Due to some shows having a rough start or a slow middle, it is not impossible to all but give up on a show before coming back to it with renewed vigor and ultimately being glad to see it to the end. I’m embarrassed to say that I was initially uninterested in what are considered to be some of the best TV shows of all time and almost didn’t watch them. All pop culture is partially affected by personal experience, and certain themes and formats might not land with any given viewer.

That being said, most of these shows are highly acclaimed or immensely popular for a reason, and continuing to watch them despite some initial boredom will usually reveal the best parts of the story. Great TV shows will have bad first seasons; the best TV shows still have a worst episode. Luckily, I was able to get past my initial or mid-series misgivings about several shows, so I could enjoy them in their entirety.

8

Gravity Falls (2012-2016)

I Missed Out On Gravity Falls’ Best Mysteries & Twists

I was inspired by a recommendation to watch Gravity Falls and started from episode one. I especially enjoyed the first episode and the next few that aired after it. However, for one reason or another, I lost interest for a while after that. The second season of Gravity Falls is definitely stronger, when the overall plot kicks in; appreciating the humor in some of the episodic adventures of the first season comes later.

Later on, I watched a random episode that happened to be on TV — I believe it was “The Last Mabelcorn,” which is still my favorite episode. That comedy of Mabel’s attack against the unicorns got me invested again. However, if you know anything about Gravity Falls, you will spot the problem here: A lot of the show’s biggest twists have happened at this point and were spoiled for me. I don’t remember exactly when I found out about some of the reveals, but I did go back and watch the entire show in order (several times).

My biggest regret concerning Gravity Falls is that I didn’t watch it properly and lost the entire experience of seeing how the mysteries progress and are unraveled, which is the entire point. However, the mystery-savvy fandom figured out some of the plot twists for itself, but the delivery is still on point, especially concerning the whereabouts of Journal No. 1 and the identity of the author. Gravity Falls revels in its enigmatic tone and tells a heartrending story about family and growing up. I am also a fan of its particular brand of humor based on randomness.

7

Our Flag Means Death

I Didn’t Get The Humor For The First Few Episodes Of Our Flag Means Death

The selling point of Our Flag Means Death is the relationship between Captain Stede Bonnet and Captain “Ed” Blackbeard, which is why it’s strange that Blackbeard isn’t even in the first few episodes, as he is such a pivotal part of the show. I found the humor in those first few episodes to be a little off-beat and may have considered in the back of my mind just giving up. However, sometime around episodes 3 and 4, the jokes started to land better, and I was laughing out loud at almost everything.

Additionally, this is around when Ed finally appears on screen — after that, I couldn’t get enough of Our Flag Means Death. The show has such a great balance of wacky comedy and heartfelt storylines that demand audience investment. Things only get better in the second season with the advancement of Izzy’s character arc and some new regulars and guest stars. I watched it all around the time season 2 ended, so I thought I was right on time for season 3. I was as devastated as anyone when Our Flag Means Death was canceled.

6

Breaking Bad (2008-2013)

I Hit A Slow Point Midway Through Breaking Bad

I was too young when Breaking Bad started, so I didn’t watch it for a long time. Even so, I was busy watching other TV shows and put it off for an additional few years before I finally acknowledged that I needed to watch this particular groundbreaking show. It is a strange experience to watch a show like Breaking Bad knowing you are supposed to be in awe of it, because it’s one of the most praised TV shows ever. I certainly was awestruck by all the iconic moments in the later seasons, while I generally appreciated the early episodes.

However, I did slow down midway through; I figured I would probably finish the show eventually, it was just a matter of watching the next few episodes and getting back into the story. However, I had no idea when that would happen — for all I knew, never. When I was motivated enough to watch a few more episodes, I suddenly became hooked again. I made it through all of Breaking Bad‘s horrifying and satisfying moments; I also started binge-watching it towards the end because it was getting too stressful, and I wanted to be done with it.

5

Attack On Titan (2013-2023)

The First Season Of Attack On Titan Comes Across As Too Weird & Violent

The first few arcs of Attack on Titan are really weird, as all the explanations for what is happening take years to be uncovered by the main characters. I knew that Eren couldn’t have died only a few episodes into the show, but him emerging from a Titan’s body due to his ability to turn into a Titan was a bizarre turn of events. The show hits you with a few more plot twists where more sentient Titans are revealed. This is combined with an astounding amount of violence and despair, all of which is hard to swallow.

