The Wire is my first thought. Mad Men, The Sopranos, and Lost feel pretty fully formed in their first seasons too, though none of those touches The Wire in my opinion. Leaving out one season shows like Freaks and Geeks, as well as miniseries.
It's been a very long time since I watched it but Utopia (UK) had a fantastic first season. I'd say Hannibal as well but it's likely I'm mixing up key moments or even episodes from S1 and S2
isn’t the discussion best first seasons ever? i don’t believe it’s shows where the best season is the first season lol
Yeah I’m asking what is the best first season ever, not what show’s first season is also its best season. I think the wire is probably my pick.
Friday Night Lights is a good pick. The other seasons all have their moments but it is never the same. The Wire and Succession came out of the gate pretty close to what the shows would end up being known for.
I tried getting into Arrested Development but didn't like it. I guess proof that comedy is subjective
I was the biggest fan of Arrested Development right around when it was cancelled the first time, but by the time it came back and I tried to watch it it just didn't make me laugh. There are a few good gags because you have some great comedic actors working, but the self-referential stuff really started to feel like the writers wanting to prove how smarter they were than everyone else, which only got worse when the show was starting to have episodes cut and seasons shortened and they started adding their anger towards that into the bits.