Television holds a special place in the hearts of fans who passionately defend their favorite shows. With massive fan bases highlighting their remarkable popularity and critical acclaim, many television series are often hailed as universally adored. However, it’s interesting to note that, despite their widespread acclaim, I personally find myself unable to enjoy several of these highly-rated series. This paradox reveals the complexity of television viewership and the subjective nature of taste.
Subjectivity in personal taste is crucial to recognize, especially in discussions about television. No single series can resonate with everyone. Nevertheless, many shows celebrated as some of the finest in television history often exhibit significant shortcomings, whether it be an annoying cast of characters, a repetitive storyline, or an excessive reliance on tropes. While ardent supporters of these series continue to champion them, I remain unconvinced by their merits.
10
Ted Lasso
Airing Continuously Since 2020
Ted Lasso
8/10
- Release Date
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August 14, 2020
- Showrunner
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Bill Lawrence
Despite the announcement of a series finale in 2023, Season 4 of Ted Lasso has been confirmed, much to the delight of its fans on Apple TV+. This news, while celebrated by many, has left this writer feeling a mix of emotions. The first season of this Jason Sudeikis-led sports comedy-drama set high expectations, showcasing an infectious positivity that charmed many viewers, but the narrative has struggled to maintain that momentum.
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Once the heartfelt and earnest show Ted Lasso has successfully shattered your walls of skepticism in its initial season, unfortunately, there seems to be no path forward that hasn’t already been explored. This leads to a gradual decline in the quality and engagement of each subsequent episode. At this juncture, the show’s reliance on almost every sports cliché imaginable becomes glaringly evident, transforming what was once heartwarming into something that feels contrived and formulaic.
9
The Big Bang Theory
Aired From 2007-2019
As one of the most successful and longest-running sitcoms in television history, few shows have drawn as much ire from this writer as The Big Bang Theory. Created by Chuck Lorre and Bill Prady, this series not only introduced some of the most unlikable characters in sitcom history but also managed to run for an impressive twelve seasons, establishing itself as a staple of television programming for nearly two decades.
The Big Bang Theory holds a rating of 8.1 on IMDb.
On a more serious note, the most glaring issue with The Big Bang Theory lies in its ironic portrayal of nerd culture. Rather than celebrating this culture, the show often undermines it by reducing its characters to a series of clichéd stereotypes. Adding to this irony, the show’s laugh track serves as one of its most jarring features—a necessary device to convince audiences that the humor is actually funny as the series begins to falter in its comedic effectiveness.
8
BoJack Horseman
Aired From 2014-2020
Featuring Will Arnett as the titular anthropomorphic horse, BoJack Horseman is undeniably a critically acclaimed series, having received high praise over its six seasons and solidifying its reputation as one of the best animated sitcoms of all time. While Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s series is undeniably brilliant, I personally struggle to watch it due to its unflinchingly heartbreaking narrative that delivers emotional weight like few other cartoons can.
Although the series addresses serious subjects such as addiction and mental health with commendable insight, the relentless bleakness of BoJack Horseman leaves little room for joy or long-term enjoyment. Despite its excellent writing, the show’s realistic portrayal of life’s challenges results in a lack of satisfying conclusions for its characters, leading to a sense of emptiness and unresolved feelings for viewers.
7
Narcos
Aired From 2015-2017
Narcos
- Release Date
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2015 – 2016
- Showrunner
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Chris Brancato
Chronicling the rise and fall of Pablo Escobar’s drug empire, Narcos garnered widespread acclaim from critics throughout its three-season run. The show’s popularity even led to a spin-off, Narcos: Mexico. This phenomenon is particularly notable considering that it arguably ranks as one of the less riveting crime dramas in recent memory. The show suffers from pacing issues and excessive narration, contributing to its lack of emotional depth, which is further exacerbated by the unsympathetic nature of its lead characters.
|
Narcos Seasons by Year |
|
|---|---|
|
Season 1 (2015) |
79% |
|
Season 2 (2016) |
92% |
|
Season 3 (2017) |
96% |
While Wagner Moura delivered a remarkable performance as Pablo Escobar during his two-season stint, Narcos often relied heavily on a seemingly endless parade of supporting characters that viewers quickly forget. The series leans excessively on graphic violence and the glamorization of crime, resulting in a disjointed narrative that became increasingly dull after Moura and Boyd Holbrook’s Steve Murphy exited the show, stripping it of any remaining entertainment value.
6
Friday Night Dinner
Aired From 2011-2020
Focusing on the weekly dinners of a middle-class Jewish family in North London, Friday Night Dinner has become a cultural staple within Britain, with characters like Mark Heap’s Jim and his dog Wilson inspiring countless Halloween costumes. However, despite its widespread popularity, Robert Popper’s sitcom has never resonated with me, even though it contains some genuinely funny moments.
After witnessing two adult brothers engage in cringe-worthy practical jokes or hearing Martin exclaim “sh*t on it!” for the umpteenth time, you realize that you have essentially seen every episode of Friday Night Dinner already.
The repetitive structure of the show and its predictability could be overlooked if it were genuinely funnier, but the material is so monotonous that Friday Night Dinner feels increasingly stale with each episode. After witnessing the same antics between the two adult brothers or the familiar appearances of Jim and Wilson at the door, it becomes clear that the show struggles to offer anything fresh.
5
After Life
Aired From 2019-2022
After Life
6/10
- Release Date
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2019 – 2021
- Network
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Netflix
The series After Life, chronicling the struggles of a widower following his wife’s passing, has been praised in glowing terms by many fans, suggesting that Ricky Gervais delivered a show to rival The Office. However, the steadily declining critical reception over its three seasons suggests it functions more as a platform for Gervais rather than the profound black comedy it intends to be.
Often regarded as one of the most overrated sitcoms of the past decade, After Life attempts to be a clever, self-aware comedy. However, much of its humor is encapsulated by a particularly infamous line where Gervais hurls an obscenity at a child who calls him a sex offender. While the show does have some redeeming qualities, particularly Gervais’ unexpectedly poignant performance, the overall atmosphere is so relentlessly bleak and crude that it’s puzzling why anyone would deem it essential viewing.
4
Friends
Aired From 1994-2004
Friends
8/10
- Release Date
-
1994 – 2004
As someone who grew up watching reruns of Friends, the idea that this beloved sitcom could have flaws was once unimaginable. However, as I reflect on the series now, it’s evident why many viewers have developed a distaste for it. Several harsh realities become apparent from the very first season, a trend that persists throughout its decade-long run.
Friends retains an impressive rating of 8.9 on IMDb.
Aside from the laugh track, a significant portion of Friends showcases genuinely funny and well-crafted storytelling, with the late Matthew Perry bringing to life one of the greatest sitcom characters in history, Chandler Bing. However, these positive elements are overshadowed by the laugh track and many aspects of the show that now make for uncomfortable viewing, including the male characters’ treatment of women and its antiquated attitudes towards storylines like a male nanny or a lesbian marriage.
3
You
Aired From 2018-2025
You
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