The 12 Biggest TV Disappointments Of 2024

As a devoted fan of television and its ability to captivate audiences with compelling narratives, I find myself deeply disappointed by the recent string of disappointing season finales. Each of these shows had the potential to leave lasting impressions on viewers and add valuable contributions to their respective genres.

2024 stands out as an unusual year in television, marking the first full annual cycle after the double Hollywood strikes of 2023. It’s been a rollercoaster ride with some remarkable peaks – we’ve seen the debut of terrific new shows like “Shōgun” and “English Teacher,” and ongoing series like “Fargo” and “Abbott Elementary” continuing to impress. However, there have also been significant lows – unexpected cancellations, fallen short expectations for fresh shows and acting, and a few disappointing reality TV programs.

At Looper, we’ve compiled a roundup of the most disappointing TV shows from 2024. We took into account both critics’ and viewers’ opinions on various series this year, as well as public reactions to significant TV events and controversial decisions made by TV executives. Some productions stepped over boundaries with their content, falling short on delivering satisfying conclusions, while others didn’t meet expectations based on the hype they received. We’ve narrowed down the list of TV disappointments for 2024 to a selection of 13 shows.

The Bachelorette gets dumped

Following one of “The Bachelor’s” most exceptional seasons ever, it was Jenn Tran’s turn as the Bachelorette. Joey Graziadei wrapped up his season without stirring anger from fans or the general public, which rekindled hope in many that decent men do indeed exist. Viewers anticipated finding excellent suitors for Jenn, but her group of men were generally perceived as subpar at best and detrimental at worst (particularly, Sam McKinney).

In the end, Jenn chose Devin Strater, who appeared to be the ideal choice given his strong commitment at the time. However, shortly after filming concluded, he ended their relationship. During the “After the Final Rose” event, Jenn confronted Devin about his actions and was met with an aloof, displeased response from a man who had previously declared his love for her. It was particularly distressing to see Jenn crying as she watched their proposal on screen while seated next to him. The entire experience with Devin made it evident that the producers of “The Bachelorette” didn’t prioritize Jenn’s emotional health.

Our Flag Means Death is cancelled

The first season of ‘Our Flag Means Death’ debuted on March 22 and was warmly received by viewers, garnering enthusiastic support and favorable comments from critics. It attracted a respectable audience and featured the extensive participation of renowned actor-director Taika Waititi, who portrayed Blackbeard. As more time passed and it became accessible on streaming platforms, its fan base continued to grow, ultimately establishing itself as an influential LGBTQIA+ narrative. This led to the formation of a vibrant online fandom.

It’s clear why fans were deeply disappointed when the show “Our Flag Means Death” was cancelled in the spring, after its second season in late 2023. The decisions made by David Zaslav and Warner Brothers Discovery, such as rebranding their streaming service to Max, shelving the finished Batgirl movie for tax breaks, and cancelling “Our Flag Means Death” without providing a satisfying conclusion, have attracted much criticism. One of their biggest mistakes was certainly the cancellation of “Our Flag Means Death” and the lack of narrative closure it provided viewers, making it one of the biggest disappointments in the entertainment industry in 2024.

The Boys takes shock value too far

Many shows, including “Game of Thrones,” “The Walking Dead,” “Invincible,” and “The Boys,” often use shocking scenes to convey their messages. “The Boys” has always been known for its graphic content, ranging from exploded body parts to marine life impalements. In the recently premiered Season 4 (June), the show includes a close-up of a lobotomy and another odd superhero sex scene, which we’ll call “self love.” These scenes were typical for “The Boys.” However, it was Tek Knight’s (Derek Wilson) sex dungeon and Hughie’s (Jack Quaid) experience within it that crossed the line.

In Episode 6, Hughie disguises himself as a superhero resembling Spider-Man called Webweaver to infiltrate a risky gathering of extremist alt-right individuals. However, during this operation, he is subjected to sexual assault by Tek Knight and Vought CEO Ashley (Colby Minifie). Although it could have been worse, the incident still leaves him deeply distressed, as demonstrated by his emotional collapse later in the series. It appears that the writers found this scene amusing, yet they seemed to ignore the gravity of their portrayal, according to Forbes. This was a disappointing and disrespectful depiction of Hughie’s character.

Sugar falls apart after its big reveal

In the early installments of Apple TV+’s series “Sugar,” it faithfully maintained its noir aesthetic, delving into a gradually unfolding missing persons mystery while showcasing stunning visuals and Colin Farrell’s contemplative narration, reading entries from his character’s journal. Farrell portrays John Sugar, an enigmatic L.A.-based detective who is immune to drunkenness and exclusively tackles missing persons cases. He belongs to a secretive group of individuals who appear to be well-read and coordinated, and demonstrates extraordinary physical resilience and robustness in numerous instances across the first part of the series. A major twist in “Sugar” is unveiled in Episode 6 as the credits begin to roll; it’s revealed that Sugar is actually an extraterrestrial!

