TV shows where every season is basically the same

[Ome]

As I read this article, I was amused and couldn't really disagree with what I read. Though saying that, it's partly why I enjoy these shows.







There's nothing wrong with a bit of formula in TV shows – some of the most successful long-running shows have been fond of the 'monster/victim (etc) of the week' format.

Homeland



Season structure:

• Carrie stumbles on a conspiracy with worldwide implications
• No-one – except maybe Saul – believes her, leaving her to go it alone
• Said investigation leads to a breakdown and some classic Claire Danes crying
• Everyone suddenly realises Carrie was right all along
• Disaster is averted, although don't rule out a heartbreaking major death
• Status quo is largely restored, but Carrie will likely have a new job next season

Line of Duty

• AC-12 start investigating a bent copper with Kate going undercover
• There's an early shock death linked to the investigation
• It all turns out that it's linked to a wider conspiracy
• One of AC-12 comes under suspicion
• Hastings calls everyone "fella"
• The team falls out and start arguing with each other
• Everyone realises they're all on the same side and crack the case
• But wait, the conspiracy goes further up the chain than they ever expected

24



Season structure:

• Jack Bauer must stop an assassination attempt/terror attack
• Attempts to stop it involve a lot of "DAMN IT" and "son of a bitch"
• Kim gets kidnapped (earlier seasons only)
• THERE'S A MOLE IN THE CTU
• Jack pisses off a government or two, leading to some prison time later on
• Some attacks are successful with a casualty or two (silent countdown klaxon)
• But wait, there was a different plot altogether!
• Jack manages to thwart their overall plan, often with limited time left
• Everyone manages to finally go to the toilet and eat something (probably)

Supernatural



Season structure:

• Sam or Dean are brought back to life or rescued from Hell or Purgatory
• The new Big Bad wreaks havoc and/or attempts to bring about the apocalypse
• Sam and Dean tackle demons, witches, vampires and other evil things
• Castiel joins in if he's not busy in Heaven with the angels
• Crowley is a rascal and helps or hinders Sam or Dean along the way
• A character thought dead comes back
• Sam and Dean come up with a way to stop Big Bad – but it has consequences
• One of them is killed, possessed or sent to Hell – for a few months anyway

Doctor Who

• The Doctor and companion encounter something that hints at a big mystery
• They head off on several adventures where their relationship is tested
• Oh hi Daleks, Cybermen or other classic nemesis
• The Doctor whips out the sonic screwdriver to defeat a villain or two
• The big mystery turns out to be worse than they expected
• Everything seems lost – until it's revealed the Doctor was misdirecting everyone all along and has it all under control, or else a reset button saves the day

Silicon Valley

• Pied Piper create an idea that could net them millions
• Gavin Belson tries to thwart them and/or steal their idea for Hooli
• A too-good-to-be-true business deal goes wrong
• Pied Piper look on the verge of collapse
• Some last-minute deus ex machina comes along to save the day
• But Pied Piper still end up in exactly the same position they started in

The Walking Dead

• A new villain arrives who sticks around for at least a two-season arc
• Everyone is miserable again
• Rick struggles with his humanity, Carol and Morgan want to be alone
• Something exciting happens mid-season, potentially with added explosions
• If it's going to happen, here's when a shock death arrives
• Rick vows revenge, but doesn't just go for it straight away
• Some random romance is struck up between minor cast members
• Everything comes to a head with an exciting and action-packed finale
• Either the main villain is killed, or it ends on a cliffhanger
• If there's time, Rick gives an inspirational speech

 

[Emelee]

True. Sometimes people just don't want to think too much when watching TV. Just sit back and enjoy the familiar and rest the brain after a long day's work.

 

[Frank Underwood]

I'd add Scandal to the list.

 

[Toni]

I'd add Scandal to the list.

I agree, and also "House of Cards" until now.

 

[Frank Underwood]

I agree, and also "House of Cards" until now.

I thought House of Cards got repetitive around the time Frank became president. The first season is the show's best IMO.

24

Season structure:

• Jack Bauer must stop an assassination attempt/terror attack
• Attempts to stop it involve a lot of "DAMN IT" and "son of a bitch"
• Kim gets kidnapped (earlier seasons only)
• THERE'S A MOLE IN THE CTU
• Jack pisses off a government or two, leading to some prison time later on
• Some attacks are successful with a casualty or two (silent countdown klaxon)
• But wait, there was a different plot altogether!
• Jack manages to thwart their overall plan, often with limited time left
• Everyone manages to finally go to the toilet and eat something (probably)

For me, 24 was another show where the best season was the first one. The threat was much more personal and on a believable scale. I never saw it coming that Nina was the mole, and it's pretty much the only time when it wasn't blatantly obvious. In later seasons, terrorists could easily access bombs capable of wiping entire states off the map, and often with the help of government officials. It was still entertaining, but became far more predictable and formulaic as it went on.

 

[Willie Oleson]

True Blood

Evil entity enters town
Sookie is in trouble
All creatures (including natural enemies) have to work together to defeat evil entity and save Sookie

 

[Toni]

"Dallas":

-Everybody has a new hairdo in the premiere, even if they have been in a hospital...Lots of locations and recaps of the status quo of the characters. The cliffhanger mystery is solved in 2 or 3 episodes tops.
-Guest stars come and go, usually to sleep with one or more Ewings or Barnes. A long business storyline is revealed, though nobody will really be interested in it. Episode cliffhangers are almost as good as the season ones.
-Lucy wanders around the rest of the cast, luckily with one or two possible suitors. Miss Ellie has one big storyline that will show her breaking china or crying a lot. Everything will remain the same though.
-Sue Ellen, Pam and Donna will change their hairdo a few times and will parade wearing haute couture gowns, just to show the "Dienasty" people the difference between elegance and tackiness.
-Bobby and Pam are at risk of getting divorced or getting together if they are apart, and the same for all the other couples. Sue Ellen will have doubts about everything, especially about drinking again.
-Some car or plane will lead to a turn of events, and eventually to a cliffhanger where all hell seems to break loose, sometimes literally. In the end, one of the characters (mainly J.R.) will have stamped on his/her face the name of the exec producer.

 

[Jessie]

I agree with Supernatural but I'm still watching. I think Vampire Diaries could be added to the list.

 

[tommie]

Any show that that features a "big bad" tends to boil down to the same thing every season when you think about it, this includes shows like Buffy and Angel.