Television is a tricky business, and consistently great shows are rare. Making a truly good series depends on having strong writing, enough money, and a cast that works well together – and all of those things can change. This often leads to inconsistent quality, even for popular shows. For example, the final season of Game of Thrones received a lot of criticism because the story moved too quickly and didn’t feel true to the characters. Similarly, the ending of Stranger Things caused a big reaction, with some fans believing the finale was so disappointing it had to be a shared hallucination – an event known as “Conformity Gate.”
While many TV shows stumble with their endings, some do get better over time. However, even these shows rarely improve consistently. Agents of SHIELD is a good example: it evolved from a typical crime show into a complex sci-fi story, but still had some uneven seasons and changes in direction. Generally, the most successful shows are the ones that stay consistently good. But occasionally, a show manages to get better and better with each season, avoiding the usual decline in quality and building increasingly compelling and emotional stories on a strong foundation.
7) Parks and Recreation
Many viewers agree that the first season of Parks and Recreation felt like a work in progress, trying to find its own voice while being compared to The Office. Initially, the show portrayed Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler) as a somewhat clumsy and unrealistic government worker, which didn’t immediately resonate with audiences. But the creators made a smart change in season two, highlighting Leslie’s skills and the genuine warmth between the characters. This shift turned the show into a funny and upbeat comedy that celebrated positive attitudes and public service. As the series went on, adding characters like Ben Wyatt (Adam Scott) and Chris Traeger (Rob Lowe) improved the chemistry between the cast and allowed for more complex storylines about the town of Pawnee. By the final season, Parks and Recreation had become a touching exploration of its characters, maintaining its humor while providing a satisfying and emotional ending for everyone in the Parks Department.
6) The Good Place
Michael Schur, the creator of The Good Place, designed the show with a unique idea that needed to constantly change to stay fresh and avoid becoming predictable. The first season cleverly flipped the typical afterlife story, following Eleanor Shellstrop (Kristen Bell) as she tried to hide that she didn’t belong in a perfect heaven run by Michael (Ted Danson). While the show was initially popular for its humor, it truly took off with a huge plot twist at the end of the first season, completely changing the direction of the series. Each season after that continued this pattern of reinvention, putting characters like Chidi Anagonye (William Jackson Harper) and Tahani Al-Jamil (Jameela Jamil) through challenging situations and moral questions. The writing also became more thoughtful, exploring complex ethical ideas while still being very funny. This dedication to growth kept the show surprising and allowed it to end powerfully, offering a deep look at what it means to be human.
5) BoJack Horseman
When I first started watching BoJack Horseman, it seemed like a pretty typical animated comedy – lots of animal jokes and poking fun at Hollywood. But it didn’t stay that way for long! It quickly became something much more profound, really digging into tough subjects like depression, addiction, and what happens when you’re famous. Over the six seasons, the show just kept getting better and bolder, constantly trying new things with its storytelling. Remember the incredible silent episode, “Fish Out of Water,” or the heartbreaking twenty-minute eulogy in “Free Churro”? Those moments were so powerful. And it wasn’t just about BoJack; the show really explored the struggles of characters like Diane and Princess Carolyn, showing how hard it is to actually grow as a person. What I really appreciated was that the show didn’t give BoJack an easy way out; it stayed true to its complex themes and ended up being one of the most moving and impactful animated dramas ever made.
4) Avatar: The Last Airbender
Avatar: The Last Airbender was brilliantly structured in three parts, allowing the story to mature alongside its viewers. The first season, focused on Aang’s initial waterbending training and his escape from Prince Zuko, was a relatively straightforward adventure. However, the series grew more complex in subsequent seasons, exploring difficult topics like political corruption, the ethics of war, and the lasting impact of past events. This was reflected in the characters, particularly Zuko’s compelling journey of redemption, which is still considered one of the best in animation. The show’s animation also improved dramatically, with bending battles becoming more dynamic and visually impressive. The series concluded with a four-part finale that perfectly blended exciting action with a thoughtful resolution, solidifying Avatar: The Last Airbender’s place as a timeless classic.
3) Succession
I was completely captivated by Succession from the start. It began as a really clever takedown of corporate greed, but it became so much more as it went on, building incredible tension and heartbreak. What really drew me in was how the show focused on the ruthless competition between Logan Roy’s children – Kendall, Shiv, and Roman. It felt so intense and suffocating, like you were right there with them. The first season introduced us to the wonderfully awful Logan, but each season after that perfected the show’s amazing mix of dramatic, almost Shakespearean moments and painfully funny cringe comedy. The writing became so sharp and rhythmic, and the shaky camera work really captured the feeling that this powerful family was falling apart. Each season finale felt like a huge event, changing everything for the Roys, and the final season was just breathtaking – a raw and honest look at how abuse repeats itself and how ultimately unsatisfying wealth can be when it’s just handed to you.
2) The Leftovers
I have to say, The Leftovers really surprised me. The first season was… tough. It was so relentlessly depressing, focusing on the raw grief after this huge, unexplained event. But then, something amazing happened. The show completely reinvented itself! They moved the story to new places and started leaning into this really beautiful, almost dreamlike feel. It wasn’t about what happened anymore, but about how people were feeling. That’s when Justin Theroux and Carrie Coon really blew me away – their performances became so incredibly powerful. They also weren’t afraid to use religious imagery and symbolism, which added so much depth. By the time the show ended in Australia, it had become something totally different – it wasn’t just about surviving anymore, it was a really moving exploration of faith, and the stories we tell ourselves to cope with trauma. It truly became one of the best shows on TV.
1) Better Call Saul / Breaking Bad
For fourteen years, the partnership between Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould delivered consistently outstanding television with both Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul. Breaking Bad started as a deep dive into the life of Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and grew into a large-scale crime story famous for its thrilling cliffhangers. Each season raised the tension for Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) and other characters, culminating in what many consider a historic final run of episodes. The prequel, Better Call Saul, maintained the same high level of quality while offering a more thoughtful and character-driven look at Jimmy McGill (Bob Odenkirk). In its final seasons, the prequel cleverly connected back to Breaking Bad, using black-and-white scenes set in the future to provide a powerful and conclusive ending to the entire story. Together, these shows are remarkable for how the writers built on previous events to create an even stronger outcome, demonstrating that a series can truly improve over time.
What TV show had its strongest season at the very end? Share your thoughts in the comments and join the discussion on the ComicBook Forum!
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2026-01-25 00:16