The Apprentice
We loved this show for the first four or five seasons. It had a great mix of candidates from different ages and backgrounds. I think it was after season nine that we started to feel the programme was losing its authenticity. Contestants started to look like identical Love Islanders – all the same demographic: 20-30 age bracket, highly polished body image, eye on a post-show influencer career, etc. It lost its uniqueness and became just another reality show. Ngaire Vine, 56, Derbyshire
When TV turns sour: the shows we simply can’t stomach any more
Read more
Ludwig
The first season was excellent but the new series is a massive disappointment. In the first, David Mitchell’s character was believably eccentric and Anna Maxwell Martin was amusingly quirky. In this series they have taken interesting and believable character traits too far and the whole thing is ridiculous. I had been eagerly awaiting a second series but have stopped watching. It’s a shame that two excellent actors have been given such ludicrous scripts. Margaret Ainsbury, 78, Denbigh
The Chase
The Chase feels well and truly past its sell-by date. It’s a real shame, because I love Bradley Walsh, and the Chasers themselves are all fantastic. However, the core concept of the show has grown tired. The player endures the initial cash builder, sweats through a head-to-head round and scrapes together money (usually a pitiful amount) just to pool it into a central pot. And what is the reward for surviving all of that? Watching it vanish in the final chase because the chaser rattles through a block of questions in a fraction of the allotted time. I want to keep loving it, but the magic has worn off. Jamie Jones, County Durham
Grey’s Anatomy
View image in fullscreen
Running on EMT … Sandra Oh and Ellen Pompeo in Grey’s Anatomy. Photograph: Michael Desmond/five
I was completely captivated when Grey’s Anatomy first aired in 2005. There were strong performances – notably Sandra Oh – and strong characters with interesting histories and gripping medical cases. Fast forward to the present day and only a handful of the original cast remain … and even they look bored with the proceedings. The younger doctors inspire little empathy and the storylines need oxygen. I could say urgently, but I think it best to let it rest in peace now. Ruth Muirhead, Wales
Prison Break
Series one felt like groundbreaking telly: stylish, gritty, twisty – I loved it. Series two followed the escapes so was a different show but still OK. But it really had nowhere else to go after that. Wrap it up? Nope, let’s stick them all back in another prison. Please. Matt, 43, Manchester
Coronation Street
A British friend and I have been watching Coronation Street for more than 50 years. It was a mindless pleasure that I would end my stressful day with. In the last year or so, it has become a stressor. There are so many sinister, evil characters now. I had to fast forward through the scenes with the character Theo. My British friend bailed on the show completely because of that storyline. I miss the silliness of affairs and neighbourhood arguments in the pub. Jane, 72, Toronto, Canada
House of the Dragon
View image in fullscreen
Falling flat … Steve Toussaint in House of the Dragon. Photograph: HBO/2026 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. HBO® and all related programs are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.
I always liked the dragons in Game of Thrones, and I thought the prequel might be a fresh series that doesn’t have GoT’s later poor plotting baggage. Paddy Considine did such a superb turn in the first season as the troubled and sickly Viserys Targaryen. And I could even forgive the sudden cast changes in season one to account for elapsed time in the narrative. The soundtrack, by Ramin Djawadi, is lovely. Over three seasons, however, I’ve become increasingly apathetic about the characters. The show’s just fallen flat and hasn’t managed to reach the highs of the first few seasons of GoT. PerhapsIt’s high time Warner Bros (and Disney, etc) stopped relying on old franchises. Let’s see some new material, please. Reinhardt, 39, Pretoria, South Africa
Family Guy
For goodness sake … Family Guy. Photograph: Fox/Getty Images
Family Guy used to be hilarious. The first 10 seasons or so were all great in different ways. It’s just fun – switch off your brain and laugh. But the last few years have been tedious. Not terrible, just bland. The voices are starting to fade – I get why, it’s been 25 seasons – and the jokes feel tired and unoriginal. Don’t get me wrong, there are good episodes and some have excellent political commentary. But it’s just turned sour, to the point where I, a devoted viewer, gradually stopped watching. I’ve found comfort in Bob’s Burgers now, but maybe that’s just growing up! I still remember when Family Guy first aired … Hunter, Glasgow
