This is a prime example for why it isn't always a good idea for a show to last a long time.
When I saw reviews of this show alongside The Middle, I was impressed with how well-received it was compared to one of my favorite shows. Unfortunately, following that show was impossible given how busy its timeslots were. It wasn't until last fall that I took a look into the show and this summer to catch up from the beginning.
The contrast between the early and later seasons is insane. The show decided to make the cast pretty crazy to begin with, like with Malcolm in the Middle. It's a good strategy if you want to avoid exaggerating their personalities even further in later seasons. And in the first 4 seasons it worked. Erica took a while to grow into her character but she ended up being one of the most compelling characters throughout the series. Sure the family could be annoying at times, but it did give us some hilarious back and forths in the meantime.
Season 5 was when things started to get shaky. Beverly was given a rework to be less of a smother while Erica went to college. Adam's new girlfriend also became more prominent in the form of Girl Meets World's Rowan Blanchard. And yet the dynamic just didn't feel that right. The jokes weren't hitting as well, the supporting cast weren't pulling their weight and the beats were beginning to get scale.
Season 6 threw Beverly's character development out the window and put her back to her old self. Erica's girlfriend Geoff basically got attached to her and Rowan got replaced by someone who just wasn't as good.
Season 7... the whole show felt like it was sped up twice as fast yet it tore each episode apart. Nearly everyone had their worst aspects flanderized to the point that you outright dislike some of them.
So yeah... this show should have ended a while ago. It should definitely end this upcoming season with the death of George Segal.
When I saw reviews of this show alongside The Middle, I was impressed with how well-received it was compared to one of my favorite shows. Unfortunately, following that show was impossible given how busy its timeslots were. It wasn't until last fall that I took a look into the show and this summer to catch up from the beginning.
The contrast between the early and later seasons is insane. The show decided to make the cast pretty crazy to begin with, like with Malcolm in the Middle. It's a good strategy if you want to avoid exaggerating their personalities even further in later seasons. And in the first 4 seasons it worked. Erica took a while to grow into her character but she ended up being one of the most compelling characters throughout the series. Sure the family could be annoying at times, but it did give us some hilarious back and forths in the meantime.
Season 5 was when things started to get shaky. Beverly was given a rework to be less of a smother while Erica went to college. Adam's new girlfriend also became more prominent in the form of Girl Meets World's Rowan Blanchard. And yet the dynamic just didn't feel that right. The jokes weren't hitting as well, the supporting cast weren't pulling their weight and the beats were beginning to get scale.
Season 6 threw Beverly's character development out the window and put her back to her old self. Erica's girlfriend Geoff basically got attached to her and Rowan got replaced by someone who just wasn't as good.
Season 7... the whole show felt like it was sped up twice as fast yet it tore each episode apart. Nearly everyone had their worst aspects flanderized to the point that you outright dislike some of them.
So yeah... this show should have ended a while ago. It should definitely end this upcoming season with the death of George Segal.
