Ask Lemmy

Expanse is a slow burn start. I personally think it was great from the start but will tell anyone to watch at least until E3 or 4 (episode called CQB). At that point if you don't want to keep watching it's likely not a good fit.

For me its' the opposite, it started strong (complex politics, realistic space travel) and by the end it turned into just another space opera about hardy space ship crew fighting space battles.

Madoka is like a blend of Sailor Moon, Made in Abyss and a drop of LSD for the artists

That's because there are no bad episodes of Red Dwarf

Personally I consider The Good Place one of the rare shows that is solid all the way through without a single bad or weak episode, however the end of season one is certainly where it goes from great to fantastic.

alsimoneau figured it out? That's a new low...

They never managed to recapture the horror of the first episode although a couple of times they got close. Netflix is not even trying though, black mirror used to be the only unbingeable show where you had to let each episode sit with you and think about how you feel about it. Now it's twee sci-fi with happy endings. I could just watch old star trek for that.

Season 1 of DS9 was rough? Cries in TNG… 🤣

It is rough compared to the later stuff but, man, it got off to a WAY better start than TNG did… I mean, Riker had to grow a beard for the show to get good!

Season 2, Episode 21 is the “real” start of the show IMHO. It’s the episode where Chris and Ben arrive, Mark takes a job somewhere else, and the gang celebrates April’s 21st birthday at the Snakehole Lounge. Also, most of the show’s eventual couples are also paired up in that episode - Leslie/Ben, Ann/Chris, April/Andy, and even Tom/Lucy.

Parks & Recs is a very typical show that evolves from edgy comedy into feel-good romcom. American The Office did the same, Schitt's Creek did the same, Superstore did it. At this point I'm not even sure if it's by accident (the shows responding to what the audience wants) or if it's by design ("let's make typical show that goes from edgy to romcom").

Episode 8, The Telescope.

I can narrow it down to one line, too. When Herb tells BoJack, "I don't forgive you." It flouted the usual sitcom formula, and marked a turn to more complex characters and darker themes.

Years ago i saw someone do a breakdown of what you're talking about and if memory serves it's the Herb episode that changes the vibe of the show. Until that point bojack feels like every other crude comedy on air but from that point on it breaks the traditional format. Its the first time on screen, and possibly in bojacks whole life(outside of family issues), that he faces consequences for his actions that have a serious negative impact on him and the fix is out of his control. In the face of this truth he spirals into a world of indulgence and avoidance and we the viewer begin to see the impact that has on those around him.

Season 2 was such a drag though. I love the Vince universe but I almost dropped it after spending months to get through S2. Then it actually got good and Better Call Saul is one of my favourite shows of all time now.