The whole show picks up once Levi and the rest of the Survey Corps are a part of the main storyline. Attack on Titan demands the same endurance from its audience as the characters, who all must stick with it long enough to get the answers they crave. I’m very glad I made it through the entire show when one needs to watch all of it to have a complete debate about its themes, and what it is trying to say about hatred, warfare, and the cycle of revenge.

4

Succession (2018-2023)

I Saw One Episode Of Succession & Was Completely Uninterested

I watched some of Succession season 2 and was thoroughly uninterested in it, and figured I would never watch it again. I remember Roman blowing off a condemning story breaking because it was nothing compared to all the previous drama and recognizing Holly Hunter’s voice immediately. Nothing about it was particularly striking to me when taken out of context; I was also of the opinion at the time that the documentary-style filming was overdone.

Succession’s final sweep at the Golden Globes following its final season forced me to reckon with the fact that it was a cultural milestone that I had neglected to pay attention to. However, I did have the benefit of the entire series being readily available to watch in one go. The sneak peek I’d received years earlier clued me that Succession is the ultimate example of a TV show where the characters are all terrible people, and my investment in the characters’ personal lives was always low — but I enjoyed that stellar satire and acting as much as anyone.

3

Friends (1994-2004)

I Felt Like Friends Was Before My Time… At First

The first time I watched Friends, it felt very dated to me (for context, I’m Gen Z). For some reason, I didn’t grow up with Friends re-runs in the background and wasn’t always at least vaguely aware that it existed — seeing it listed on Netflix, hearing how important it is to TV history, and choosing to watch it of my own volition are all tangible memories for me. When I watched it for the first time, I didn’t have any kind of preformed attachments to the characters.

The 1990s quality was a little off-putting, and the actors don’t have the same chemistry in the first season. I watched the first few episodes and forgot about it for a while, but made myself keep watching it later. Needless to say, I’m glad I did it, for all the wonderfully funny moments throughout the show and just being able to understand people’s references. For many people, including myself, it is strange to think of a cultural zeitgeist without Friends — it is even stranger for me to think there was a time when I wasn’t really aware of it.

2

Andor (2022-Present)

I Had Given Up On Most Star Wars Shows But Heard Great Things About Andor

I watched part of The Mandalorian season 1 and one episode of The Book of Boba Fett — after that, I had pretty much written off all of Disney+’s Star Wars TV shows. Leading up to the release of Obi-Wan Kenobi, I thought that Ewan McGregor’s return might be worth it, but I never found the time to watch. These are the circumstances which led me to preemptively give up on Andor, which I had no intention of ever seeing. However, eventually, the near-universal praise for Andor as one of the best Star Wars TV shows made it to my ears.

That, combined with it being only a one-season commitment (at the time of writing), got me to watch it along with revisiting Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Andor is definitely a must-see for even the most disillusioned Star Wars fans, almost completely devoid of fan service. It tells a harrowing political and personal story about the formation of the Rebellion and the events that pushed Cassian Andor to join them, leading to his death in Rogue One.

Diego Luna nails every scene in this show, while A-listers new and old to the Star Wars universe elevate it further. Andy Serkis returns to Star Wars as a new character, Kino Loy, whom Cassian convinces to help lead a prison break from an Imperial facility. Meanwhile, Stellan Skarsgård is the thing no one knew Star Wars needed, playing Luthen Rael, the jaded chess master leading the early Rebellion. Andor is worth watching for these performances alone, but also claims a strong overall cast and a far-reaching, complex story.

1

Avatar: The Last Airbender (2005-2008)

I Initially Thought Avatar: The Last Airbender’s Tone Was Strange

I also did not grow up with Avatar: The Last Airbender but joined the fandom with the renaissance that came from it hitting Netflix — or just before that. Interestingly, seeing the notorious Last Airbender movie first temporarily ruined the show for me. It instilled a false idea in my head that the story’s tone is supposed to be completely serious, even if the quality is terrible.

Therefore, the first time I watched the first episode of the original Avatar: The Last Airbender, I found it odd and didn’t really like it. Once again, I later committed to watching more just because of its place in pop culture and got used to its style and humor. This was well worth it, mainly due to the amazing humor of Toph’s character and Zuko’s masterpiece character arc, which you only see in season 2 and 3. Sometimes, it just takes a little effort to get past a slump and experience some of the best TV moments of all time.