Although there are plenty of great TV shows, some of the very best either accumulated popularity in later seasons or didn’t gain the attention they deserved until after they ended. Through the power of streaming services like Netflix and Disney+, binge-worthy TV shows are more accessible than ever before. As audiences were able to view older TV shows easily, tuning in as either new or existing viewers, these titles suddenly gained more attention years after the final credits rolled.
It’s worth noting that some TV shows got record viewing numbers around the time of the finale, but as the show’s fate was already set in stone, it was essentially at its end. This was usually because a show had been added to a streaming service, resulting in a new wave of viewers catching up to the present episode. Although it was a shame that these TV shows weren’t appreciated during their original release, many shows had a significant cultural impact years later and became some of the biggest streaming hits of all time.
Based on the UK original of the same name, The Office introduced America to an array of eccentric characters in the bland setting of the Dunder Mifflin Scranton office. The Office aired 9 seasons from 2005 to 2019, surpassing the UK version, and the show ended along with the in-show documentary wrapping up. The Office cast included some legendary characters that audiences continued to quote even years later, including Steve Carell as regional manager Michael Scott, Rainn Wilson as second in command Dwight Schrute, John Krasinski as salesman Jim Halpert, and Jenna Fischer as receptionist Pam Beesley.
However, The Office‘s resurgence in popularity was down to its supporting characters, who became more prominent as each season progressed. The show developed an incredible fan base over the years and gained so much popularity that it released the super-fan cuts, which included hilarious scenes that weren’t in the original episodes. During the COVID pandemic in 2020, The Office became the most streamed show of the year on Netflix, with US audiences having streamed over 57 billion minutes of the show (via Variety).
Breaking Bad was the first major project Bryan Cranston worked on after Malcolm in the Middle. Playing Hal Wilkerson established Cranston as a comedic actor, so taking on Walter White was a big shift for the actor. Although Walter had his funny moments, the role was generally dramatic. Because audiences were so familiar with Cranston as Hal, there was some doubt over how the comedy actor’s performance would translate on-screen. However, this all changed when Breaking Bad was added to Netflix in 2011, in line with the season 4 premiere.
New viewers began watching the show, catching up for the latest episode, and because of this, Breaking Bad season 4 saw a surge in ratings. This dramatically increased even more with the show’s final season, which was split into two parts. Over a decade since its release, Breaking Bad is one of the most popular TV shows in the world, spawning the spin-off Better Call Saul and the movie El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, which gave audiences an update on Jesse Pinkman’s (Aaron Paul) life after the events of the finale.
In recent years, The Golden Girls had a new boost of popularity, an impressive feat considering the show ended over 30 years ago. The Golden Girls became particularly prominent in the LGBTQ+ community through other queer-focused shows, such as RuPaul’s Drag Race, often making reference to it. In the reality show’s Snatch Game episodes, a new generation of audiences met Blanche Devereaux (Rue McClanahan) through the queen’s impersonations. Even without RuPaul’s help, The Golden Girls also became popular in the LGBTQ+ community because it tackled taboo topics in such a way that no other sitcom has ever replicated.
Between 2017 and 2021, The Golden Girls was added to Hulu, Stan, and Disney+ in several countries worldwide. Legendary actress Betty White, who portrayed Rose, passed away in 2021 at the age of 99, which also brought attention back to the sitcom. White’s death shocked the world, despite her age, and as her performance as Rose was considered to be timeless, Hulu began airing the spinoff The Golden Palace in honor of her 100th birthday.
During its original run, Friends was a hit, but it amazingly became more popular after it ended. The hilarious sitcom had a significant cultural impact on the world, releasing a huge array of merchandise and special edition box sets. Even in 2024, Friends’ last episode, “The Last One,” is still one of the best and most watched TV finales of all time. The relatability of the ensemble cast, particularly their relationship storylines, contributed to the success of Friends, with audiences having watched them grow from a misguided group in their mid-twenties to successful adults with fruitful careers and children.
In January 2015, the entirety of Friends was added to Netflix. This resulted in a huge wave of viewers, both old and new, streaming Friends and falling in love with the Central Perk gang all over again. In May 2021, HBO Max aired the Friends reunion special, in which the cast returned to discuss the show’s success, their time filming it, and their opinions on their characters. Although audiences hoped to see an actual Friends episode, the reunion was still nostalgic and enjoyable, proving that Friends will forever be a staple in sitcoms and TV comedies.
