Season 2 can often times be a make-or-break moment for a television series. Sure, you've been brought back after a good-enough first season, but what have you done for viewers lately?
This fall sees the return of Fox's “Sleepy Hollow,” ABC's “The Goldbergs,” and NBC's “Chicago PD.” Each series still has some proving to do before fans and critics alike fully embrace them. It's a tall order but it's possible, as proven by these 8 TV shows that took off in their sophomore seasons after experiencing a less than perfect first year run.
Shows that took a while to become hits >
NBC's "Hannibal" had critical buzz but low ratings in its first season.
With a classic procedural set up in its first season, “Hannibal” came back ready to take fans deep into Will Graham and Dr. Lecter's relationship. Gone was the weak killer-of-the-week format. It was time to turn “Hannibal” into the drama it needed to be if it wanted to survive on television.
Season 1 was met with some critical buzz but ratings were less than stellar. After getting NBC's stamp of approval with a renewal, “Hannibal's” second season featured deeper story while still offering even more murder.
HBO's "Veep" didn't become as funny until the show's second season.
HBO's political satire became a hit right out of the gate, garnering mostly positive reviews from critics and an Emmy win for Julia Louis-Dreyfus. But many questioned if the first season of “Veep” struck only a single note.
“Meyer was simply too pathetic in that first season,” wrote Slate's David Weigel. VP Selina Meyer was always a bridesmaid, never a president. With the start of the second season though, the Armando Iannucci-helmed series saw Meyer winning for once as she scores major points while stumping for candidates in the midterm elections.
The insult comedy that fans came to love in Season 1 was still readily available in Season 2 but the one-liners went from blue to solid gold in the series’ sophomore season and made “Veep” an easy choice as one of the funniest shows on television.
Showtime's "Ray Donovan" became more realistic in the series’ sophomore season.
The Showtime series’ second season will come to a close Sunday, but “Ray Donovan” fans have already deemed the last 11 episodes as a major improvement from the show's freshman year.
Jon Voight is a powerhouse, giving a performance that will undoubtedly earn him his second Emmy nomination — and he might just win it next year.
“Donovan” also earned its highest ratings in Season 2 with the upcoming finale having the potential to boost that bench mark even higher. The grittiness of the family struggle following Boston's church sex abuse scandal remains in Season 2, but with the heightened realism that was often times lacking in Season 1.
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