10 TV Shows That Went Downhill After Time Skips

Several TV shows have used time skips during their runs, but unfortunately, that storytelling device can sometimes cause a series to go downhill. A show can use a time jump for several reasons: to move the plot forward, to shake up its usual format, or even to make up for the loss of a longtime cast member. While many shows have nailed their time jumps, allowing a new era for their existing characters, others have flopped following such timeline changes.

Of course, time skips often alter a show’s existing cast and story significantly, whether they introduce new characters, squeeze in a significant amount of development off-screen, or even set up a new backdrop. The likes of House of the Dragon and Lost did well with their time jumps, but other shows have struggled with the execution. A time jump can be responsible for a TV show’s downfall, especially if the series loses its original charm after it shifts to the future.

10 New Girl (2011-2018)

Season 6 To Season 7: Three Years

New Girl made Zooey Deschanel a household name, but its seventh and final season didn’t need to happen. Season 6 ended with Jess and Nick (Jake Johnson) getting together after sharing a kiss in the elevator, which would have been a perfect way to conclude the show. However, New Girl season 7 happened, and it started with a three-year time jump. New Girl season 7 felt almost like an add-on to the show, with each of the characters moving on from the loft in various ways. It wasn’t to the same standard as the previous six seasons, and the time jump didn’t help.

9 Riverdale (2017-2023)

During Season 5: Seven Years

Most shows implement time skips at the end or beginning of a season, but Riverdale‘s decision to jump seven years into the future came in the middle of season 5. This time jump’s placement felt a little awkward and jarring, especially as the main cast were high school graduates in one episode and grown adults with developed lives in the next. From the time jump onward, Riverdale, which was already complicated, became more difficult to follow. As such, it declined in quality compared to its earlier seasons.

8 One Tree Hill (2003-2012)

Season 4 To Season 5: Four Years

One Tree Hill utilized a time jump from season 4 to season 5. Following the character’s graduation from high school, season 5 opened four years later, with all the main characters suddenly 22 years old. The show’s timeline was already somewhat complicated, with some seasons covering shorter periods of time than others. However, by season 5, the One Tree Hill cast became significantly older than the characters they were playing. The time jump allowed One Tree Hill to adapt to passing time, but the show ended up focusing on the characters as adults, which felt odd given that it was originally a teen drama.

7 Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017)

Season 6: Five Years

Another time jump to come later in a show’s run, Pretty Little Liars season 6 jumped ahead by five years halfway through. It made sense for a time jump to happen at this point. With all the girls off at college, it would have been significantly more difficult for A to torment them in different schools across the country. Eventually, they were all drawn back to Rosewood, and the mystery continued.

Seeing as Pretty Little Liars only lasted for one more season, the time jump felt forced and unnecessary. In the years that happened off-screen, a lot of character development was lost. As such, when the gang reunited to track A down, the team didn’t gel in the same way they used to. Considering the popularity of Pretty Little Liars’ earlier outings, it was a shame that at least part of its decline could be blamed on the time jump.

6 Jane The Virgin (2014-2019)

Season 3: Three Years

Following the death of Michael Cordero (Brett Dier), Jane the Virgin implemented a three-year time jump. Although the show continued for two and a half seasons after the sudden change in the timeline, it robbed audiences of the opportunity to see Jane (Gina Rodriguez) mourning Michael, who she’d married just a few episodes prior. Of course, it was eventually revealed that Michael had never died, his memories wiped by Sin Rostro, and although the moment this was revealed was impactful and emotional, it would have worked even better if Jane’s grief over the years had been seen on-screen.

5 The Affair (2014-2019)

Season 4 To Season 5: 30 Years

The Affair‘s time jump came from a casting change. Following the departure of some of the original cast, The Affair‘s final season jumped ahead an incredible 30 years and focused on Alison (Ruth Wilson) and Cole’s (Joshua Jackson) daughter, Joanie (Anna Paquin). The Affair season 5 saw Joanie still pondering her mother’s death, although the show’s final season felt more like a spin-off than a final installment. Despite its positive ratings, The Affair season 5 was a bit of a disappointment compared to earlier outings, mainly because it felt past its expiration date with the departure of the main actors.

4 The Walking Dead (2010-2022)

Season 9 To Season 10: Six Years

The Walking Dead is another show that used a time jump to deal with the departure of a lead. The Walking Dead timeline saw more than one time jump across its 11-season run, but one stood out among the rest. Following Andrew Lincoln’s exit from the show in season 9, The Walking Dead skipped ahead six years in time, introducing new characters alongside its remaining regulars. The Walking Dead season 10 was where the show began going significantly downhill, which makes sense, as the show only continued until season 11. The time skip sparked criticism, along with the show running for too long, eventually resulting in The Walking Dead‘s demise.

3 Arrested Development (2003-2019)

Season 3 To Season 4: Six Years

Arrested Development was rebooted by Netflix after seven years off the air. Seeing as Michael Cera and Alia Shawkat were significantly older than Maeby and George Michael at the end of season 3, it made sense that a time jump would take place. However, the execution of the time jump was what caused the show’s decline in quality. The Arrested Development cast were separated from each other for most of season 4, but they were also seen in flashbacks that were supposedly set just moments after the season 3 finale. Eventually, the timeline became so complicated that Netflix released a remixed version of season 4.

2 Glee (2009-2015)

Season 5 To Season 6: Five Years

Glee‘s final season was set five years after season 5, which followed most of the original Glee cast after they departed from McKinley High. The entire tone of Glee shifted following the death of Corey Monteith, which would have been a good time to bring the show to an end. However, it continued for two more seasons. The jumps between the original cast and the newer stars were a bit of a whirlwind, and the show struggled to follow its original format. Glee‘s later seasons saw a decline in quality anyway, but the time jump in the final season was what really cemented its collapse.

1 Parks And Recreation (2009-2015)

From Season 6 To Season 7: Three Years

Parks and Recreation had a three-year time jump between seasons 6 and 7, and the workplace comedy suffered as a result. While Parks and Rec‘s time jump was far from the worst to be implemented in a television series, it wasn’t the smoothest transition for the show, which could have easily concluded with season 6. Although Parks and Recreation‘s finale delivered a satisfying conclusion for the cast, most of them had already completed their character arcs prior to the final season and its time skip, which made the last outing feel like it dragged.