Love for Lydia
This HE Bates drama was first shown in the late 70s when I was 14. I adored Lydia, played by Mel Martin. She looked so sophisticated with a beautiful black bob. Men fell in love with her left, right and centre. I wanted to be Lydia. Last year it was shown again on Talking Pictures TV. With age comes experience, and I could see how terribly selfish and insensitive Lydia really was. She was a beautiful monster, and Richardson, who was obsessed with her, was a complete bore! Julie Coan, 63, Heywood, Greater Manchester
The Office (US)
Taking the Michael … The Office US. Photograph: NBC Universal/Getty Images
The prime example would be the American Office. Carell leaving was too much to overcome, despite the star power of Will Ferrell and Kathy Bates. No disrespect to those actors; I understand the dilemma. If a first season of a show is successful, they want to continue, and as viewers we want more. But it’s becoming increasingly rare that after the initial burst of quality, later seasons can keep the magic going. Charles David, Michigan, USA
Scrubs
I can’t stand Dr Cox’s “tough love” any more. His character was praised for his honesty, especially compared with the slimy Dr Kelso, but Cox was a manipulative, sexist bully. Sharon, 42, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Gilmore Girls
Snow laughing matter … Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Photograph: THA/Alamy
I’m in a perpetual cycle of rewatching Gilmore Girls – it’s my cosy year-round comfort show. However, I don’t watch season seven, or God forbid, the Netflix revival. Season seven completely betrays the cute and cosy atmosphere of seasons one to six, and the lives of the main characters change drastically. I suppose that happens after six years, but the showrunner also changed and you can feel the pull in a new direction. Needless to say, elopement and sexting should never have been on the cards. Jazz, 38, Windsor
Roseanne
Roseanne was, for a long time, a wonderful sitcom and one that has given many, many happy memories. Razor-sharp dialogue and wit, extremely likable characters with terrific, emotional, relatable storylines all laced with a real bite. Then it just went completely off the rails towards the end with an utterly nonsensical plot. A real shame because it was one of the best TV shows ever made. Michael, Bristol
The Boys
Supe du jour … The Boys. Photograph: Panagiotis Pantazidis/AP
The Boys began as a topical, biting commentary on modern superhero movies and our political landscape. Its final two seasons felt like a caricature of itself, with characters reduced to bizarre versions of themselves and lazy writing that completely failed to tackle the modern US. Aaron, Lancashire
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs Youre Fired TV Shows You Cant Stand Anymore
Beginner Questions
1 What does Youre fired mean in this context
Its a playful way of saying youve officially quit a TV show youve stopped watching it for good like a boss firing an employee
2 Whats the difference between dropping a show and hatewatching it
Dropping means you stop watching completely Hatewatching means you keep watching even though you dislike it often just to complain about it
3 Is it normal to suddenly hate a show you used to love
Yes very normal Shows change writers kill off characters or drag out plots and your taste can change too
4 What are common signs its time to stop watching a show
You dread pressing play you scroll your phone the whole episode or you realize youre only watching out of habit
5 Can I stop watching a show in the middle of a season
Absolutely Theres no rule that says you have to finish Your time is yours
6 What does jumping the shark mean
It means a show has passed its peak and started doing ridiculous things to stay interesting The term comes from a Happy Days episode where Fonzie literally jumped over a shark
7 Why do people keep watching shows they dont enjoy
Sunk cost fallacy theyve invested so many hours they feel they cant quit Also fear of missing out on spoilers or group conversations
8 Is it okay to quit a show everyone else loves
Yes Popular doesnt mean mandatory Different tastes are normal
Advanced Questions
9 Whats the sunk cost fallacy and how does it apply to TV
Its the idea that you should keep investing because youve already invested With TV it sounds like Ive watched five seasons I cant quit now But past hours are gone either way only future enjoyment matters
10 How many episodes should I give a show before quitting
A common rule is the threeepisode test for new shows For shows you once loved give a full season or a major arc before deciding its truly declined
