Warning: This article discusses topics of death, violence, suicide, and drugs.
Over the years,there have been severalcomedy TV showsthat turned serious, but took things too far. Plenty ofwarm comedy TV shows, at one point or another, were guilty of delving into darker storylines. Some of these titles crossed the lines and became too serious, and while it worked for some, it impacted most of them in a negative way. This was mainly because the unusual change in the show’s atmosphere was so noticeable that audiences were thrown off.
A lot ofdark comedy TV shows have a perfect balanceof the two genres, and they’re remembered for their pacing, especially how the somber moments compliment the jokes. However,some failed to stick to one lane, and the dramatics out shined the humor. While the shift in tone didn’t necessarily ruin these TV shows, it was clear that the sudden seriousness was too abrupt.
10Boo’s Death Reveal
Fleabag (2016-2019)
WhileFleabagwas always a rather dark comedy,the humorous tone quickly vanished in the last episode of season 1. Throughout season 1, audiences were curious about what exactly happened to the titular character’s best friend and business partner, Boo. But in episode 6, Claire revealed exactly how Boo’s death came to be. It was revealed via flashback that Boo’s accidental suicide in response to her boyfriend cheating was actually Fleabag’s fault.
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What made this moment even more shocking, however, was that Boo died without ever knowing that it was Fleabag who her partner cheated with.While this was a very dramatic moment, it was perhaps a step too far. The remainder of episode 6 highlighted issues across Fleabag’s life that weren’t necessarily connected to Boo.
Fleabag
Cast
Created by and starring Pheobe Waller-Bridge, Fleabag follows its titular main character through her life in modern-day London. After the death of her best friend and the imminent demise of their joint business venture, the show deals with Fleabag’s grief over the loss, her struggle to maintain the business, and her complicated relationships with her immediate family. The show is known for its use of the fourth-wall break and is based on Waller-Bridge’s award-winning one-woman show which debuted at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2013.
It was apparent that Claire and Fleabag’s relationship was strained because the titular character’s sister knew about this dark secret, and the guilt that Fleabag felt laid heavily on her chest, which made her consider taking her own life, too. Although she moved on from this inFleabagseason 2,the tone of the show had already shifted too much, and the arrival of the Priest didn’t help things.
9Chris' Death
Skins (2007-2013)
Althoughevery season ofSkinshad plenty of serious moments, and a death in every other installment, Chris’ demise was the most shocking. As Chris’ death was the first in the show, it was far more jarring than the loss of Freddy or Grace. Until this point,Skinsappeared to be a comedy drama about teenagers struggling with entering adulthood and facing their futures, butChris’ abrupt brain hemorrhagetaught viewers that not every character would have a happy ending.
Skins
Created by Bryan Elsley and Jamie Brittain, Skins is a British drama series released in 2007. This teen drama offers an introspective look at a group of teens in England as they navigate sex, drugs, mental health, death, and more over seven seasons, with the final seasons seeing a shift in the cast. An American remake was released in 2011 on MTV but only lasted one season.
It was really messed up that Chris died in the same way as his brother did, and that in the last episode of season 2, the others’ exam celebrations were overshadowed by the fact they were banned from attending his funeral. DespiteSkinsseason 3 kicking off with a less somber tone, it was hard to forget the harrowing image of Chris bleeding from his nose and Cassie trying to keep him conscious.
8Season 4 Storylines
Shameless (2011-2021)
Even thoughShamelessseason 4was generally considered the peak of the show, there was no doubt that it was also when the show became a lot more serious. In the earlier seasons, there was a good balance of comedy and drama, but from throughout season 4, things were far darker.Ian began to display signs of bipolar, Liam got his hands on cocaine, Fiona was jailed, and Frank almost died. Although these storylines made for great TV, the fact season 4 was so heavy affected the later installments.
Shameless
Shameless is a Black Comedy, Family Drama created by Paul Abbott and starring William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, and Justin Chatwin. The premise follows the Gallagher family and their closest friends as they deal with a not-so-helpful father, Frank Gallagher. His children each find their own path, growing into their own flawed people without much guidance or help from the family patriarch.
Shamelessseason 5 tried to revert to its light-hearted tone, but it was difficult for the show to achieve the same atmosphere. When the show attempted to be dark again, the things that happened toShameless’Gallagher familywere often so over the top that it bordered on unrealistic.Shamelesswasn’t completely ruined after season 4, but it was clear that the show struggled to find a happy medium between comedy and drama.
