6 TV Shows That Went From Hated To Beloved

Many of the most popular TV shows weren’t instant successes – in fact, some were initially disliked by viewers. It’s unusual for a show to become popular immediately and stay that way for its entire run. While a few shows have managed this, many of the best ones had a rough start and faced criticism before becoming beloved.

Just because a TV show gets off to a slow start doesn’t automatically mean it’s bad—although sometimes it is! Often, people initially dislike a show simply because it’s different from what they’re used to. Other times, it takes a while to connect with the characters—they might seem confusing at first, or take time to grow on viewers.

Many TV shows start with shaky plots, but often get better over time. Audiences tend to be forgiving, and shows that once received negative reactions can eventually become fan favorites.

The Vampire Diaries

Vampire stories became incredibly popular in the 2000s and 2010s, and The Vampire Diaries was one of the standout TV shows. Adapted from the book series by L. J. Smith and created by Kevin Williamson and Julie Plec, the show ran for eight seasons on The CW from 2009 to 2017.

The TV show The Vampire Diaries is set in the town of Mystic Falls, Virginia, and centers around Elena Gilbert (Nina Dobrev). Elena begins a romance with Stefan Salvatore (Paul Wesley), who is a vampire with a good heart. Things get more complicated when Stefan’s enigmatic older brother, Damon (Ian Somerhalder), comes back to town.

Okay, so in The Vampire Diaries, Damon’s got this thing for Katherine, who looks exactly like Elena – she’s her doppelgänger. Honestly, when the show first came out, a lot of people were quick to dismiss it. It hit right when everyone was doing vampire stuff, and I think that initial wave of ‘not another vampire show!’ really worked against it at first. It felt a little late to the party, you know?

The show launched during a period when vampire stories were already everywhere, and it was initially perceived as being too similar to Twilight, making it hard for viewers to connect with it.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a comedy series about police work created by Dan Goor and Michael Schur. The show ran for eight seasons, from 2013 to 2018, and while it’s now considered one of the best and most beloved workplace comedies ever, it took some time to find its audience.

Brooklyn Nine-Nine takes place at the 99th Precinct in Brooklyn, New York. The show centers around a team of detectives led by the strict and new captain, Raymond Holt (Andre Braugher). Among the team is Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg), a talented but often goofy detective who initially butts heads with Captain Holt.

I remember when Brooklyn Nine-Nine first came out – it quickly became one of my favorite comedies of the 2010s, but it definitely had a shaky beginning! Honestly, the humor didn’t immediately click with everyone, and I even heard some people describe the early episodes as a little silly or the characters as unlikeable. Thankfully, people gave it another shot, and it really found its footing. I, like so many others, quickly fell in love with the show and all the characters!

Lucifer

Courtesy Netflix via MovieStillsDB

Lucifer is a TV show that blends fantasy, crime, drama, and humor. It’s based on the DC Comics character Lucifer Morningstar, and stars Tom Ellis as a reimagined version of him. The show originally aired from 2016 to 2021, with the last three seasons available on Netflix. Over six seasons, Lucifer became a popular series.

The show Lucifer begins with the main character, Lucifer, feeling restless and dissatisfied with ruling Hell. He decides to give up his throne and start a new life in Los Angeles, where he opens a nightclub. As a side hobby, he uses his powers to encourage people to reveal their innermost desires.

Lucifer’s life changes when he unexpectedly gets involved in a murder investigation and meets LAPD detective Chloe Decker (Lauren German). He starts working with Chloe and the police, using his unusual abilities to solve crimes. As they investigate, supernatural occurrences begin to happen, and figures from Lucifer’s past reappear, all while he and Chloe develop a close bond.

Though the show’s title and the main character’s abilities suggest fantasy, Lucifer initially felt more like a crime drama. This mix of genres was strange to some viewers at first, and some even drew comparisons to the show Sleepy Hollow. However, Lucifer eventually gained a dedicated following, and fans played a huge role in Netflix rescuing the series when it faced cancellation.

The Office

I truly believe The Office is one of the greatest TV shows ever made, but it actually had a slow start! It was created by Greg Daniels, inspired by the original British version from Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. Over nine seasons, from 2005 to 2013, it really found its audience and became a classic sitcom – one of the best, in my opinion!

I’m a big fan of The Office! It’s a hilarious show that follows the everyday lives of the employees at the Dunder Mifflin paper company in Scranton, Pennsylvania. Michael Scott, played by Steve Carell, is their regional manager and honestly, he’s a huge part of what makes it so funny. The show is filmed like a documentary, which really adds to the humor. While the early episodes are pretty good, a lot of people didn’t like it at first because of how different it was.

Many people initially thought the American version of The Office simply copied the British original and wasn’t as good. They also found the character Michael Scott unpleasant and irritating, and the show’s overall style didn’t resonate with many viewers. Steve Carell’s popularity was crucial in giving the show a second chance, helping it gain an audience and avoid being canceled quickly.

Parks & Recreation

Parks and Recreation is a funny sitcom created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur that uses a documentary-style format to poke fun at politics. It originally aired on NBC for seven seasons, from 2009 to 2015. While it’s now considered one of the greatest TV shows ever, the first season actually got off to a rough start.

Parks and Recreation, set in the made-up town of Pawnee, Indiana, introduces viewers to Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), a relentlessly positive employee of the Parks Department. The show hilariously follows Leslie and her coworkers as they navigate the funny and often ridiculous challenges of their jobs and everyday lives.

The first season of Parks and Recreation didn’t do very well because it was initially intended as a spin-off of The Office and hadn’t yet developed its own unique style. Many viewers felt it too closely resembled The Office, seeing Leslie Knope as a female Michael Scott, and found it unoriginal and irritating.

Luckily, Parks and Rec really hit its stride towards the end of season one, and Leslie Knope’s character became much more relatable. From there, each season of Parks and Recreation was even better than the last.

Friends

I’m a huge fan of Friends, so it’s surprising to think anyone disliked it, especially early on. But looking back at the first season, I can see why it wasn’t an instant hit with everyone. Created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, the show originally aired on NBC for ten seasons, from 1994 to 2004, and it really did become a record-breaker and a pop culture phenomenon.

Friends is a TV show set in New York City that follows the lives of six close friends – Monica, Chandler, Joey, Phoebe, Rachel, and Ross – as they navigate the challenges and joys of life and love.

While the pilot episode of Friends is often considered one of the best sitcom pilots ever, the show got off to a slow start. Early reviews weren’t very positive, with critics describing it as predictable and lacking substance, and many drew comparisons to Seinfeld. Luckily, Friends eventually found its footing and became a historic success.

2025-12-06 17:35