10 TV Shows That Should Have Ended After One Season

The McConaughey/Harrelson led inaugural season of True Detective was, at its heart, a gruesome, philosophical crime drama. We’ve all seen them. But this one felt somehow completely different. Between the genuine star power of the leads, the sheer depravity of the plot, and the time skipping structure that heightened the mystery, this was proper event TV, a must-watch as soon as each episode dropped.

We were so excited for the second instalment - creator Nic Pizzolatto was to scrap what had come before, and embark on a whole new story, with brand new characters. The cast was promising - Vince Vaughn playing against type, Colin Farrell, Rachel McAdams.

To say it was a disappointment is to put things mildly. Vaughn was floundering in the role of a local mobster. Taylor Kitsch wasn’t up to the job as a troubled cop. McAdams and Farrell did their level best, but they had little to work with. The plot was far too confusing, and just not that engaging.

Season three, starring the always great Mahershala Ali, was far better, but sadly the legacy of True Detective is forever damaged. Season one was a hard act to follow, but no one thought they’d miss the mark this badly.