout the season.

Season 9 To Season 10: Six Years

The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead debuted on October 31, 2010 and featured a cast that included Steven Yeun, Andrew Lincoln, Chandler Riggs, Laurie Holden, Jeffrey DeMunn, Sarah Wayne Callies, Melissa McBride, Norman Reedus, Jon Bernthal, and Iron E. Singleton. The show spans across the genres of horror, thriller, and drama, and lasted for 11 seasons.

The Walking Dead utilized a time jump to address the departure of a lead character. After Andrew Lincoln left the show in season 9, The Walking Dead jumped ahead six years, bringing in new characters while keeping its core cast. Season 10 was noted as the beginning of a decline for the show, which may have contributed to its eventual end after season 11. The criticism of the time skip, combined with the opinion that the show had been on for too long, ultimately led to The Walking Dead's conclusion.

3. Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Season 3 To Season 4: Six Years

Arrested Development

The release date for Arrested Development was on March 15, 2019, featuring a cast including Jeffrey Tambor, Ron Howard, Michael Cera, Alia Shawkat, David Cross, Jason Bateman, Portia de Rossi, Tony Hale, Will Arnett, and Jessica Walter. The show falls under the genre of comedy and spans five seasons.

Netflix revived Arrested Development after a hiatus of seven years, with a significant time gap evident in the aging of the characters. However, the handling of the time jump was criticized for impacting the show's quality. Season 4 saw the cast separated for the most part, with numerous flashbacks that complicated the timeline. Due to the confusion, Netflix released a remixed version of season 4.

2. Glee (2009-2015)

Season 5 To Season 6: Five Years

Glee

Glee's final season, which aired on May 19, 2009, featured original cast members Dianna Agron, Chris Colfer, Jessalyn Gilsig, Jane Lynch, Jayma Mays, Kevin McHale, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Matthew Morrison, and Amber Riley. The show spanned across genres of comedy, drama, and musical, with a TV-14 rating and a total of 6 seasons.

Set five years after season 5, the final season followed most of the original Glee cast after they left McKinley High. The show's tone shifted after the death of Cory Monteith, causing some to believe it was a good time to end the series. Despite this, Glee continued for two more seasons. The transitions between the original and newer cast were chaotic, and the show struggled to maintain its original format. The later seasons of Glee experienced a decline in quality, with the time jump in the final season ultimately leading to its downfall.

1. Parks And Recreation (2009-2015)

From Season 6 To Season 7: Three Years

Parks and Recreation

Original release date: April 9, 2009

Starring: Amy Poehler, Nick Offerman, Chris Pratt, Aubrey Plaza, Adam Scott, Rashida Jones, Retta, Jim O'Heir, Aziz Ansari, Rob Lowe

Genres: Sitcom, Comedy, Mockumentary

Number of seasons: 7

Parks and Recreation took a three-year leap between seasons 6 and 7, which had an impact on the show's comedic dynamics. While the time jump wasn't the worst decision made by a TV series, it did disrupt the flow of the workplace comedy. Some felt that the show could have wrapped up neatly at the end of season 6. While the finale did provide a satisfying ending for the characters, most of their story arcs had already reached their natural conclusion by the end of season 6. This made the final season and its time jump feel somewhat prolonged.

Editor's P/S

As a dedicated fan of TV shows, I can't help but feel disappointed when a series takes a turn for the worse after a time jump. It's disheartening to see a show that once held so much promise lose its charm and quality. The examples mentioned in the article, such as "New Girl," "Riverdale," and "One Tree Hill," are particularly frustrating because they had the potential to continue delivering great content.

The awkward placement of time jumps can be jarring and disrupt the flow of the narrative. In the case of "Riverdale," the sudden seven-year leap in the middle of season 5 felt disorienting and made it challenging to connect with the characters. Similarly, "One Tree Hill's" decision to jump four years after high school graduation resulted in a significant age gap between the actors and the characters they were portraying, which felt unnatural and took away from the show's original appeal.