Have you ever watched a massively popular and successful television show and thought to yourself, “wait, people like this?” Chances are, you’re not alone.
Redditor u/Marambal17 asked for “the most overrated TV series of all time.”
America’s Got Talent
This can cover any country’s version of Got Talent, honestly.
The appeal of seeing a normal, average person showcase their unbelievable talents got viewers hooked. Now, though, we have to hear about everyone’s sob stories.
The Bachelor/Bachelorette
For some, this may be a case of “it’s so bad it’s good.”
The dating show airs on ABC and features contestants attempting to win the heart of each season’s bachelor or bachelorette. But, for some, the series’ appeal isn’t the show itself but the community. Watch parties, podcasts, and social media groups have fostered a sense of community that, for many, is the sole reason why they watch a show they may not even enjoy.
Riverdale
The concept of CW’s Riverdale is intriguing: an adaptation of the popular Archie Comics characters with a supernatural feel. However, while the source material contains a surprising number of plot lines that are a bit out there, many Archie fans feel like the show is taking things too far.
One Redditor says, “as someone who has been reading the comics for decades, these are good points. I watched 2.5 seasons and for me the issue is that they tried to make it a gritty realistic murder show instead of leaning into the camp aspects of the comics.”
Grey’s Anatomy
Debuting in 2006, the medical drama has been on the air for 19 seasons. It features over 400 episodes and several spin-offs and crossover episodes.
Initially, the all-star cast, featuring Patrick Dempsey and Sandra Oh, helped create one of the best shows on TV in the mid to late 2000s. But, sadly, many fans agree: the show should have been canceled years ago.
Friends
The wildly popular NBC sitcom features an ensemble cast of Jennifer Anniston, Courtney Cox, Lisa Kudrow, Matt LeBlanc, Matthew Perry, and David Schwimmer. Catchphrases and even the theme song have made their way into pop culture. We even got a reunion show on HBO Max.
Family Guy
The Seth MacFarlane show debuted in 1999 before getting canceled after three seasons. However, it developed a cult following thanks to DVD sales and its appearance on Adult Swim.
Newer seasons, however, have tested the patience of longtime fans. Yet the show is still a major hit for Fox. It’s been renewed for a 21st season and, at the time of this writing, just aired its 400th episode.
Firefly
The 2002 science fiction series, created by Joss Whedon, aired for one season in 2022. It stars Nathan Fillion, Gina Torres, and Alan Tudyk. Despite its early cancellation, there have been countless spin-offs, including the 2005 film Serenity.
While Firefly has its loyal followers, many Redditors seem to agree: the show was canceled for a reason. “I’m a huge sci-fi fan,” says one in particular. “I caught some of it when my buddy was watching it and I didn’t care for it. Saw that movie too and it was forgettable.
This Is Us
The NBC series, created by Dan Fogelman, is a family drama that aired from 2016 through 2022. The show follows the lives of Kevin, Kate, and Randall, along with their parents, Jack and Rebecca Pearson. Episodes dive into significant moments for the family from their past, present, and future.
Each episode features emotional heartache or traumatic moments. As a result, many view the show as nothing more than “trauma porn.”
The Walking Dead
Based on the popular graphic novel by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, The Walking Dead was everywhere in the 2010s. The AMC series stars Andrew Lincoln, Norman Reedus, and Melissa McBride.
Despite its popularity, many argue that the show features too much filler and stretched storyline content.
How I Met Your Mother
The popular CBS sitcom was one of the channel’s highest-rated shows during its peak. The ensemble cast features Josh Radnor, Jason Segel, Cobie Smulders, Neil Patrick Harris, and Alyson Hannigan.
How I Met Your Mother’s premise is just that: Ted Mosby (Radnor) explains to his children how he met his wife and their mother. It’s a really, really long story, though, that mainly focuses on Mosby and friends living in New York City. Unfortunately, between unlikable characters and an awkward laugh track, many view the show as overrated.
