What's the worst example of a TV series that should've just been one season, and shouldn't have gone on longer?

Stranger things. Season 1 was perfect, 2 & 3 were mid except for the nostalgia factor. I’ll die on this hill.
Stranger Things would have been a perfect anthology show too, while still getting to explore the in universe lore.
- Omg, I'm not the only one.
  Quick, I know where we can hide. 😭😂
- Stranger Things would’ve worked better if they had changed the characters and “big bad” each season and had Matthew Modine’s evil scientist as the running thread through the series.
- That last season was about 10 episodes too long as far as what content was actually written.
- They could’ve even done the IT thing and had them be older, but now they don’t look right for the roles
- I stopped at S2, it was too much of a drop for me.
- I wouldn't even say season 1 was perfect, but yes, at least it had a reason to exist. Season 2 was so offensively and aggressively bad I stopped watching.

Heroes
- they show was so consistent in its enshitification, that when you finish then last season you end up questioning your life choices
- I think it was originally meant to be more of an anthology show, but they chickened out because of how popular all the characters were.

Idk if this is the worst per se but a good example is Russian Doll.
When I see questions like this I'm not just thinking of shows that had a good first season but then a step down in quality. There are lots of shows like that.
I'm thinking of shows where the first season completely stands on its own, perhaps even intended to be a miniseries, but for whatever reason a second season is greenlit.
Russian Doll had a fantastic first season that told its own story. The second season just felt unnecessary and was pretty forgettable.
- Not to mention the awkward retcon that erased the ending of season one with a single line of dialogue.
- Shogun.

The Handmaid's Tale would've been a much tighter story.
Westworld goes without saying.
- These two get my vote.
- Season 2 could have been as good I think. Maybe an unpopular opinion but I also got tired of the lead actress' acting style.
  
  Yeah I could see s2 having legs, just not the s2 we got.
  I'd have preferred an extra long finale where the robots just slaughter every human for 60 minutes and then destroy the park

Prison Break.

Squid Game.
- season 2 was fine, still not slop. but definitely not necessary.
  next season will be pure slop though
  
  Next season is already out. It's ... not bad compared to the first as far as having upsetting things on screen, but the problem is it's purposefully not a happy story. So many people are upset that it didn't follow a cliche narrative pattern, but what happens is kinda'... literally the point of the show's existence?
  Basically, it's worth a watch, but only if you understand that it is not a happy story. On purpose. That's the point. (some of the twists were still a bit dumb, though)

Altered Carbon
- The first season, with Joel Kinnaman, was fantastic; but, honestly, I'll watch anything he does -- and doubly so if Mireille Enos is in the cast as well. The two have fantastic chemistry. But S1 had a great story and was done very well.
  
  I was so upset he wasnt in season 2, and I fully knew he wouldnt be in it. Just couldn't do it.

Broadchurch.
Such an amazing show with an excellent cast. Deeply thrilling and moving, difficult to watch at times but totally compelling. Came out at a time where the idea of binge watching shows was relatively new and really hooked you in the tragedy and mystery of the story.
The second and third seasons just failed to capture what made the first so compelling. Decisions made in those seasons actively took away from the first season for me, though I don’t want to say much for spoilers-sake.
I would still recommend it 100%, but definitely tough to watch as the subject matter does include bad things happening to children.
- Totally disagree, the second season was great - though I will admit I don't really remember 3
- Agreed.

Westworld! By far!
- Correct answer, end the thread

The Bear. Season 1 was a fresh mix of fast paced foodporn and insult comedy. Now its just people sitting around depressed, never being funny nor going anywhere. Like, family anxiety porn? As if anyone actually wants that.
- The family anxiety porn also applies to Shamekess, which has the same actor as The Bear
  
  That show went on way too long but it was not a 1 season show. I'd have to rewatch but I believe it was a solid 5 or 6 seasons. The rest has good bits here and there but its not the standout it was from before.

Knights of Sidonia. First season was dark, bleak, gritty. Mystery and intrigue, and kick-ass action.
Second season turned into a dating sim, complete with horny AI spaceships. I wish I was joking.

Yall know they made a second season of Tiger King? It's just as stupid as you'd think I gave up like 1 episode in

Jessica Jones
- I loved Jessica Jones. I do wish they would have concentrated more on mystery solving instead of backstory. Maybe one day they’ll bring it back as a detective show.

Twin Peaks, it was supposed to only be one season, but they forced it to go another season, so David Lynch just stuffed the second season with pointless bullshit until the last couple episodes and then did what he intended to do in season one. You can skip almost all of the second season and not miss anything, literally nothing matters until the end.

True Detective'
- I disagree, but only because they are disconnected stories not because the extra seasons were better. Just watch the first season last if you convince anyone to watch the show who hasn't and it will be a really good lead up to that first season

Chuunibyou. First season had a fantastic ending, then they decided to make a second season that undoes all character development in order to introduce a dumb love triangle.
And while S2 isn't even out yet, I'm already disappointed that I'm in Love with the Villainess set up what should've been a perfect ending but then didn't commit in order to leave it open for a S2.

Servant. The drop in quality and atmosphere between season 1 and the following 3 is beyond baffling. Goes from psychological thriller to sitcom very quick and I felt sorry for the cast by the end.
Yellowjackets. Extremely tight, well plotted season 1, with an amazing cast. By season 2 the writers had dropped the ball so hard, cast members started complaining publicly and/or just leaving the show. It's probably the most egregious example I can think of of writers promising a 5-season plan while so clearly and unapologetically making shit up as they go.

The news.

I'm gonna say Game of Thrones. I know seasons 2-4 were pretty good but since it leads to utter poop smearing madness in seasons 5-8, I'd have preferred they keep it to one season.
- The story isn't complete enough for it to stop there though
- I think the more creative freedom they got, the more those two fuvked it up, because they fundamentally did not understand the source material. It was just tits and dragons to them.

The Matrix
Yeah I know

Most of American shows tbh.

Bed time children. I can't believe nobody mentioned Twin Peaks.

Joel did such and fantastic job with the character. His acting and the writing gave the character and show so much depth that the second season completely missed. With Anthony Mackie it was like trying to watch an entirely new character pretending to be Kovacs the whole time. Totally botched the entire concept of the show.

The Good Place.
Edit: this one got spicy, but I will stand by it. I remember watching it the first time through and really loving it. Fairly recently I tried watching it again and stopped half way through the 3rd season cause it just wasn’t hitting like the first time despite the first season still being stellar.
- you can hear that 'WHAT'
  godsamn i love chidi
- Hard disagree. There are certainly down points through the show, but it's one of the most consistently good shows I know of, and the finale is my favorite of any.
  
  First season was solid, after that, it felt like the jig was up and they were floundering to find something else to latch onto.
- It's okay to be objectively wrong
- Leeks I have excellent news for you, this version actually predates TGP
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No_Exit
- I'm disagreeing, it's one of the most complete shows out there was a complete wrap up and great finale. Lots of closure.
  I'm rewatching it now and my only complaint is the character Jason, the "dumb" guy can be a lot of handle.
  Holy fork, something that is great except one thing that particularly annoys me?....maybe I'm in the bad place.....
  Edit. I did not down vote you even though I didn't agree.