A great television series can hide behind a terrible first impression. Sometimes the pilot is awkward, the characters feel unfinished, the jokes land badly, or the premise seems unsure of what it wants to be. That can be surprising when the same show eventually becomes a cultural favorite with devoted fans and unforgettable episodes. Reddit users named series that made them question why anyone kept watching, only to discover that patience paid off. Some needed a new cast member, others needed time to find their rhythm, and a few were almost completely reinvented. These are shows worth giving another chance.

The first season of Parks and Recreation can feel strangely stiff, with characters who had not yet developed the personalities that eventually made them beloved, and Redditors repeatedly pointed to the pilot and first season as the show’s weakest stretch.

The original unaired pilot was radically different, with Amanda Walsh playing a much harsher version of the female lead and Sheldon written with a completely different personality, forcing the show to be reworked before it became a massive hit.

The original Game of Thrones pilot was considered bad enough that HBO ordered extensive reshoots and major changes before the series reached television, making the final version almost impossible to judge by its first attempt.

The early episodes of BoJack Horseman leaned heavily into familiar adult animation territory, leaving some viewers unimpressed before the series discovered its darker voice and became one of television’s most acclaimed animated dramas. Reddit users specifically described the first stretch as a rough period of finding its identity.

The first episodes of Schitt’s Creek can make the characters seem almost impossible to tolerate, but the series gradually transformed those abrasive personalities into the foundation for some remarkably emotional character development. Redditors frequently recommend sticking with it beyond the opening episodes.

“Encounter at Farpoint” introduced a version of Star Trek: The Next Generation that was noticeably rough around the edges, with fans regularly citing the pilot and first season as a difficult beginning for a series that eventually became a franchise favorite.

The opening episode leaned heavily into a stylized visual approach that did not immediately win everyone over, and Reddit users singled it out as a particularly rough pilot before the series developed a stronger identity and became much more compelling.

The Bob’s Burgers pilot feels unusually dark and bizarre compared with the series that eventually emerged, including its original human meat premise and some seriously strange character choices. That unusual beginning makes the show’s later evolution even more fascinating.

The Seinfeld pilot is remarkably bare compared with the sharp ensemble comedy that followed, and even fans who adore the series often point out how little of its eventual personality is present at the beginning. Reddit users still describe it as a rough introduction to a legendary sitcom.

The first season of Buffy was still figuring out what kind of show it wanted to become, with several episodes feeling closer to monster of the week television than the ambitious character driven series that eventually emerged. Redditors regularly identify the early seasons as a period of experimentation.

The Merlin pilot introduced a fantasy series that could be uneven in its acting, dialogue and effects, but viewers who stuck around often found themselves increasingly invested in its characters and mythology. Reddit commenters remembered the show fondly despite its rough edges.

The earliest Simpsons episodes have a noticeably different tone, with Homer portrayed as a much harsher father and the animation still developing its visual identity. Reddit users pointed to those strange early episodes as evidence of just how much the series evolved.

The Deep Space Nine pilot was not necessarily disastrous, but the first season struggled to establish the confidence the series would later develop. Reddit users described the early run as fairly ordinary before the show became much more ambitious.

The original pilot, titled Head of the Family, barely resembles the sitcom audiences eventually knew, with Carl Reiner playing Rob Petrie instead of Dick Van D. The cast, story and tone were substantially reworked before the finished series arrived.

The Get Smart pilot apparently looked so unimpressive that its creators feared the network presentation, but a shortened presentation focused on the show’s gadgets and comic energy was enough to sell the concept. The result became one of television’s most recognizable spy comedies.