These 5 TV Shows Have Recycled Their Own Stories

by

It’s not always noticeable, but many TV shows have reused plots. This is especially common in sitcoms, which often rely on familiar themes and character types, so it’s usually understandable. However, all kinds of TV shows can fall into the trap of repeating storylines, particularly if the writers aren’t careful.

Repeating storylines in TV isn’t always a negative thing. While some instances were obvious and criticized, others successfully updated old ideas with fresh twists. Incredibly, a few of these shows even went on to define entire genres. Whether the reuse of a plot was immediately apparent or a more gradual reveal, it’s interesting to examine shows that have revisited familiar themes.

5
‘Brooklyn Nine-Nine’


Fox

Although Brooklyn Nine-Nine consistently introduced fresh and interesting elements, the show often fell into a predictable pattern. Each season typically featured returning plot points, such as appearances by Doug Judy and the annual Halloween heist. The characters also tended to revisit similar personal challenges. For instance, Jake Peralta frequently found himself disrupted from his normal life, whether through undercover work, witness protection, or even wrongful imprisonment.

Holt’s marriage to Kevin faced several serious challenges, and the police captain worried about Kevin’s safety when he became involved with a threatening individual. While each storyline eventually resolved, the show often revisited similar ideas in later episodes, finding new ways to explore the same basic concept.

4
‘Trailer Park Boys’


Showcase

Rather than repeating storylines, Trailer Park Boys followed a consistent pattern: each season began and ended with characters, often Bubbles, Julian, and Ricky, being arrested. The next season would then start with their release. Even characters like Lahey and Randy occasionally found themselves caught up in the group’s troubles and facing jail time.

The reasons these characters landed in jail were often both funny and incredibly smart. They committed some truly ridiculous and inventive crimes, like smuggling drugs across the Canadian border with a model train or using a fake ID. The show even spawned a spinoff called Trailer Park Boys: Jail, with many fans considering those episodes to be the best of the series.

3
‘Arrested Development’


20th Century Studios

Like many shows, Arrested Development doesn’t repeat storylines exactly, but it often features a familiar overall plot. The first three seasons centered on Michael trying to hold his family together and free his father from prison, but George Sr. was always secretly manipulating events to sabotage his son’s efforts. Even after George Sr. was cleared of wrongdoing, Michael found himself in a similar position in Season 4, needing to save his family after Lucille caused trouble on the Queen Mary in the Season 3 finale.

Season 5 followed a similar pattern, but this time Michael was preoccupied with his brother Buster’s trial for the murder of his former girlfriend and family friend, Lucille Austero. Like before, Michael struggled with whether he genuinely wanted to be involved with his family. He repeatedly tried to distance himself, but always ended up drawn back in, often despite his intentions.

2
‘Doctor Who’


BBC

Throughout its long run, Doctor Who has often revisited similar ideas, particularly with its characters. But Season 2 of the show’s revival featured two episodes – “The Idiot’s Lantern” and “Fear Her” – that were strikingly similar. Both stories centered around major television broadcasts, involved an alien capable of trapping people within its illusions, and forced Rose and the Tenth Doctor to become separated from each other.

These episodes featured a young character facing difficulties with their parents. While set at very different times – Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation versus the 2012 Olympics – the episodes shared some surprising connections. It turns out “Fear Her” was a late addition to Season 2, swapped in for a previously planned episode, which explains why parts of the story felt familiar.

1
‘Bewitched’


ABC

The classic 1960s sitcom Bewitched frequently reused storylines. While the show was innovative for its time, it often repeated the same scenarios with Samantha, Darrin, and the other characters, which was a bit strange.

Episodes of the show often repeated similar storylines. For instance, “Splitsville” and “Illegal Separation” both featured the Kravitzs separating and then getting back together, with the same basic plot each time. We also see repeated themes in episodes like “Out of the Mouths of Babes” and “Junior Executive,” where Endora turns Darrin into a child, or “Samantha’s Magic Mirror” and “Old Flame,” which both involve Samantha helping Esmerelda and Clara with past relationships. Given how often Samantha’s magic caused chaos, it’s understandable she didn’t realize she’d experienced these events before.

Read More

2025-12-10 19:23