10 Once Great TV Shows That Became Laughing Stocks

4. Lost

Lost did nothing short of perplex and bewilder its viewers when it debuted on screens back in 2004 - and it did that to such an extent that it, in many ways, became the first to develop a devoted fandom the likes of which we see many shows have nowadays. However, as fans spent hours theorising about what it all meant, the show ended up taking far too many turns, with a number of seasons veering off-course because there was just too much going on and very little actually making sense.

Unfortunately, its past glory couldn't save it from a decline in its final season that ultimately led to one of the most polarising, divisive and outrageous series finales in TV history. Sure, some fans liked it, but not enough to salvage the show's reputation.

If we're being totally honest, Lost went on a little too long. Its first season was lightning in a bottle and even though it managed to recreate that magic on occasion throughout the rest of its run, its attempts to be clever and outwit itself were ultimately its undoing. And, in spite of how phenomenal it could be, you'd be hard-pressed to find anyone who doesn't automatically think of how poorly it ended ahead of how well it began.