When a new show involves A-list talent, acclaimed source material, and/or is associated with a highly popular IP, it’s obvious that expectations would be high on the part of critics and viewers. But while many highly anticipated shows have proven worthy of the hype, that’s not always the case. Over the years, there have been far too many TV shows that were expected to be huge hits, only to fall flat once they were released.
The reasons behind these unfortunate flops vary from project to project. Sometimes, it’s because the final product couldn’t resonate with audiences despite being objectively good. Other times, it’s because they’re just terrible shows that probably shouldn’t have been made at all. Whatever the reasons behind their failure, the one thing all these shows have in common is that they are all ultimately disappointing. Read on to discover our selection of shows that were supposed to be big but shockingly flopped, from hotly anticipated sequels and remakes to original productions that fell short of their ambitions.
8
‘Berlin’ (2023 – Present)
Created by Álex Pina and Esther Martínez Lobato
Image via Netflix
A prequel to the hit Spanish heist series Money Heist, Berlin explores the story of the titular character, Andrés de Fonollosa, aka Berlin. Set years before the events of the parent show, the series follows Berlin and his crew as they attempt to steal €44 million in jewels from an auction house in Paris. The heist takes a complicated turn when Berlin falls in love with the auction house director’s wife. Pedro Alonso reprises his role as Berlin, leading a cast that also includes Michelle Jenner, Tristán Ulloa, Begoña Vargas, Julio Peña Fernández, and more.
Following the adventures of one of Money Heist’s most popular characters, expectations were high ahead of Berlin’s premiere on Netflix in December 2023. However, the series received mixed reviews from critics and Money Heist fans. While the show is quite entertaining in its own right, it fails to match up to the brilliance of its parent series, with its detour into romance drawing criticism from most critics. Despite the negative reception, the show did earn a renewal for a second season, so fans can still hope it might show some improvement the second time around.
7
‘Treason’ (2022)
Created by Matt Charman
Image via Netflix
A British spy thriller miniseries, Treason explores the story of MI6’s newly minted acting chief, who discovers that his highly successful career has been secretly orchestrated by his former lover, a Russian spy. When the truth is revealed to him, the officer must choose between duty and survival, with a major conflict looming on the horizon. The show stars Charlie Cox in the lead role as Deputy Chief Adam Lawrence, with Olga Kurylenko, Oona Chaplin, and Ciarán Hinds in key roles.
Treason premiered in December 2022 to mixed reviews. Despite the intriguing premise and stacked cast, the show ultimately falls flat with a paper-thin story and narrative that quickly devolves into cliches. With the sheer amount of talent associated with it, the series had the potential to be a gripping political thriller, one that could have been a real treat for die-hard spy fiction fans, but the show’s execution simply doesn’t do justice to its ambitions.
6
‘Velma’ (2023 – 2024)
Created by Charlie Grandy
Image via HBO Max
Inspired by the popular Scooby-Doo franchise, Velma is an adult animated mystery comedy series that follows Velma Dinkley and the other members of Mystery Inc. before their official formation as they investigate a series of mysterious murders. An alternate universe reimagining of the franchise, the show race-swaps most of the characters and notably does not feature Scooby-Doo. The show’s voice cast stars Mindy Kaling as Velma, Sam Richardson as Shaggy, Constance Wu as Daphne, and Glenn Howerton as Fred.
Despite extensive marketing ahead of its release, Velma was quite negatively received by critics at the time of its premiere and was straight-up hated by fans. That’s not surprising in itself, as the show’s only real innovation on the franchise is experimenting with the demographics of the characters, but the really surprising thing is that the series still got a second season and a Halloween special despite the overwhelmingly negative reception. The show was canceled less than a week after the release of the Halloween special, to the relief of franchise fans.
5
‘Cowboy Bebop’ (2021)
Created by Christopher Yost
Image via Netflix
A live-action adaptation of the eponymous anime franchise, Cowboy Bebop is a space Western series that follows a group of bounty hunters in the year 2071. Though it features the same characters and some of the same storylines as the anime, the live-action series changes some key details and dialogue. The show stars John Cho, Mustafa Shakir, Daniella Pineda, Elena Satine, and Alex Hassell in lead roles.
