Mind-Blowing TV Show Blunders: 10 Unbelievably Bad CGI and Special Effects Fails

Summary

Poorly executed special effects in even the highest-quality TV shows can be highly distracting, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the viewing experience. While certain TV shows, such as Star Trek and Doctor Who, have gained a reputation for their lackluster special effects, they often receive leniency from their dedicated fan base and long-running success.

Practical effects, like makeup and prosthetics, can often surpass CGI in terms of effectiveness and realism. However, there are instances when even practical effects may not meet audience expectations.

Even top-notch TV shows can be hindered by subpar CGI and practical effects. Over the years, movie magic has greatly advanced, and the same progress has been seen in TV series that utilize these special effects techniques. Particularly in the fantasy genre, with the aid of computers, makeup artists, and skillful editing, almost anything can be brought to life on screen. The most beloved shows are typically those that seamlessly immerse the audience in a lifelike universe of extraordinary occurrences. Yet, there are times when even excellent TV shows fail to deliver with poorly executed scenes.

10 Livia's Death In The Sopranos

Certainly, there are television shows that boast subpar special effects throughout their entirety and make no effort to conceal it. Franchises such as Star Trek and Doctor Who, which originated several decades ago, have gained a reputation for their somewhat ludicrous visuals, but they are forgiven as nobody ever anticipated them to excel in this aspect. However, disappointing special effects are not limited to these particular series. Occasionally, even shows that are known for their commendable visual effects, or even those that maintain a certain standard despite being less impressive, deliver scenes that disappointingly fall below the expectations of the audience.

In The Sopranos season 3, Livia Soprano had her final scene with her son Tony before her death, which took place off-screen. However, there was a challenge as the actress who portrayed Livia, Nancy Marchand, had passed away after filming season 2. To ensure a fitting farewell for the character, the showrunners decided to superimpose Marchand's face onto another actor's, resulting in a rather disconcerting outcome. The Sopranos generally refrained from using CGI extensively, making its implementation in Livia's death scene particularly distracting.

9 The Deer Scene In The Walking Dead

8 Old Sam Winchester In Supernatural

The Walking Dead is a great example of impressive practical effects, showcasing the remarkable skills of the makeup artists. The result is horrifyingly realistic zombies, free from the limitations and frustrations of computer-generated imagery (CGI). These techniques have not only made practical effects popular again in other movies and TV shows but have also brought attention to the show's occasional use of CGI. Season 7 featured a scene with a CGI deer that received criticism for its unconvincing appearance, resembling a poorly executed editing project. This unnecessary addition fell short of the audience's expectations for the highly acclaimed series, leading to widespread disappointment expressed on Twitter.

Supernatural effortlessly maintained its believability without appearing to make much of an effort. The show's deliberately cheesy action sequences allowed for some less-than-perfect CGI, and it fully embraced this aspect. However, amidst all its successes, there were certain scenes that fell flat unnecessarily. The series finale of Supernatural featured a montage in which Sam Winchester went through an aging process, but unfortunately, the execution, involving a poorly fitting wig and muddy makeup on actor Jared Padalecki, ended up detracting from the intended emotional impact of the moment and instead became a source of unintentional amusement.

7 The Green Screen Castle In Once Upon A Time

The special effects used for the fantastical creatures in Once Upon a Time were widely criticized throughout all seven seasons. However, despite this flaw, the ABC series managed to maintain its popularity. It should be noted that Once Upon a Time did not strive for perfection, allowing them to get away with many imperfections. With half of the show's episodes taking place in a non-magical world, there were instances in the Enchanted Forest that appeared particularly peculiar. One such example was in the series pilot, where Snow White and Prince Charming's wedding took place in a green screen castle. The scene initially seemed alright, but when the Evil Queen entered and effortlessly glided across the room, it became evident that she was not physically present.

6 The CGI Submarine In Lost

Lost firmly established itself as a cultural phenomenon during its run from 2004 to 2010. Brimming with enigmatic twists and turns, the series became a benchmark for mind-bending television. Its captivating allure primarily rested on practical effects, until season 3 introduced a CGI submarine near the island. Unfortunately, this particular scene, where the vessel ascended and submerged into the water, didn't quite achieve the desired dramatic impact. The metallic appearance of the submarine clashed with the surrounding water, lacking any semblance of coordinated lighting against the backdrop.

5 Paige’s Object Orbing In Charmed

Charmed, a fantasy TV series filled with exaggerated action and mediocre CGI, surprisingly blossomed into something remarkable throughout its 8-season run. The show's redeeming quality lay in its utilization of practical effects, particularly prosthetic makeup, to bring the various demons and monsters to life. Even the supernatural powers possessed by the sisters appeared satisfactory on screen, thanks to their simplicity and the clever use of basic editing or practical effects. Alas, everything took a turn for the worse when Page joined the cast. Her interpretation of telekinesis entailed her reliance on the White Lighter orbing power. Rather than being an innovative twist, this resulted in awkward frozen moments on screen, with her outstretched hand, only to be followed by a clumsy materialization of objects and delayed reactions from the characters.

4 The Transformation Makeup In Teen Wolf

While the CGI transformations in Teen Wolf are quite subpar, they do not significantly detract from the overall series. Given that the show revolves around teenage werewolves, these mediocre visual effects are to be expected. However, the real downfall of the MTV series lies in its practical effects. Other productions with lower budgets have proven that prosthetic makeup can drastically enhance the believability of characters, yet Teen Wolf seems to have put minimal effort into achieving this. Had the characters appeared more convincing through practical means, the CGI elements may have found a stronger footing. Regrettably, this was not the case.

3 The Capitol Scene In Pretty Little Liars

As an adolescent drama, Pretty Little Liars seldom relied on CGI or green screens. Occasionally, a character was skillfully made up to appear in various stages of decomposition. Other than that, the show had little demand for additional special effects. However, the showrunners didn't hesitate to incorporate them. In season 6 of Pretty Little Liars, while Spencer visited Washington DC, she was depicted sitting in front of the United States Capitol Building. Regrettably, this particular scene appeared entirely unconvincing, clearly being shot in front of a green screen. What was intended to be an emotional and nostalgic moment turned out to be comical.

2 The Plane Explosion In White Collar

The six seasons of White Collar showcased its entertaining and commendable nature, but it did have its share of underwhelming moments. One particular instance occurred in the first season's finale, where Kate met her unfortunate demise in a plane explosion. It left viewers on a devastating cliffhanger, successfully enticing them to return for the second season. However, the impact was slightly diminished due to the subpar green screen visual effects. Despite actor Matt Bomer's commendable performance, his reaction to the explosion lacked conviction, further detracting from the poorly executed green-screen scene.

1 Eden’s Death In Heroes

Heroes is an underrated series that was unjustly canceled prematurely. The plot twists were flawlessly executed, the character development was exceptional (especially considering the large number of characters), and the special effects were generally impressive for 2006. The success of Heroes can be attributed to its selective use of CGI, preferring practical effects whenever feasible. However, there were instances when this approach fell short, as seen in the scene depicting Eden's death. Sylar pulled her through a glass window, but the post-production editing and the unsatisfactory application of red makeup on Eden's face made the scene appear clumsy and unconvincing.