Many TV shows come right out of the gate in their first seasons as pop culture phenomenons (see: Desperate Housewives). But then there’s the elusive second season, which is more difficult to nail down in terms of story and maintaining the energy of the first season (see: Desperate Housewives).
Here are 6 Shows that Only Got Better in Season Two:
1. The Simpsons (FOX)
It started out as a sidecar on The Tracey Ullman Show, so when the first season of The Simpsons aired in 1989, it was a bit of an experiment. The first season was an achievement in its own right, but the second season is when Matt Groening’s pointy-haired baby really found its groove, with episodes like “Bart the Daredevil,” “The Way We Was,” and of course, the first Treehouse of Horror installment. The irony of the story: Tracy Ullman only had four seasons, and The Simpsons is the longest-running American sitcom.
2. Breaking Bad (AMC)
Breaking Bad is the little show that could. When it started in 2008, it was released with little fanfare. But soon Netflix binge-watching became a fad, and Breaking Bad only benefited. In Season 2, many important threads are planted, ones that don’t receive a proper pay-off until the final season (the ricin!). Jesse (Aaron Paul) starts dating landlord neighbor Jane (Krysten Ritter), and it’s also when audiences first get introduced to Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) in the aptly titled episode “Better Call Saul.” Finally, probably the biggest reason why Season 2 succeeds is that we finally get a taste of just how bad Walter White can be.
3. Arrested Development (FOX)
It’s no wonder the second season of Arrested Development received more Emmy nominations than any other season. This is when Mitch Hurwitz and company were done introducing these characters and really just letting their freak flags fly. Season 2 brings us Lindsey’s infamous Slut shirt, the introduction of Uncle Jack (Martin Short) and Franklin Delano Bluth, lots of chicken dances, and subtle references to the show’s episode order being cut from 22 to 18.
4. Big Brother (CBS)
CBS’s punching bag reality competition show probably didn’t make a massive shift in overall quality into its second season, but it did make a smart shift in its overall structure. In Season 1, contestants mugged for the camera while America voted on which house guest would be evicted each week. Given the sagging ratings of this experimental season, CBS smartly chose to employ a competitive edge on the show and force the contestants to vote each other out in its second season. Coupled with smarter, more “edgy” reality casting, Big Brother managed not only to avoid cancellation after its second season, but it also extended its run, as of 2016, to 18 seasons.
5. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia (FX)
Two words: Danny DeVito. There was nothing wrong with Season 1 of FX’s “Seinfeld on crack.” Dennis, Mac, Charlie, and Sweet Dee all did fine on their own, but the added heat of DeVito in Season 2 (as Dennis and Dee’s father) definitely upped the funny factor. Want to see something especially hilarious? Watch DeVito’s Frank in his first episode, dressed in a suit and polished, and then watch a more recent episode, where he’s totally devolved into a degenerate. The more disheveled and gross he is, the longer the show has been on.
6. LOST (ABC)
Oh, if we could all go back and be a LOST fan in the second season, when there was still so much hope for answers and we were still so far away from the end. Season 2 of LOST gave us even more mystery and one of the greatest first episode cold opens ever, with the introduction of Desmond in the Hatch. We also got to meet the Tail section of the plane (that included Ana Lucia and Libby!). Go back and watch this season and pretend the writers knew what they were doing. Season 2 made it seem like they actually did.