Arrested Development gave several big Hollywood names their breakthrough roles, such as Michael Cera as George Michael Bluth and Jason Bateman as his father, Michael. During its original run, which aired three seasons from 2003 to 2006, Arrested Development received good reviews from critics and multiple award nominations but still had relatively mediocre ratings. In 2013, Netflix released season 4, launching a revival of the hit comedy with its original cast returning to reprise the Bluth Family in Arrested Development.
Netflix brilliantly identified that Arrested Development was still a hot topic for TV enthusiasts, especially because of the show’s use of witty and dry humor, ridiculous storylines, and star-studded cast. Members of Arrested Development‘s cast had also been very successful in the years since the show ended, especially in other Netflix projects, including Jessica Walters in Archer. Although the Arrested Development revival was considered to be a flop, the show as a whole is still thoroughly enjoyed by many viewers years later.
Considered to be one of the most underrated TV shows of all time, Firefly only aired one season, but audiences have begged to see it revived. When the show finished in 2003, streaming services were relatively non-existent, but Firefly DVD sales were consistently high as more people discovered the sci-fi gem. Although Firefly had a short run, the show built up a cult following and was consistently praised for the interesting blend of science fiction and Western genres, witty dialogue, and engaging performances from the cast, including Nathan Fillion as Captain Malcolm Reynolds.
In the years after, Firefly’s audience response inspired creator Joss Whedon to revisit the premise. In 2005, Firefly wrapped up its storylines in the film Serenity, although the original show was unfortunately never expanded upon. The Firefly franchise, however, became very prominent, releasing several video games and comic books based on the show. In 2008, Firefly was added to Hulu, which brought in a new wave of viewers. Over two decades after its initial release, Firefly stands out as one of the best sci-fi TV shows ever, proving that multiple seasons aren’t necessary for a show to be popular.
Futurama has been canceled multiple times, but each time the show was revived, it came back stronger. After it first aired in 1999, Futurama was initially seen as another version of The Simpsons, which made sense as Matt Groening also created the space-age adventure. However, there was no doubt that Futurama‘s ability to survive was due to audience demand.Futurama offered a mature twist on animated comedies, especially compared to The Simpsons, and a more diverse cast of characters for audiences to engage with.
Although Futurama’s first cancelation was due to syndication issues between networks, in April 2013, Comedy Central announced the show was ending for a third time. The show’s producers had stated they wished to continue, but they wanted to gauge the reaction of the fanbase first (via InsideTV). Interestingly, the sheer number of times Futurama was canceled and revived resulted in so much attention that it encouraged people to watch it, building up the show’s audience base.
How I Met Your Mother‘s controversial ending rocked audiences when it aired in 2014, but the storyline gained a lot more attention because of the sudden influx of new viewers the show gained after the final season. The end of Ted’s (Josh Radnor) saga to his children about how he met their mother, Tracy (Cristin Milioti), was met with disappointment from viewers, who were already frustrated from seasons of Ted continuously pining over Robin (Cobie Smulders). In 2011, the show was added to Netflix, and many tuned in for its cast, especially prominent comedy actors Alyson Hannigan and Jason Segel.
However, the show’s final episode pulled in new audiences more than any other factor. Tracy’s death caused such an outcry from fans and the media that many people began watching How I Met Your Mother to understand the attention it was getting, and the show’s ending is still greatly discussed over a decade later. This increase in popularity resulted in the spinoff How I Met Your Father on Hulu, although it wasn’t as successful as its parent show and was canceled after two seasons in 2023.
Freaks and Geeks was completely underappreciated during its original run, but 24 years after its end, the show is still frequently talked about. Freaks and Geeks introduced some huge Hollywood names in the early stages of their careers, including Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, and Busy Philipps. After being canceled in 2000, Freaks and Geeks didn’t get a DVD release until 2004, which was when it started to gain popularity again.
One common complaint from audiences about Freaks and Geeks’ cancelation was that the show had huge, wasted potential and that, with time and care, it could have been groundbreaking. Freaks and Geeks was praised for breathing new life into a coming-of-age story, and its themes of self-discovery and friendships were relatable in any era. For many years, the show gained new viewers through word of mouth and the power of social media, up until it was added to Netflix in 2015, bringing in even more.