7Vee’s Arrival
Orange Is The New Black (2013-2019)
Orange is the New Blackwas always a bit of a genre-bendingprison TV show, and during season 1, it was initially categorized as a comedy. That was until 2015, when the Emmys altered their rules, which forced the show to redefine itself as a drama. This change was justified, however, asthe arrival of Yvonne “Vee” Parker caused a lot of tension at Litchfield.
Vee was a textbook sociopath who manipulated everyone around her, and her impact on others caused just as much of a shift in the show’s tone as she did. For example, the attack she ordered on Red created a lot of unnecessary tension in the kitchen. Rosa’s cancer storyline was incredibly moving, and it was brilliant to see her kill Vee while she escaped.
Orange is The New Black
Based on the memoir by Piper Kerman, Orange Is the New Black follows Piper Champman (Taylor Schilling) after she turns herself in for a 15-month sentence in a minimum-security women’s prison for aiding in a drug-smuggling operation run by her ex-girlfriend Alex Vause (Laura Prepon). One of Netflix’s most popular original series, the show explores the corruption inherent in the US prison system through the lens of Piper’s experiences.
However,it was wild that Vee had such a poor reputationthat her cafeteria interaction with Rosa was enough to motivate the dying prisoner to run her over.Vee was one ofthe most hated characters inOrange is the New Black, but the feathers she ruffled also created enough friction that events like the riot and the deaths of others later followed.
6Henry’s Death
MASH (1972-1983)
Henry Blake’s controversial death inMASHwas a widely discussed TV event in 1975, and it sparked backlash over how the sitcom had veered into a darker territory. Even thoughMASHwas about the Korean War, and so deeper storylines were likely to happen, the show killing off the commanding officer was a step too far. This was mainly because of how his death was executed.
This off-screen death was heartbreaking and very unexpected, especially from a sitcom.
In the season 3 finale, “Abyssinia, Henry,” the characters celebrated the news that Blake was finally being discharged and was able to return home to his family. However, Blake never made it back, and Radar announced that his plane had been shot down and there were “no survivors.”This off-screen death was heartbreaking and very unexpected, especially from a sitcom.
MAS*H
MAS*H is a drama-comedy series set during the Korean War, centering on the lives of the staff at the 4077th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital as they navigate the challenges of wartime medical service with humor and resilience.
Critics and audiences alike were horrifiedat Blake’s demise, but it was also a turning point forMASH. Season 4 mixed uptheMASHcharactersmassively, and the show leaned into more complex and emotional narratives going forward. WhileMASHstill managed to be funny, this hated death allowed the show to be more serious, and it was one of the few titles that did this well.
5Bow & Dre’s Divorce Arc
Black-Ish (2014-2022)
The most powerful episodes ofBlack-ishwere so notable because of how the show tackled difficult topics, but the episodes that covered the breakdown of Bow and Dre’s marriage in season 4 were particularly prominent.Dre and Bow were a brilliant sitcom couple, and while they always fixed their issues, they were unique because they appreciated each other’s struggles in life.
However, there was a point in season 4 when the super couple simply couldn’t do it anymore.Black-ishfelt like a different show during these episodes.The pair’s interactions swiftly changed from light-hearted to incredibly tense, and the flashbacks only highlighted the harsh realities of their marriage, rather than providing Bow and Dre any hope for their relationship.
Black-ish
Black-ish is a television series that premiered in 2014, focusing on a family man navigating cultural identity in a predominantly white, upper-middle-class neighborhood. The show explores themes of race, class, and family dynamics as he balances his roles as a father and husband.
Even when the two worked it out, it was mainly because of Bow’s father dying, which was a relatively morbid way for a comedy to patch up its main romance. Thankfully,Black-ishreturned in season 5 with a lighter tone, and the show was still serious when it needed to be, just not in such big chunks.
4The Monastery Shooting
Barry (2018-2023)
The TV showBarryfamously turned quite dark during its season 2 finale. When the titular character went to the monastery to kill Fuches, he instead shot down everyone else who stood in his way, including Esther. This was an astounding moment, andeven Barry himself was shocked at his actions.
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The monastery slaughter was one ofthe best action sequences inBarryand truly pushed the show away from the comedy genre and into deep drama, and this impacted season 3 greatly.Barryseason 3’s tone shifted hugely, and not just for the main character. Although Barry started to show his true self, characters like Sally also became darker.
