Unforgettable TV Shows: 20 Iconic Series that Outstayed Their Welcome

Throughout the years, our screens have been graced by some of the most exceptional television series. However, it is all too common for these shows to lose their brilliance and undergo excessive changes as they continue for too many seasons. Surprisingly, a majority of these beloved shows, with large fan bases, are often the ones that have overstayed their welcome. Instead of maintaining their esteemed reputation, they stretched themselves thin, leaving a negative impression.

Presented below are twenty series that extended their run for at least one season too many. These shows, ranging from sitcoms to dramas, either exhausted their storylines, heavily relied on certain elements, or lost important aspects yet still chose to persist. Consequently, they fell victim to the common but damaging mistake of prolonging their existence beyond necessity.

20 The Simpsons

The show with the most seasons by far on this list is The Simpsons. The animated series follows the titular yellow family as they live their unique lives in the fictional town of Springfield. Despite having a wide range of iconic characters, including Homer, Marge, Moe, and Ned Flanders, The Simpsons has arguably overstayed its welcome with its 34 seasons. Originally starting in a different era, the series no longer represents the pinnacle of current comedy and, what's worse, fails to recapture its initial magic.

19 The Office

The Office, a highly acclaimed sitcom centered around Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, didn't conclude in the manner it deserved. Its acclaimed protagonist, Steve Carrell's Michael Scott, departed from the series during season 7, leaving a void. Surprisingly, The Office persisted for an additional two seasons thereafter, unfortunately revealing that the supporting characters were unable to maintain the show's triumph. While The Office maintained its remarkable success, it may have achieved an even higher level had it concluded before the final two seasons.

18 Supernatural

17 Dexter

Supernatural, a long-running series spanning 15 seasons, left even its most devoted fans yearning for its conclusion. The narrative centered around the Winchester brothers, Sam and Dean, who embarked on monster-hunting adventures while simultaneously saving humanity. The show initially captivated viewers with its distinct horror-movie atmosphere during its first five seasons. However, as time progressed, the subsequent ten seasons grew progressively peculiar and strayed further from its roots. Ultimately, Supernatural became monotonous and excessively prolonged. Instead of concluding at its creative peak when writer Eric Kripke departed after season 5, the series inexplicably persisted for a considerable duration.

Dexter, a content fragment, gained popularity for its unique concept of following a forensic pathologist by day and a serial killer by night, which led to a surge of television series featuring murderers. However, after eight seasons, the series started to feel repetitive and, disappointingly, presented two inadequate endings for its beloved protagonist. Despite raising the question of whether the morally ambiguous main character should face consequences for his actions, Dexter's two finales disregarded this inquiry and, even worse, overlooked his character development.

16 Grey's Anatomy

As one of the few remaining series on this list that continues to air regularly,

15 How I Met Your Mother

holds the record for the longest running primetime medical drama with nineteen seasons already aired and a twentieth season currently in progress. Initially centered around the journey of Meredith Grey and her fellow surgical interns attempting to establish themselves in the medical field, the show gradually witnesses Meredith's personal growth, experiences of love, and encounters with tragedy. However, the series began to decline when most of the original cast departed, causing the loss of its initial charm and falling into a cycle of repetition.

Despite its status as a beloved sitcom, How I Met Your Mother has become a prime example of a series that has overstayed its welcome. With its recurring unanswered question and infamously disappointing last season, the show no longer holds its charm. The story follows architect Ted and his eclectic group of friends in New York City, charming audiences with its cleverness and lightheartedness. However, as the seasons went on and the mystery of who Ted's kids' mother was dragged on, the show lost its momentum. By the time season 9 rolled around, it resorted to desperate measures and delivered an extremely underwhelming conclusion to Ted's romantic storyline.

14 Friends

Once again, Friends is undeniably one of the standout sitcoms from the 1990s. However, even devoted fans can acknowledge that the series may have overstayed its welcome. Revolving around a tight-knit group of six friends residing in New York, it was during the tenth and final season where things veered off track slightly. With the introduction of perplexing new storylines, such as Rachel and Joey becoming romantically involved, it became evident that the show was grasping at straws. These sudden and unexpected plot twists served as a clear indication that Friends had run its course.

13 Homeland

Some series, despite having multiple seasons, could easily have been a limited series. Homeland perfectly exemplifies this. The action-packed show revolves around a Marine who escapes from captivity after eight long years, only to be scrutinized by a skeptical CIA agent. While the undeniable chemistry between lead actors Damian Lewis and Claire Danes was noteworthy, it wasn't sufficient enough to justify the existence of eight seasons, particularly when Lewis' character, Nicholas Brody, met his demise in season three.

12 The Big Bang Theory

Yet another TV series that has exceeded expectations in terms of the number of seasons is The Big Bang Theory. Initially popular for its portrayal of a group of nerds and their eccentric neighbor, the show unexpectedly grew and continued for a total of 12 seasons. As the characters evolved and started families, the series underwent significant changes. However, amidst all these transformations, Sheldon remained unchanged, holding on to his trademark catchphrases.

