9 TV Shows That Switched Genres During Their Run

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Most TV shows stay within their original genre throughout their entire run, even if they become successful. While it’s usually true that a show’s genre is set from the start, some shows have successfully changed genres along the way when it became necessary.

TV shows sometimes change genres for different reasons. Sometimes the story naturally evolves in a new direction, while other times a show has to change to stay on the air. Occasionally, a show simply loses its focus. While not all genre changes are failures, some have been clearly unsuccessful and didn’t need to happen.

The Umbrella Academy

Four Seasons

The series The Umbrella Academy is adapted from the comic book created by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. It centers around the Hargreeves – seven adopted siblings with special powers – who must overcome their difficult pasts and work together to prevent the end of the world, a challenge they face repeatedly.

When The Umbrella Academy first came out, it was a unique superhero show that blended dark fantasy with compelling drama. It felt more grounded and realistic than many other stories in the genre. Over time, though, the show shifted towards comedy, the storylines became overly complicated, and the fantastical elements didn’t make much sense. This ultimately led to a lackluster final season and ending.

Lucifer

Six Seasons

Courtesy Netflix via MovieStillsDB

Lucifer is a horror TV show set in a modern city, inspired by the DC Comics character. The series centers around Lucifer Morningstar (played by Tom Ellis), a powerful angel who was banished from Heaven and became the ruler of Hell. After growing tired of his life and responsibilities, Lucifer gives up his throne and moves to Los Angeles.

He once owned a nightclub, but after becoming involved in a murder, he began working with the Los Angeles Police Department. He had a knack for getting people to reveal their secrets, using his charisma and abilities. Initially, Lucifer was a straightforward crime show that drew viewers in, but it evolved into a fantasy drama with crime elements woven throughout.

Boy Meets World

Seven Seasons

Boy Meets World is a sitcom created by Michael Jacobs and April Kelly that follows Cory Matthews (Ben Savage) as he grows up. The show begins with 11-year-old Cory navigating middle school and isn’t afraid to share his thoughts. Throughout the series, viewers see Cory’s family and school life, alongside his best friend Shawn (Rider Strong) and his love interest, Topanga (Danielle Fishel).

Boy Meets World charts the lives of Cory, Shawn, and Topanga as they grow from kids into young adults, navigating all the challenges and joys that come with it. The show evolved over time, shifting from a lighthearted family sitcom to a more dramatic series that tackled mature – and sometimes difficult – topics, reflecting the experiences of its audience who grew up along with the characters.

Lost

Six Seasons

Considered by many to be one of the greatest TV shows ever, Lost famously changed genres during its run. Created by Jeffrey Lieber, J.J. Abrams, and Damon Lindelof, the series centers on the passengers of a plane that crashes, leaving them stranded on a mysterious island in the South Pacific.

I remember getting completely hooked on Lost. It was amazing watching the characters try to figure out how to survive on that bizarre island, and the show kept throwing in glimpses of their lives before and what might happen later. Honestly, it’s one of those shows everyone talks about because the ending really divided people. It’s wild how different the early seasons are from where the story eventually goes!

I loved how Lost began – it really felt like it was all about these people just trying to survive after the plane crash. But then the island started revealing all these crazy secrets, and it became less about getting rescued and more about figuring out what was happening on the island. It shifted from a survival story to a really mind-bending sci-fi adventure, and honestly, I was hooked!

Riverdale

Seven Seasons

Initially, Riverdale showed a lot of promise as a teen drama, but it ultimately became a major letdown. The show, based on the classic Archie Comics characters – Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead – began strongly by presenting a surprisingly dark and gritty take on these traditionally wholesome characters.

Riverdale began as a teen drama with crime and mystery, but it gradually mixed in other genres as it went on. This shift ultimately made the plot confusing. By the end, the show had become a supernatural, multiverse story, and lost the core elements that made the early seasons appealing.

Sherlock

Four Seasons

I was so excited when the BBC updated Sherlock Holmes for a modern audience with the show Sherlock, created by Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat! Benedict Cumberbatch was brilliant as the detective, and Martin Freeman was perfect as John Watson. They solved all sorts of interesting mysteries around London. Honestly, the first two seasons were amazing, but after that finale, the show just didn’t feel the same and really went downhill.

The final seasons of Sherlock were disappointing for many viewers. The show’s conclusion felt illogical and created numerous unresolved plot points. More significantly, Sherlock shifted from being a compelling detective series to a melodramatic show with weak and underdeveloped mysteries, ultimately leading to its downfall.

Parks & Recreation

Seven Seasons

Many consider Parks & Recreation to be one of the greatest workplace comedies ever made. The show, created by Greg Daniels and Michael Schur, follows Leslie Knope (played by Amy Poehler) and her coworkers in the Parks Department of Pawnee, Indiana, but it wasn’t always this successful – it had to change its approach along the way.

The first season of Parks and Recreation is known for being weak, and it originally used a documentary-style format, similar to The Office – it was even intended to start as a spin-off! But as the show developed, it moved away from that style and became a more traditional ensemble comedy focused on the characters and their workplace.

The show Parks & Recreation successfully changed its style, which allowed it to stand out from The Office. This shift in tone also played a role in its longevity, as it improved dramatically after a shaky first season and ultimately lasted for seven seasons.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Seven Seasons

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is widely considered one of the greatest fantasy TV shows ever made, and its blend of horror, comedy, and drama was a smart move. Created by Joss Whedon, the show centers on Buffy Summers (played by Sarah Michelle Gellar), who is part of a long line of young women destined to fight vampires, demons, and other dark creatures.

Initially, Buffy the Vampire Slayer felt like a typical teen horror series, focusing on Buffy and her friends navigating high school. However, much like Boy Meets World, the show evolved alongside its viewers. Over time, Buffy shifted towards a more complex fantasy drama, tackling increasingly mature and darker themes that reflected the characters’ growth and challenges.

M*A*S*H

11 Seasons

MASH is a television series inspired by Richard Hooker’s 1968 novel, MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors*, and the 1970 film adaptation. The show centers on the staff of the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they treat wounded soldiers during the Korean War.

Though initially a comedy, MASH evolved into a more dramatic series as it explored the serious realities of war and the emotional toll it took on its characters. The show used humor as a way for the characters to deal with difficult situations, but ultimately focused on the hardships of wartime. Despite this shift, MASH remains a highly regarded and influential television program.

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2025-10-29 01:31