Barry
A hitman becomes captivated by an acting class and seeks to abandon his criminal past for a life on stage. As he struggles to balance his new aspirations with his violent profession, the series delves into his internal conflict and unexpected encounters within the world of theatre.
Barry’s arrest in the season 3 finale was also very shocking, especially as he was always so careful about his killings, so it was unexpected when the police arrived to capture him.Barrywas still comedic after this, butthe serious tone overshadowed the show’s humor.However, this generally worked for the narrative, and the dramaticBarryseason 4 endingwould’ve been strange without this change in atmosphere.
3Buffy’s Sacrifice
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997-2003)
Buffy the Vampire Slayerwas always great at blending comedy and drama, but the events after Buffy sacrificed herself in “The Gift” were darker than usual. In “The Gift,” Buffy threw herself between the dimensions so that she could save the world, and most importantly, Dawn. The show was initially supposed to end at this point, butwhenBuffy the Vampire Slayerwas renewed for season 6, it returned to screens with a noticeable tonal shift.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a television series created by Joss Whedon, focusing on Buffy Summers, portrayed by Sarah Michelle Gellar, a young woman chosen to battle against vampires, demons, and other supernatural forces while navigating the complexities of teenage life.
After this,Buffy the Vampire Slayer’s storylines were rather bleak. A lot of time was spent focusing on Buffy returning from the dead, but groundbreaking events likeTara’s death shookBuffy the Vampire Slayerup massively. While there was still plenty of camp humor throughout, the show’s later seasons definitely veered into more serious territory than previous installments. EvenBuffy the Vampire Slayer’s musical episodewas quite depressing, as it followed the characters’ grief over Buffy’s sacrifice.
2Rebecca’s Breakdown
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (2015-2019)
Crazy Ex-Girlfriendjumped from being hilarious to extremely somber in one of the most jarring shifts ever. After Josh left Rebecca at the altar, her mental state declined, and she concocted a ludicrous plan to ruin her ex’s life. Within a matter of episodes, Rebecca Bunch’s quirky life and brilliant musical moments disappeared, and audiences were left staring at a woman who barely resembled the character from the pilot.
Suddenly,Rebecca attempted suicide, was diagnosed with BPD, and was arrested for attempted murderafter pushing Trent off a roof. Although this resulted in a fascinating character arc for Rebecca, who took the time to reflect on her behavior and realized she needed to ask for help more, it was still an amazing change of pace forCrazy Ex-Girlfriend.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend
Created by and starring Rachel Bloom, Crazy Ex-Girfriend is a comedy series about Rebecca Bunch, a high-powered New York City lawyer who suddenly decides to uproot her life and move to small-town California after a chance encounter with her ex-boyfriend Josh, played by Vincent Rodriguez III. As Rebecca begins to build her new life in West Covina and attempts to win Josh back, she must contend with several obstacles to her dreams including Josh’s current girlfriend, the disapproval of her mother, and the ever-evolving idea of what she actually wants her life to look like.
This was a notabletime that a sitcom became surprisingly emotional, but it was especially jarring because of how quickly Rebecca spiraled. However, this allowed the show to go in a different direction for its later seasons, although they were considered less funny than previous episodes.
1Alisha’s Death
Misfits (2009-2013)
The first episode ofMisfitsestablished the show’s dark comedic tone, and while the group accidentally killing their probation officers wasn’t exactly lighthearted, humor was always at the forefront of each installment. But when Alisha was suddenly killed in the season 3 finale,Misfitsbecame more profound than ever.
The last two seasons of the show weren’t as funny, the storylines were much darker, and the comical moments were just strange.
It was heartbreaking for audiences because they already knew that Simon was going to die, but Alisha’s demise came out of nowhere. It later made sense, as this was what sent Simon back in time, but it was still a shock at first.Misfitsslowly declined after Alisha died, and the show ended with season 5. After Curtis was also killed off, the last of the original cast,Misfitswas unrecognizable.
Misfits
Misfits is a British comedy-drama sci-fi series that blends science fiction with dark comedy. It is centered around five young offenders who gain supernatural abilities after a bizarre electrical storm. Set during their community service, the show explores how each character deals with their newfound powers, shining a light on the darker sides of having special abilities.
The last two seasons of the show weren’t as funny, the storylines were much darker, and the comical moments were just strange. The plot focused on even more violence, health scares, and biblical prophecies, and there were barely any moments that allowed viewers to take a break from the seriousness of the show.
