8 Episodes That Ruined Popular TV Shows

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Most TV shows have at least a few weak episodes, but usually they don’t completely spoil the experience. It’s unusual for a show to be consistently good all the way through – even critically acclaimed series often have seasons or episodes that don’t live up to their usual standard.

Most of the time, a weak episode is just a minor setback for a TV show, like the infamous “Beer Bad” from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and doesn’t have lasting consequences. But occasionally, an episode is so poorly received that it can derail the entire series, whether it’s the finale or there are still future episodes planned.

“Nice To Meet You, Walden Schmidt” – Two and a Half Men

Season 9, Episode 1

During the 2000s, Two and a Half Men was a hugely popular comedy series. However, the show faced major difficulties when its star, Charlie Sheen, departed. The series centers around Charlie Harper (Sheen), a carefree bachelor, whose life is turned upside down when his brother, Alan (Jon Cryer), and Alan’s laid-back son, Jake (Angus T. Jones), move in with him.

Even though Charlie Sheen played a key role, Two and a Half Men continued after he left, bringing in Ashton Kutcher as a new character, Walden Schmidt. While Walden wasn’t a poor addition, the dynamic between him and Alan wasn’t as strong, and many viewers felt the show just wasn’t as good after that.

Despite lasting three more seasons after Walden joined the cast, Two and a Half Men’s reputation suffered due to off-screen conflicts, the awkward shift in one of its main characters, and ultimately, the ill-advised attempts to bring Charlie back, which effectively ended the show.

“Cyberwoman” – Torchwood

Season 1, Episode 4

Torchwood is a science fiction television series created by Russell T Davies, and it began as a spin-off of the revived Doctor Who. The show centers on a team of alien investigators, led by Captain Jack Harkness (played by John Barrowman), who deal with mostly extraterrestrial events. Although Torchwood ran for four seasons, one particular episode from the first season ultimately led to its cancellation.

In the episode “Cyberwoman,” a partially converted Cyberman named Lisa Hallett attacks the Torchwood base. Her boyfriend, Ianto Jones (Gareth David-Lloyd), had been hiding her, hoping to find a way to restore her humanity. Although the story itself isn’t poor, the episode suffered from a very low budget, resulting in noticeably reduced production values and overall quality.

“Cyberwoman” received criticism for failing to live up to its potential, noticeable shifts in Harkness’ character, and a lack of believable environments and overall quality. While Torchwood continued beyond this episode, it marked an early low point for the series.

“Arnold Betrays Iggy” – Hey Arnold!

Season 3, Episode 10

Many people consider Hey Arnold! to be one of the greatest animated shows ever made, but the episode “Arnold Betrays Iggy” is often seen as a particularly weak point. The series centers around Arnold, a fourth-grader who lives with his grandparents in a city apartment building, and the adventures he has with his friends and classmates.

In the episode “Arnold Betrays Iggy,” Arnold delivers Iggy’s homework to his friend’s house because Iggy is sick. While there, Arnold discovers Iggy wears bunny pajamas. He teases Iggy but promises to keep it a secret. However, when Stinky and Sid jokingly discuss how embarrassing bunny pajamas would be, they quickly realize Arnold must have seen Iggy wearing them.

I still cringe thinking about that episode! Arnold tried so hard to apologize to Iggy by doing all his chores for a week, but it wasn’t enough. Iggy actually made Arnold wear those ridiculous pajamas in front of everyone – it was totally humiliating for him! Arnold was so upset he didn’t even talk to Iggy after that. Honestly, seeing Arnold put himself through that, combined with Iggy being so stubborn and Sid and Stinky just being their usual annoying selves, is why a lot of fans consider it the worst episode of the show.

This moment kicked off a series of more difficult and unsettling storylines in Hey Arnold!, feeling like an odd and unwelcome change for the show.

