Many series began airing in 2024. While some were very successful, others faced significant criticism—some even getting canceled. Here are 5 of the most disappointing shows from 2024:
5.‘Those About to Die’
Based on the 1958 non-fiction novel by Daniel P. Mannix, this series explores Ancient Rome, focusing on gladiators and chariot racing. One of the show’s biggest criticisms is that it features too many characters, making the story difficult to follow.
Other issues include an overabundance of tasks assigned to characters who are doomed to die, leaving little room for meaningful focus or development. Ironically, the dying characters are often more entertaining than the rest.
4.’Orphan Black: Echoes’
This AMC series was canceled after just one season. The official description stated that it “follows a group of women as they weave their way into each other’s lives and embark on a thrilling journey, unraveling the mystery of their identity and uncovering a wrenching story of love and betrayal.”
Kristen Ritter stars as Lucy, a woman with an unimaginable origin story trying to find her place in the world. However, the show fails to feel like a true sequel to the original ‘Orphan Black.’ Instead, it comes across as a low-effort remake. If you change a few names, it could be an entirely different project with almost no connection to the original, aside from a few references like Kira’s name.
3.‘Cruel Intentions’
The original ‘Cruel Intentions (1999)’ was an adaptation of the 1782 novel Les Liaisons Dangereuses. Prime Video’s 2024 ‘Cruel Intentions’ series, developed by Phoebe Fisher and Sara Goodman, attempts to follow in the footsteps of the 1999 film while adding new elements.
While the show introduces a fresh perspective, critics argue it lacks the raw intensity and danger of its predecessors. It plays it safe and seems afraid to delve too deeply into darker, more provocative territory.
2.’Good Times’
Fifty years ago, ‘Good Times’ premiered on CBS, depicting the lives of a Black family living in public housing in Chicago during the 1970s. The 2024 reboot on Netflix reimagines the sitcom as a 10-episode animated series featuring JB Smoove, Yvette Nicole Brown, Jay Pharoah, Marsai Martin, and Gerald Anthony Slink Johnson.
Reggie (voiced by JB Smoove) is portrayed as the grandson of James Evans Sr., who was originally played by John Amos. Despite the promising premise, the trailer for the animated reboot received significant backlash online, with viewers criticizing it even before the show’s release. Ultimately, many found the series as underwhelming as the trailer had suggested.
1.‘True Detective: Night Country’
This highly anticipated season of ‘True Detective’ turned out to be one of the most disappointing mystery series ever made.
Forbes harshly criticized it, stating: “‘True Detective: Night Country’ is one of the worst mystery shows I’ve ever seen. I’m struggling to think of another detective series that I despised as much as I despised this one in the end. Season 2 was a disappointing follow-up to the first season of True Detective, but this doesn’t even feel like the same show, despite its many attempts to convince us otherwise.”
