There’s nothing quite like getting hooked on a great TV series—until that moment when you realize it just really isn’t any good anymore. Maybe the writing takes a turn, a beloved character leaves, or the plot stretches too thin. It’s a familiar experience for anyone who’s stuck with a show a little too long. But when does that decline tend to happen?
To find out, we analyzed IMDb ratings from more than 3,700 seasons of television across nearly 550 shows. We focused on series that had earned Emmy nominations, maintained an average IMDb rating of at least 7.0, and had at least three seasons with episode rating data. By tracking how viewer ratings shifted over time, we uncovered when most shows start to lose their spark—and which genres and series defy the trend.
When Do TV Series Get Bad?
No show is safe from decline. Even the most beloved series eventually hit a point where the magic fades, whether it’s due to running out of fresh ideas, cast changes, or stretching a story too far. But when does that decline typically begin? We analyzed IMDb ratings from over 3,700 seasons of television to find out when a show is most likely to lose its shine.
Our findings revealed a clear trend:
- Early seasons start strong. The average season 1 rating across all shows analyzed is 7.78, setting a solid foundation.
- Slight improvement in season 2. Many shows refine their storytelling and characters, leading to an increase in ratings, with season 2 averaging 7.83—the highest-rated season on average.
- A steady but small decline follows. Seasons 3 through 5 see slight drops, with season 5 averaging 7.75—still solid, but indicating the peak has passed.
- The downturn begins after season 6. While earlier seasons maintain consistency, season 6 marks the tipping point where ratings typically dip below a show’s average.
- The longer a show runs, the worse it tends to get. By season 9, ratings drop significantly below the series average, showing that few shows maintain high quality deep into their run.
This pattern confirms what many TV fans have long suspected—while some series manage to keep audiences engaged for a decade or more, most experience a noticeable drop in quality by their sixth season.
Next, we’ll break down how this trend varies by genre. Are comedies more resilient than dramas? Do animated shows hold up better than live-action series? Let’s take a look at the data.
TV Show Longevity by Genre
Not all TV genres follow the same trajectory when it comes to longevity. Some maintain consistent quality longer, while others see ratings drop off much sooner. We analyzed the IMDb ratings data across different genres to determine which types of shows hold up the best over time.
Here’s what we found:
- Comedy and drama series follow the overall trend. These genres tend to maintain above-average ratings for the first six seasons before dipping below their series average by season 7.
- Reality shows have erratic ratings. Unlike scripted genres, reality TV ratings fluctuate more, likely due to frequently changing casts—some resonate with audiences while others don’t.
- Family (kids) shows peak early. They typically start strong but see a drop-off after season 3. This could be due to the repetitive nature of the content wearing on parents, making later seasons feel less engaging.
- Fantasy and sci-fi shows are the biggest outliers. These series tend to maintain strong ratings beyond early seasons, likely due to dedicated fanbases that remain invested in long-running storylines.
While some genres are more resilient than others, the majority of shows see ratings decline the longer they run. Next, we’ll take a closer look at some of the most popular TV series over the past few decades to see how they fit into these trends.
The Ratings Timeline of Popular TV Shows
Even though we see a pretty consistent trend when looking at average TV shows, of course not every single one of them follows the same decline curve. Some hit their peak early and never quite recover, while others build momentum before an eventual drop-off. To visualize these trends, we examined season-by-season IMDb ratings of some of the most popular TV series from the past few decades.
Here’s what we found:
- Game of Thrones had one of the sharpest declines. With an impressive early run, ratings peaked in season 4 at 9.24 before plummeting to 6.40 in its final season, making it one of the most dramatic quality drop-offs in recent history for their final season.
- Breaking Bad remained strong throughout its run. Unlike most shows, it defied the typical trend, starting at 8.70 in season 1 and steadily climbing to 9.39 in its final season. A testament to its compelling storyline that builds to a clear, satisfying conclusion.
- The Office follows a familiar pattern. It took viewers a season to get into the show and appreciate the awkward comedy but then stayed very well-rated for many years before falling off a bit later in the series. The beginning of that drop coincided with Steve Carell’s departure from the show.
- SpongeBob started strong for three seasons. It had high viewer ratings for early episodes before falling off after season three, affirming the holistic trend in kid-friendly shows we explored earlier.
- Seinfeld held up well. Despite running for 9 seasons, it maintained high ratings throughout, proving that long-running sitcoms can maintain audience engagement and even get better over time. Even if the show is about nothing at all.
While some shows manage to maintain or even improve their quality over time, many experience the drop in the ratings we’ve come to expect from the data we’ve analyzed.
Closing Thoughts
Most TV shows start strong, build momentum, and eventually lose steam. Whether it’s a shift in storytelling, cast departures, or just running out of fresh ideas, our data shows that by season six, many beloved series start to decline. Some recover, but most never quite recapture their former glory.
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Methodology
To determine the time during a TV series when you might start to see a dip in form, we analyzed IMDb ratings from more than 3,700 seasons of television across nearly 550 shows that met the following criteria:
- U.S. television series
- Average IMDb rating of at least 7.0
- Released between 1975 and 2022 (to ensure there has been time for it to run a few seasons)
- Emmy Award-nominated
- At least three seasons with episode rating data on IMDb
We found the average ratings for each television show and season to visualize what the peaks and valleys of TV shows look like over the years.