The original Cowboy Bebop is easily one of the most celebrated anime series of all time, so there were a lot of expectations riding on its live-action adaptation. Unfortunately, its 10-episode Season 1 was panned by critics and fans, receiving criticism for practically every aspect of its production, from the writing and editing to special effects and action choreography. The show fails to capture the spirit of its source material, a fact that drew the criticism of original series director Shinichirō Watanabe, and the new dialogue and characterization do nothing to improve the situation. The show was ultimately canceled, joining the overwhelmingly huge list of failed live-action anime adaptations.
4
‘Terra Nova’ (2011)
Created by Kelly Marcel and Craig Silverstein
Image via FOX
An ambitious sci-fi drama series executive-produced by Steven Spielberg, Terra Nova is a unique combination of the time travel and family adventure genres. The series explores the story of the Shannon family, who join a program in the hyper-polluted 22nd century that seeks to establish a colony in the distant past during the age of the dinosaurs. The show stars Jason O’Mara, Shelley Conn, Christine Adams, Allison Miller, Landon Liboiron, Naomi Scott, Mido Hamada, Alana Mansour, Stephen Lang, and Rod Hallett.
With some truly spectacular visuals and a genuinely interesting premise, Terra Nova was quite well-received when it premiered on the Fox Network in September 2011. However, both ratings and reviews steadily declined as the series progressed, and the show was ultimately canceled at the end of its first season. Despite its potential and the undeniable talent both behind and in front of the camera, the show’s exposition-heavy narrative and cheesy dialogue ultimately ruined what could have been a true TV masterpiece.
3
‘Kaleidoscope’ (2023)
Created by Eric Garcia
Image via Netflix
Kaleidoscope is an eight-episode heist drama series that follows a unique non-linear structure. The show follows a master thief and his crew as they attempt a heist worth $7 billion, which is a pretty standard plot, but the series differentiates itself with a randomized viewing structure — the episodes can be watched in any order, and each presents a different facet of the same story. Unfortunately, the story in question is pretty basic. Giancarlo Esposito leads the ensemble cast as mastermind Leo Pap, with Rufus Sewell, Paz Vega, Rosaline Elbay, Jai Courtney, Tati Gabrielle, Peter Mark Kendall, and more in significant roles.
Kaleidoscope’s innovative narrative drew some attention ahead of its release on Netflix on January 1, 2023. However, its technical brilliance could not make up for its lackluster plot, and the show was highly criticized by critics and audiences. That said, it’s not necessarily a bad show, with some great performances, especially by the iconic Giancarlo Esposito, that help the show rise beyond simple novelty status.
2
‘Vinyl’ (2016)
Created by Mick Jagger, Martin Scorsese, Rich Cohen, and Terence Winter.
Image via HBO
Set in 1970s New York, Vinyl is a period music drama series that follows a record executive struggling to navigate the changing music scene. Bobby Cannavale stars as Richie Finestra, founder and president of American Century Records, which is on the brink of collapse when a life-changing incident rekindles Richie’s spirit at the cost of his personal life. Besides Cannavale, the show also features Paul Ben-Victor, P.J. Byrne, Max Casella, Ato Essandoh, James Jagger, Jack Quaid, Ray Romano, Juno Temple, Olivia Wilde, and more.
With household names like Mick Jagger and Martin Scorsese behind the camera, Vinyl was expected to be a surefire hit, but the show failed to make a mark during its initial broadcast on HBO despite positive reviews. Though it initially got a renewal for a second season, the network ultimately reversed that decision and canceled the show, to the disappointment of its creators and their fans. In the years since, the series has become largely forgotten, little more than a footnote in Scorsese’s storied career.
1
‘The Regime’ (2024)
Created by Will Tracy
Image via HBO
A satirical miniseries, The Regime was developed by Succession and The Menu writer Will Tracy. Starring Kate Winslet, the show follows Chancellor Elena Vernham, the dictator of a fictional Central European country struggling to maintain control over her crumbling regime. Set over one year within the chancellor’s palace, the series explores Elena and her country’s descent into instability, as she grows increasingly paranoid and dependent on the counsel of a volatile soldier (Matthias Schoenaerts). The show’s ensemble cast also includes Guillaume Gallienne, Andrea Riseborough, Martha Plimpton, and Hugh Grant.
Powered by a compelling and entertaining performance by Winslet, The Regime is quite an engaging watch, but its uneven plot and tone drew criticism at the time of its premiere in 2024. The series had the potential to be a truly biting political satire, but it falls short of its ambitions and ultimately couldn’t achieve the ratings or reviews necessary to be called a success. It’s not that it’s a bad show, but it could have been so much better, which is what’s truly frustrating.