West World S4!!!

[WillBrink]

It's back and it looks really good...

S1 = A+
S2 = C- (really disappointing)
S3 = B

Maybe 4 will offer some of the brilliance of S1:

[glocktogo]

We’re binge watching back through S1-S3 on the DVR right now. I recently scored a deal on a Taylor’s & Co. replica 1873 SAA in .45LC with an Octagonal barrel (discontinued “Drifter” model), and was pleased to see it’s the exact same gun Teddy uses in S1.

[Co-gnARR]

It's back and it looks really good...

S1 = A+
S2 = C- (really disappointing)
S3 = B

Maybe 4 will offer some of the brilliance of S1:

It’s going to take of effort to swing the show back to the original greatness of S1. I didn’t really appreciate the pseudo-philosophical under tones introduced in S2. I get it- machines made in the likeness of man becoming self aware and searching for their souls, etc… the execution of it all just felt a bit too pedantic. Maybe if the producers spent more time on the story telling and character development I could jump on S4. Pretty sure I will take a hard pass.

[kerplode]

I loved S1, but didn't make it all the way through S2 and didn't watch S3 at all.

Would it be worth my time to catch up?

[WillBrink]

I loved S1, but didn't make it all the way through S2 and didn't watch S3 at all.

Would it be worth my time to catch up?

You saw my grading, so that's a call you'll have to make. I have many faults, poor taste in movies and shows is not one of them.

[gsd2053]

I loved S1, but didn't make it all the way through S2 and didn't watch S3 at all.

Would it be worth my time to catch up?

Same here.

[WillBrink]

It’s going to take of effort to swing the show back to the original greatness of S1. I didn’t really appreciate the pseudo-philosophical under tones introduced in S2. I get it- machines made in the likeness of man becoming self aware and searching for their souls, etc… the execution of it all just felt a bit too pedantic. Maybe if the producers spent more time on the story telling and character development I could jump on S4. Pretty sure I will take a hard pass.

But you didn't mention S3. Per above, not as good as S1, way better than S2.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

What I learned watching Game of Thrones was that when they start to go sideways just shoot the series in the head and give up. 3/4 of the way through season one I was like this is too complex I wanna be entertained, stop the bullshit. And I haven’t looked back.

[SteyrAUG]

What I learned watching Game of Thrones was that when they start to go sideways just shoot the series in the head and give up. 3/4 of the way through season one I was like this is too complex I wanna be entertained, stop the bullshit. And I haven’t looked back.

Game of Thrones was massive and like Band of Brothers required multiple viewings to fully appreciate it. But when they ran out of original material (around season six) and started writing it as they went along, you could feel a quality drop and it just got stupid. By the final season I just wanted it to be over, all of the shocking plot points could be seen a mile away and I was mostly bored and almost quit.

I've only seen a few series that didn't manage to jump the shark, even The Soprano's ran one or two seasons too long and had possibly the worst ending of any HBO series ever.

[Jellybean]

Honestly, loved Season One...felt Season Two mostly sucked and Season Three was somehow even worse.

My expectations for Season Four are pretty low.

Yeah, WW season one was god-tier showmaking. I don't know how to explain it, but it had a way of totally sucking you in; I could watch just the opening montage alone over and over, and that's something I usually skip after the first or second time on any other show. And there were so may little "hidden in plain sight" story nuggets that even after several viewings I'm sure I didn't catch them all.

Then season two came around and it was time to bail; haven't bothered to go back. Sometimes I think it's best to be happy with the little bit of good you got.
Although, if it's possible to skip season 2 and move on to season 3 without missing to much storywise, I might be inclined to give #3 a try.

Game of Thrones was massive and like Band of Brothers required multiple viewings to fully appreciate it. But when they ran out of original material (around season six) and started writing it as they went along, you could feel a quality drop and it just got stupid. By the final season I just wanted it to be over, all of the shocking plot points could be seen a mile away and I was mostly bored and almost quit.

I've only seen a few series that didn't manage to jump the shark, even The Soprano's ran one or two seasons too long and had possibly the worst ending of any HBO series ever.

IIRC, GOT ran of out *official* RR Martin-based material around season 4, they managed to keep it together more or less through season 6 with "original" guesswork, the speed wobbles were starting to show in #7, and then they wiped out hard at the bottom of the hill in #8.
I've seen some poor endings to shows in the past but...GOT season 8 takes the cake. Big oof.

I think most multi-season shows all end up going on a bit too long - there's always at least one or two seasons you could say they could have skipped before wrapping it up. Sons of Anarchy, Strike Back, Black Sails, Ray Donovan, and others, despite starting out great, all had some weak material before the end, some of which endings were pulled of more successfully than others...