5 TV Shows That Went Bad In 2018 (So Far)
Nothing can stay great forever.
With long-form storytelling at the centre of most television series these days, and so many choices of what to watch, shows are now regularly of a much higher standard than they ever were in the past.
But with greatness comes expectation, and there's nothing worse than watching a once-great television series become a shadow of its former self. There are, of course, exceptions to this rule, with juggernauts like Game Of Thrones and The Handmaid's Tale managing to maintain - and in some cases improve upon - the high standard they've set for themselves. But not every series can be this lucky, and more often than not the notion that one can never have too much of a good thing is a killer.
2018 has seen many great shows return for another outing, and we've been witness to some incredible television seasons. But, in contrast, some of television's biggest and boldest series' experienced pretty low points this year, with many of us questioning the decisions made by their respective showrunners. Perhaps they'll be able to improve, or perhaps they're damaged forever, only time will tell. Either way, let's take a look at a few of the TV series that went bad in 2018.
5. Arrow
Somehow, the reviled fourth season of Arrow didn't damage the show beyond repair, and the subsequent season proved that there is still some hope left for the CW superhero show. Unfortunately, this improvement didn't continue into the disappointing Season 6. The Stephen Amell-led series struggled to maintain a strong narrative this year, and the declining viewing figures are proof that the people at home are starting to care less and less.
The conflict between Team Arrow was the main offender in the sixth season, which was contrived to say the least. A massive fallout between the original members and the newbies was meant to leave the audience divided but, much like the whole 'Who's In The Grave?' storyline from Season 4, sloppy writing ruined any enjoyment we might've found.
Perhaps the worst part was how, in an attempt to make viewers side with the original members of the team, the writers were forced to vilify the newbies, but they did so by making them do and say things that were completely out of character, which was convenient for the plot but not believable at all for the viewers. There were also inconsistencies surrounding who was actually this year's Big Bad, and by the time the show figured it out, there weren't enough episodes left to fully explore the character.
It wasn't the worst season of Arrow - that honour firmly belongs to the fourth - but the declination between Season 5 and 6 is a huge cause for concern. With the Team Arrow conflict receiving too much screen time and important characters like Black Siren overlooked, Arrow's sixth season was a major step in the wrong direction. Is the series broken beyond repair? It's hard to say. With Marc Guggenheim finally exiting as showrunner, there is certainly hope for the once-compelling superhero series.