2024 was an incredible year for television, with the highly anticipated final seasons exceeding expectations and new shows winning the hearts of audiences. However, 2024 also saw disappointing, poor final seasons of beloved shows and TV moments so bizarre they left audiences frustrated and confused. From pacing issues to plot twists to prioritizing shock value over well-written stories, 2024 also had its fair share of unsatisfying and mediocre TV shows.
The long wait time between seasons coupled with the shortening of the seasons means that the TV has to be amazing to maintain the audience's interest, and even the smallest issue with the plot stands out. From sudden character deaths to confusing storylines that add no depth to the plot or characters and take up too much screen time, frustrating TV moments can ruin an otherwise well-crafted show. Terrible stories that prove a TV show needs to end can turn critically acclaimed shows into an unbearable mess that destroys years of character development, world-building, and the show's reputation.
10
Kelly Monaco's Sam McCall being killed suddenly after 21 years
General Hospital
The long-running show General Hospital has established itself as an iconic American soap opera since it began airing in 1963. Soap operas like General Hospital They often have far-fetched stories and beloved characters being killed off is common. However, General Hospital The decision to kill Sam McCall, played by Kelly Monaco more than 21 years ago, caused an uproar among fans and the actor.
Starting out as a con artist, Sam's character's growth and journey over the years has made her a compelling character, and her tumultuous relationship with her biological mother Alexis Davis (Nancy Lee Grahn) has blossomed into a touching and entertaining bond, it was a delightful journey to witness. General Hospital Killing off Sam McCall moments after she celebrated her recent engagement and expressed excitement for her future was a tough pill to swallow after years of investment in the character.
9
JJ's death at the hands of his father
External Banks
External Banks is an action-adventure TV show set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The show follows a close-knit group of teenage friends who embark on a journey to find lost treasure and discover what happened to John B Routledge's (Chase Stokes) missing father. Put External Banks In Season 4, the Pogues are experienced treasure hunters known for discovering El Dorado and are on a mission to find the pirate ship Blackbeard.
Node External Banks In the Season 4 finale, "The Blue Crown," JJ Maybank's (Rudy Pankow) biological father, Chandler Groff (J. Anthony Crane), stabs and kills him, leaving him to die in Kiara Carrera's (Madison Bailey) arms. . While JJ's shocking death makes for an incredible final season, turning the treasure hunt show into a revenge plot, the fan favorite's exit in the penultimate season means fans won't be able to enjoy all of the vibrant and loyal group of friends. . which made the show shine.
8
The revelation that John Sugar is actually an alien
Sugar
The groundbreaking noir TV show Sugar stars Colin Farrell as John Sugar, a private investigator hired by a film producer to investigate the disappearance of his granddaughter. Like most incredible noir thrillers, Sugar is filled with shocking twists and compelling mysteries that keep audiences hooked. Sugar manages to exceed expectations and establishes itself as a truly unpredictable and exciting thriller.
At the end of Sugar In the sixth episode "Go Home", it is revealed that John Sugar is not just an ordinary private investigator who finds missing people, he is an alien. While Sugar suggests that John isn't all he seems, the plot twist revealed in the sixth episode of an eight-episode season is too late. While Farrell's stellar performance and portrayal of the titular character make the plot twist believable and compelling, the plot twist being delayed until closer to the end of the season doesn't give the audience time to adjust to the sudden change in genre.
7
Mae erases her memories rather than run away with Osha
The Acolyte
The science fiction mystery adventure series The Acolyte It's a high budget Star Wars series set approximately a century before Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace. The series follows twin sisters Osha and Mae Aniseya, both played by Amandla Stenberg, after they are separated by a tragedy that killed their mother when they were young. The series begins with Osha aligned with the Jedi Order and Mae as she uses the dark side of the Force to kill Jedi.
At the end of the series, the sisters went through major changes and Osha fell to the dark side. The Acolyte ends with Mae having her memory erased and leaving for the Jedi so that Osha and The Stranger (Manny Jacinto) can escape. While this could have created an incredible arc for The Acolyte Season 2, had it not been cancelled, the lack of solid reasoning behind the decision makes the plot weak. It would have been just as easy for Mae to escape with them and would have made more sense as the trio would have been stronger together.
6
The revelation of who killed Carolyn Polhemus
Presumed innocent
The legal thriller series Presumed innocent is the second adaptation of Scott Turow's novel of the same name. The mystery follows Rusty Sabich (Jake Gyllenhaal), a skilled prosecutor who becomes embroiled in controversy after becoming the prime suspect in the murder of his colleague Carolyn Polhemus (Renate Reinsve). While the 1990 film adaptation, starring Harrison Ford as Rusty, stays true to the identity of the original book's killer, the TV show adaptation of Presume innocent doesn't follow the source material and instead employs a cheap plot twist ending.