This detail provides numerous missing pieces and, by the time it’s unveiled, it likely becomes the sole plausible cause for Sugar’s peculiarities. Regardless of your opinion on the alien aspect, the issue with the series is that it appears disjointed following this revelation, suggesting that the writers may have been overly engrossed in the reveal and neglected to plan the season’s conclusion. What initially seemed as a tribute to noir quickly transforms into an excessively complex sci-fi action show with unimpressive consequences. Sugar’s alien companion, Henry (played by Jason Butler Harner), who has made occasional appearances on screen, is actually a cunning psychopath who abducted and killed Sugar’s sister on their home planet. The journey from one point to another feels hurried and unjustified, to put it mildly.

Velma gets a second season

According to Forbes’ Erik Kain in his critique of Max’s “Velma” Season 1, the series managed an unusual feat – it sparked a brief consensus on the internet, with conservatives, liberals, Scooby-Doo fans, and those who aren’t fans alike expressing their disapproval. They all seemed to agree that “Velma” was a disappointing mess, filled with outdated references and unappealing characters, among other issues. The show received widespread criticism from both critics and audiences.

It’s disappointing that “Velma” got a second season this year, given that numerous excellent shows were cut in 2023. One possible explanation is that they had already produced 20 episodes for Season 1 and then split it into two seasons, but they could have easily cancelled the second one based on viewer feedback. Warner Brothers Discovery isn’t shy about cancelling completed projects. As for the quality of Season 2, it seems that many critics believe it is slightly improved from the first season, but still falls significantly short of being good.

Outer Banks kills off JJ

Since Marissa Cooper’s death in “The OC,” there hasn’t been a more profound reaction from teen TV viewers over the demise of a fictional character than the one triggered by JJ’s murder on “Outer Banks.” JJ, played by Rudy Pankow, is a teenage treasure hunter who finally locates Blackbeard’s Blue Crown in the Season 4 finale. However, instead of keeping the crown for himself, he hands it over to his biological father, Chandler Groff (portrayed by J. Anthony Crane). In a heart-wrenching twist, this father forces JJ to make an impossible choice: either keep the crown or save his girlfriend Kiara’s (Madison Bailey) life. Guess who JJ, a beloved character among fans, chose? You got it— he prioritized his love.

Regrettably, Chandler Groff resembles Dan Scott from “One Tree Hill” in terms of being even more detestable, and he ends up stabbing JJ despite this. The demise of JJ is so disheartening that co-showrunner Shannon Burke referred to it as “unnecessary” when discussing the choice with Entertainment Weekly. At the end of the episode, John B., the main character, pays tribute to JJ by saying, “I believe it’s not how many years you have, but what you do with them. And JJ managed a lot in just 20 years.” Although the show intended this line to honor JJ’s death, it unfortunately serves as a grim reminder that we’ve just witnessed a 20-year-old boy being stabbed by his father.

The Acolyte is cancelled

Over the past 12 years since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, they’ve delved deep into a vast pool of Star Wars material, experimenting quite a bit. They’ve launched multiple shows on Disney+, and much of the criticism they’ve faced can be attributed to an unquenchable, sometimes toxic fan base that seems impossible to please, as well as accusations of overwhelming audiences with too much Star Wars content.

Disney’s latest Star Wars TV series titled “The Acolyte” received generally positive reviews from critics, earning a 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Fans of the broader Star Wars universe appreciated it as a departure from the Skywalker Saga, although some viewers had strong criticisms. The announcement of its cancellation this summer, following the completion of its first season, was met with disappointment and seemed hasty to many. According to Forbes, the show was cancelled due to high production costs that weren’t compensated by viewership numbers, which was unfortunate given its unique concept in the Star Wars universe.

The Perfect Couple gives a lackluster reveal

Prior to its release, “The Perfect Couple” attracted considerable attention due to its star-studded cast and the success of its original source material, a bestselling novel by Elin Hilderbrand. However, after airing its six episodes, some viewers and critics were left disappointed by an underwhelming finale. The series centers around various members of a wealthy family who convene on Nantucket for the wedding of son Benji (played by Billy Howle) and his bohemian fiancée Amelia (Eve Hewson). The morning of the wedding, Amelia finds the body of her maid of honor, Merritt Monaco (portrayed by Meghann Fahy), which sets off a central mystery: Who murdered Merritt?

