Sophomore Syndrome or: The Terrible (Season) Twos

Have you ever fallen head-over-heels for the first season of a TV show only to be devastated when the second season just doesn’t hold up? Unpopular opinion: That’s how I felt about season two of The Bear. This got me thinking about how common this phenomenon is. How is it that some shows flop in their second season, some go on to recover from it, and some shows actually improve in season two?

(The following is just my opinion. If you liked the second season of any of these shows, well, different strokes! If you agree with me, then please validate me in the comments ;) )

If I’m following a series as it airs, a second season slump may put me off the show for good. I’m reminded of Stranger Things and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, shows whose second seasons I eagerly anticipated but was ultimately dissatisfied with. As a viewer, it’s hard not to get attached to whatever magic was created during the first season, and, from a development perspective, it may be challenging to pinpoint exactly what that magic is. Additions of new characters, new settings, or new themes can be jarring if they don’t fit into the world of the show. But, with raised audience expectations and a longer gestation period between the second season pickup and season two premiere, outdoing yourself is a nearly impossible feat. So, is an underwhelming second season just symptomatic of the serialized format in general?

Second seasons in the streaming age

The great privilege of the binge-watching era is that we can examine this phenomenon closely. Audience perception can vary significantly based on how they’re consuming a show. Traditional weekly releases breed anticipation and allow breathing room … but they also give audiences time between episodes and seasons to discuss and dissect the show. Binging an entire series that’s been fully released to a streaming platform leaves little distinction between seasons (you don’t even have to switch box sets anymore!) and less time to criticize. Considering the resurgence in popularity of The Sopranos among Gen Zs, it’s safe to assume that many popular pre-streaming era series are now being watched front to back as a single entity. When people ask me about a specific season or a specific episode of a show I binge-watched, the whole series blurs together like one massive movie. On the other hand, when The White Lotus season two aired, the time in between episodes for ~discourse~ actually made me enjoy the season more than if I had binged watched it (however, that show is structurally very different than any of the aforementioned serialized series.)

Is the second season the place to find your footing or the kiss of death?

Of course, we all have those shows we recommend that come with the disclaimer “Keep watching! It gets better in season two!” Series like Mad Men, Sex and the City, Breaking Bad, Succession, It’s Always Sunny and most notably Fleabag (hot priest! hot priest!) spring to mind. Some of these pre-date streaming and others don’t, but what they all have in common is that they hit their stride in their second seasons. All of them stay true to the first season and successfully expand on what succeeded (or nix what didn't!) What bothered me the most about the latest season of The Bear was that it didn’t feel grounded in the world of the show that was established in season one. The pacing and tone were so starkly different that it didn’t feel like the same show. But how can that happen?

Even though — and largely because — we have more TV at our fingertips than ever before, it’s much harder to get a show made. And, once a show is made, it’s even harder to get renewed for a second season. Netflix, for instance, is notorious for cancelling their original series, which has led to some serious pushback from fans. This makes me wonder how many shows are pitched with a series arc in mind. If creators are expected to kill their darlings and forgo a second season, how much thought is being put into a serialized multi-season arc? And, if you do get renewed for a second season, is it worth it to give it all you’ve got or do you have to leave something to be desired for the prospect of a third?

A lousy season two doesn’t have to be a kiss of death, but, since series are no longer guaranteed long runs, the stakes are much higher. With an over-saturated market, audiences likely lack the patience to sit through something they aren’t fully invested in, especially with countless other options to choose from. Despite my deeeeeeply critical lens, all of this raises my sympathy for sub-par season twos… Who knows, maybe I’d have given up on some of my favourite shows if I followed their original runs.