Presumed innocent may have a shocking and unpredictable conclusion, but that doesn't make the plot twist ending good. The disappointing conclusion to the show that has incredible source material is inexcusable and proves that the creators prioritized shocking the audience over creating a well-crafted mystery.
5
Ruby Sunday is nobody special
Doctor Who
Doctor Who season 14 sees the end of Ruby Sunday's (Millie Gibson) journey as companion to the Fifteenth Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa). The mystery behind Ruby's parentage reveals that she is nobody special and is a normal human with normal parents. While Ruby's exit from the show is heartbreaking, the departure puts an abrupt end to the fun dynamic between Ruby and The Doctor before the actors have a chance to shine.
Doctor Who Season 14 invested screen time into building the lore behind Ruby and adding intrigue to her backstory, however, the development saw an anticlimactic conclusion to Ruby's story. With Ruby just being a main character in a season of Doctor Who, the show promises a charming dynamic between the Doctor and his companion without taking time to naturally build the central relationship.
4
Five and Lila's unwanted and unnecessary romance
The Umbrella Academy
The Umbrella Academy Season 4 served as the conclusion to the superhero drama series. After three seasons of narrowly avoiding the apocalypse, the final season of The Umbrella Academy follows the dysfunctional Hargreeves family after they lose their powers. Although the series' final season is full of stories that take up screen time without any payoff, like the Keepers arc, the most controversial story is the romance between Five (Aidan Gallagher) and Lila (Ritu Arya).
The Umbrella Academy shined during the moments when the Hargreeves family came together to take down their enemies and overcome their past traumas to help and heal each other. Five and Lila's bizarre and unnecessary romance causes tension with Diego (David Castañeda) that is never resolved when their relationship is revealed in the final episode, making the tragic ending disappointing rather than bittersweet and moving.
3
John Dutton's death after Kevin Costner left the show
yellow stone
Off-screen complications bled yellow stone season 5, part 2 and saw the departure of star Kevin Costner in the final season, resulting in the death of his character John Dutton. Costner's portrayal of the Dutton family patriarch is an iconic part of yellow stone, which tragically came to a sudden end. yellow stone Season 5, Part 2 premieres with a strong start, with John being found dead in what appears to be a suicide, his family reeling from the tragic loss and convinced he was murdered.
However, Costner's departure and the patriarch's death during the final episodes of the series are the last straw for fans of Yellow Stone. With the series star absent from the beloved TV show's final six episodes, Yellowstone Conclusion struggles to live up to its legacy, despite serious efforts from the cast and crew.
2
Daemon's sexual dream with his mother
Dragon House
Dragon House is a fantasy drama series based on the book by George R.R. Martin Fire and Blood. The gripping and tension-filled show follows the events that led to the war of succession that saw the decline of the once-mighty House Targaryen. Dragon House season 2 features Daemon Targaryen (Matt Smith) having visions while at Harrenhal, including one in which he has sex with his mother.
The main problem is that the incestuous dream sequence didn't give us any additional insight into Daemon as a person. The fact that Daemon is jealous of his older brother and hungry for the crown is a well-known fact since the first episode of House of the Dragon. Daemon's sexual dream about his mother is a symptom of a larger problem, as one of the main criticisms about it Dragon House season 2 was its slow pace and lack of progression, as both the first and second seasons led to the war that destroyed the Targaryens.
1
Hughie being sexually assaulted is treated like a joke
The boys
The boys is a notoriously dark show that doesn't shy away from blood, violence, and difficult topics. The satire superhero TV show follows Hughie Campbell Jr. (Jack Quaid) after he joins the titular group of vigilantes. In The boys In Season 4, the show shows Hughie at his worst after his father's death and kicks him when he's already depressed. In the episode "Dirty Business", Hughie goes undercover to a party and is sexually assaulted by Tek Knight (Derek Wilson) and Ashley Barrett (Colby Minifie) at the risk of having his cover blown.
The biggest problem with the scene is how the situation and Hughie are handled. Unlike Annie January/Starlight's (Erin Moriarty) sexual assault, which is handled sensitively and not shown on screen, Hughie's sexual assault scene is long and focuses on making a joke about his trauma and downplays the severity of the situation. situation. Furthermore, the fact that showrunner Eric Kripke found the scene “hilarious” is disappointing.