11 Scrubs

The medical sitcom Scrubs is widely regarded as an incredibly enjoyable show, to the point that its biggest misstep, the ill-fated Scrubs season 9, has essentially been disregarded as part of the show's official narrative. Scrubs revolves around a group of medical students and doctors at Sacred Heart Hospital, and even though season 8 provided a satisfying conclusion, the show decided to continue for one final season with an entirely new cast based in a medical school. As this last season deviated so much from the original Scrubs, it has been disregarded by the show's devoted fanbase.

10 Pretty Little Liars

Another show that was undermined by its repetitive inquiry was Pretty Little Liars. It revolves around a clique of high school students who become the target of an anonymous tormentor known as "A" after their leader goes missing. Although the identity of this enigmatic individual was divulged in season 2, the show carried on for a total of seven seasons by introducing new antagonists also named "A." Consequently, the original question of the series lost its intrigue.

9 Once Upon A Time

Despite its initially charming and original premise, Once Upon a Time took a turn for the bizarre in subsequent seasons. The narrative revolves around a mother and her son relocating to a picturesque town in Maine, only to discover that its inhabitants are actually characters from fairy tales. While this concept initially captivated audiences, the introduction of unexpected connections like Peter Pan being revealed as Rumpelstiltskin's father, and the inclusion of characters from Frozen such as Anna and Elsa, took the storyline into increasingly peculiar territory.

8 Riverdale

7 The Walking Dead

Despite initially gaining significant attention, Riverdale quickly faded into obscurity. However, to the surprise of many, the show has actually managed to surpass seven seasons. Drawing inspiration from the Archie comics, Riverdale takes a unique approach by placing Archie and his friends in the real world, navigating through teenage drama and enigmatic plotlines. The primary argument for why Riverdale should have concluded is that the series has deviated greatly from its captivating beginnings in season 1. What was once a cringe-inducing and peculiar show has only intensified in both of these aspects.

The Walking Dead experienced the loss of its main cast members, resulting in significant consequences. The series, centered around a zombie apocalypse, recently came to a close after its eleventh season, but it was during season 9 when the departure of the show's protagonist, Rick Grimes, occurred. Even earlier, the death of Glenn in season 7 led to a significant decline in viewership. As a result, the show, known for its dark atmosphere and compelling characters, had to carry on without the enchantment brought by these beloved cast members. Fortunately, the series concluded before its fan-favorite character, Daryl Dixon, could also depart.

6 NCIS

5 Lost

Despite being a long-running procedural show centered around the NCIS organization, the series' journey into its 20th season has not been without its challenges. While the initial years saw the introduction of a charismatic and well-liked cast of NCIS agents in 2003, the passage of time has witnessed the departure of all but one of these beloved characters. Consequently, this transition has breathed in a fresh atmosphere into the show, although it is not necessarily an improvement.

The controversy surrounding Lost's ending has led many to believe that the show should have concluded earlier, specifically in season 6. Despite the possibility of wrapping up the storyline in season 4 when the plane crash survivors are rescued, the writers chose to prolong the series for an additional two seasons. Ultimately, Lost concludes with the revelation that the survivors were deceased all along, and their entire island adventure was merely an imagined reality. Consequently, the show missed the opportunity for a more uplifting conclusion by extending its duration unnecessarily.

4 Glee

The television series created by Ryan Murphy, centering around a glee club in a high school, gained immense popularity upon its release in 2009. However, as the series progressed through six seasons, it underwent a significant transformation from its initial premise. Primarily, the original cast members of the show rapidly grew older, necessitating their graduation from high school and the introduction of younger characters. Consequently, Glee oscillated between storylines involving the adult cast and those centered around the high school characters, leading to a completely different dynamic. Furthermore, Murphy's musical performances became increasingly elaborate and visually impressive, a stark contrast to the more modest beginnings of the show with the iconic Journey song.

3 Two And A Half Men

Despite the departure of Charlie Sheen from Two and a Half Men, the popular series continued to forge ahead with its three-person leading cast. The story revolves around Alan and his son Jake, who find themselves living with Alan's bachelor brother Charlie. While Sheen's exit in season 9 played a significant role in the overall 12-season narrative, the introduction of Ashton Kutcher as his replacement altered the show's dynamics, leading to a decline in viewership.

2 The X-Files

1 13 Reasons Why

With Mulder's departure from The X-Files in season 7, not only did the show bid farewell to a prominent character, but it also lost its very essence. The heart of The X-Files lies in the captivating partnership between FBI special agents Scully and Mulder, and Mulder's absence shattered this captivating dynamic. However, his departure brought about more than just the loss of their unique connection; it also stripped the show of the fervent belief in the supernatural that Mulder fervently upheld. As a result, a vital passion and unwavering conviction went missing from The X-Files.

Although based on Jay Asher's young adult novel, 13 Reasons Why, it is surprising that Netflix extended the show to four seasons instead of containing it to just one. In the initial season, viewers follow Hannah Baker as she records tapes explaining her decision to end her own life. This first part effectively portrays the essence of the story. However, the series takes an inexplicable turn by introducing a murder plot that is both unrelated to the original narrative and undermines the significance of Hannah's account. Without a doubt, the show should have been a limited series.