It seems that Jenna Lamia, the author and producer of the show, might have recognized that she made a mistake in selecting the source material to bring onto the screen when she decided the climax needed a different resolution. As she explained to Tudum, in a book, you can delve deeply into a character’s thoughts, something not possible in a television production. In the original story, Merritt’s death is revealed as an accident, but the show opted to blame it on Dakota Fanning’s Abby, the overlooked wife of eldest son Thomas (Jack Reynor), due to financial constraints. Given Fanning’s popularity, her character’s sudden prominence in the narrative, and the uninteresting motivation (greed), the twist is not engaging, making it a major disappointment.

Orphan Black: Echoes fails to live up to expectations

Krysten Ritter, known for portraying the tough character Jessica Jones in fantasy-sci-fi storytelling, was an ideal fit to replace Tatiana Maslany as the lead in “Orphan Black: Echoes.” However, despite high expectations, the show didn’t perform well. The narrative begins with a woman named Lucy (Ritter), who has spent the last two years without recall of her past. Fans of the original “Orphan Black” series know that things get intricate from this point, and unfortunately, it appears that this complexity might have been the show’s downfall.

In essence, Variety states that while “Orphan Black: Echoes” boasts captivating themes, its brilliance is overshadowed by confusing plot twists and excessive explanations throughout its debut season. Notably, “Orphan Black” paved the way for the surge of sci-fi mysteries on TV, with contemporary series such as “Dark Matter” and “Silo” following suit. Given the current saturation in the market, it’s not shocking that “Orphan Black: Echoes” doesn’t quite measure up to expectations due to its subpar storytelling. Additionally, the original “Orphan Black” was so exceptional that it might have overshadowed this spinoff, making it difficult for it to rise above mediocrity. AMC concurred with this assessment and promptly cancelled the show following Season 1.

Palm Royale disappoints critics

Palm Royale” appeared to be one of the initial programs that Apple TV+ actively promoted on their streaming platform. Given its star-studded cast featuring heavyweights like Kristen Wiig, Allison Janney, and Laura Dern, as well as a visually appealing design reminiscent of sunny, retro resort environments, it’s not surprising they would be eager to boast about it. However, the appeal of the show seems limited mainly to these factors. Unfortunately, its strengths don’t seem to extend beyond these initial selling points.

USA Today’s review asserts that “Palm Royale” is visually appealing, like an expensive screensaver, but lacks substantial content to engage viewers, while Huffpost comments that the show boasts attractive period costumes and scenic sets, yet its storyline remains unclear, suggesting that a high-profile cast and intriguing premise don’t guarantee a quality TV series. The show managed to draw a decent audience, prompting Apple TV+ to renew it for a second season quickly, however, critics were generally indifferent or disappointed with the overall outcome.

Mandy Patinkin is wasted in Death and Other Details

Death and Other Details” appeared to be an intriguing choice for winter viewing. The series was marketed as another mystery drama, delving into the lives of an affluent family and their associates; this time featuring Mandy Patinkin in a thoughtful detective role. Most of the action unfolds on a luxurious yacht, designed to resemble the elegance of the 1920s and ’30s. This setting serves as a captivating background for the investigation of a brutal onboard murder, but unfortunately, the series lacks depth beyond its stylish appearance.

As a dedicated gamer diving into the world of “Death and Other Details,” I assumed the role of Rufus Cotesworth, a renowned detective with an unsolved cold case burning in my mind. The show starts off promisingly, introducing intriguing characters like Angela Zhou’s Teddy and Hugo Diego Garcia’s Jules who add depth to the overcrowded cast. However, the plot doesn’t shy away from its grand twist, keeping the suspense high.

The Umbrella Academy ends on a convoluted note

The Umbrella Academy” has consistently delivered intricate storylines and high-stakes drama throughout its run. Over four seasons, the superpowered siblings of this unique academy have thwarted multiple apocalypses. Their adventures have taken them to countless realities, brushing against various fates. They’ve had their fair share of sibling rivalries, deep bonds, existential dilemmas, and grappling with their peculiar upbringings. These experiences culminated in a finale that wraps things up, but leaves viewers pondering several mysteries (like what became of all the other children born on October 1, 1989?) and feeling that some elements were not fully explored or explained.

In simpler terms, the disappointing aspect is that Lila and Five’s love story was largely told in a montage during Season 4, Episode 5, which was before the finale, instead of being developed more fully over several episodes. This compression of such an important plot point detracted from the impact it could have had. Despite the fact that “The Umbrella Academy” has kept its audience engaged for four seasons, the climax, a rare achievement in today’s TV landscape, particularly on Netflix, seemed hurried.

2024-12-13 22:32