“Song Beneath The Song” – Grey’s Anatomy

Season 7, Episode 18

It’s become a trend for TV shows to include musical episodes, even if music isn’t central to the show’s theme. One example is Grey’s Anatomy, but many fans feel this particular episode was a misstep. Grey’s Anatomy centers around the personal and professional lives of doctors and staff at Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

The musical episode of Grey’s Anatomy, titled “Song Beneath the Song,” centers around the team’s efforts to save Callie Torres after a car accident. However, the episode unfolds as a hallucination experienced by the injured Torres, leading to a spontaneous outbreak of song among the characters. The show unexpectedly transitioned into a musical format, but the cast lacked vocal training and the storyline didn’t quite earn the sudden shift in tone.

By the time the episode “Song Beneath the Song” aired, Grey’s Anatomy was already facing difficulties, and that episode seemed to worsen things. The show continues to struggle, but it’s still on the air.

“The Empty Hearse” – Sherlock

Season 3, Episode 1

The BBC’s Sherlock is a highly regarded update of the classic Sherlock Holmes stories, but its third season started off with some significant flaws. The show cleverly placed the iconic detective and his friends in present-day London, reimagining cases to fit contemporary technology and societal concerns. Many fans agree that Sherlock reached its creative peak at the end of season two, and the quality unfortunately dipped afterward.

The first episode of Season 3, “The Empty Hearse,” brought Sherlock Holmes (Benedict Cumberbatch) back to life, but it never explained how he managed to fake his death. The episode also introduced Mary Morstan, a character who always seemed a bit like she didn’t quite fit in.

This episode signaled a change in the tone of Sherlock, becoming noticeably more comedic – though the humor felt unnatural – and exaggerating Holmes’ abilities to an unbelievable degree. The show continued for another season, but unfortunately, the quality declined further.

“Into That Good Night” – Roseanne

Season 9, Episodes 23 & 24

The 1990s sitcom Roseanne was a huge hit, but it ended on a disappointing note. The show centered around the Conner family – Roseanne (played by Roseanne Barr) and her relatives – who were a working-class family just trying to make ends meet. Roseanne was both hilarious and realistic, which made it popular with viewers, but the final episode ultimately damaged the show’s legacy.

The Conners started the season having won the lottery, which improved their financial situation. But in the episode “Into That Good Night,” Roseanne reveals it was all a dream she had while working as a writer. This meant the events of season nine didn’t actually happen. The twist felt forced and frustrated viewers instead of surprising them.

“Return to Camelot” – Dallas

Season 10, Episodes 1 & 2

The TV show Dallas is considered a landmark achievement in television history, famously breaking new ground with the episode “Return to Camelot.” The series centered on the wealthy Ewing family and their businesses, which included the Ewing Oil company and the expansive Southfork Ranch.

At the end of season 8 of Dallas, a major character, Bobby Ewing (played by Patrick Duffy), seemingly died. However, the show surprised viewers at the end of season 9 when Bobby reappeared alive and well in the shower, discovered by his wife, Pam. The episode, titled “Return to Camelot,” revealed that everything that happened in season 9 was actually a dream Pam had, meaning Bobby hadn’t died and other significant events never took place.

Despite continuing for four more seasons, Dallas saw its viewership drop after this plot twist, as many fans stopped watching. Sadly, this episode also made the “dream season” trope popular – a technique later adopted by shows like Roseanne and others.

“The Principal and The Pauper” – The Simpsons

Season 9, Episode 2

As a lifelong movie and TV fan, I have to say The Simpsons remains a true classic and one of the most successful shows ever. But let’s be real, it hasn’t been as consistently great as it once was. The show drops you into the wonderfully wacky town of Springfield, and you basically follow the Simpson family as they bumble through hilarious, often chaotic, everyday life.

Many fans consider the episode “The Principal and the Pauper” to be where The Simpsons started to lose quality. This episode revealed that Principal Skinner wasn’t who everyone thought he was. He was actually Armin Tamzarian, a man who served with the real Seymour Skinner in the army. After Skinner’s mother mistakenly believed Armin was her son, he took on Skinner’s identity.

The major reveal felt illogical, and the episode was so poorly received that the people of Springfield officially, with a judge present, confirmed Tamzarian was actually Skinner. The show never referenced Skinner’s true identity again, and it hasn’t recovered its quality since.

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2025-11-22 18:32