10 popular TV shows with the longest breaks between seasons

Sadly, it’s become the new norm for TV shows to take long breaks between seasons, but there was a time when TV shows faithfully aired new seasons every year.blockbuster comedy bear is one of the few recent examples that has committed to releasing a new season in the same month every year.Meanwhile, famous shows on related streaming services such as stranger things and master of nonewhich usually makes fans wait longer than they would like.

Previously, demand for television shows included more episodes to fit each network’s full schedule. If the show didn’t restart on time, there must have been something seriously wrong with the production. Some TV shows would go on hiatus for an incredibly long time before returning, but they often ended up being a homecoming of sorts. Here are the 10 TV shows with the longest hiatus between seasons.

Ten Barry (2018-2023)

3 years

barry

creator

bill hader

season

Four

barry It will live on as one of the most original comedy series in recent memory and forever establish Bill Hader as a comedic genius of his generation. In the show, he plays a tormented hitman who is trying to put his violent past behind him and become a part of L.A.’s theatrical arts scene. However, trouble always befalls him someday.

each barryThe four seasons of the series were released around March-April, but there was a long gap between the second and third seasons. Due to unforeseen complications caused by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, production on Season 3 could not begin until the beginning of 2020. barry It was able to get back on track without any further hiccups, and its glorious final season was released exactly one year after season three. Stream with Max

9 Stranger Things (2016-present)

3 years

As Netflix’s most profitable asset, stranger things That should be a top priority for streaming services, at least in theory. However, the show only found it increasingly difficult to maintain a steady release schedule. The hiatus between seasons 1 and 2 was 1 year and 3 months, and between seasons 2 and 3 it was almost 2 years. Things got completely out of hand the next season. It was released about three years after season three.

Delays are particularly harmful stranger things That’s because the show doesn’t allow for real-life time skips, and its primarily young cast are clearly grown-up. Despite only having nine episodes, season 4 was split into two parts to further stall the show, with the fifth and final season scheduled to be released only in 2025. So it’s been almost 10 years since the show started. Star Millie Bobby Brown was only 12 years old. Stream on Netflix

8 Fargo (2014-present)

3 years

fargo

release date

April 15, 2014

season

Five

fargo It was once one of FX’s top performing shows and aired just in time for the anthology TV show. american horror story and true detective, was increasing. The show adapts the themes and darkly comical tone of Joel Coen’s hit film. fargointroduces new actors and characters each season to tackle new violent and unpredictable stories of violence.

While the show continued to deliver high-quality content and assembled a star-studded cast in each season, that’s no longer FX’s priority. in the end, fargo This is far from a low-cost program to produce. The series started having long breaks between seasons, usually either his second year or his third year.Season 4 was released in 2020 and season 5 in late 2023, but at least fargo This anthology series has never lost its strength and has the advantage of being the only anthology series to maintain a loyal fanbase. Stream on Hulu

7 Sherlock (2010-2017)

3 years

sherlock

release date

July 25, 2010

season

Four

sherlock It attracted a large audience due to its unusual format, with each season having just three episodes, each airing for 90 minutes like a top-notch TV movie. The show also happens to feature his two famous British stars, with an excellent script that effectively matches the level of performance, as well as the iconic Sherlock Holmes and his loyal sidekick John. He plays a modern version of Dr. Watson.

sherlockHowever, the film’s appeal comes at a price. Although the seasons were relatively shorter than most of his TV series, the breaks between his four seasons on the show have only gotten longer.at that time sherlock When Season 3 ended, fans had to wait three full years to see their favorite detective back in action. Purchase on Apple TV

6 Atlanta (2016-2022)

4 years

atlanta

release date

September 6, 2016

creator

donald glover

season

Four

atlanta has been one of the most relevant shows in years, and is well placed in a growing scene of comedy shows approaching heavier dramas. The series sees an unreliable music manager team up with his cousin to shake up the rap scene, but the initial plot is just the beginning of a powerful socially conscious story.

With a cast full of entertainment industry stars, from Donald Glover to LaKeith Stanfield, we expected something like this: atlanta It will likely take longer than other shows to return as the actors’ schedules will conflict and difficulties will arise again. COVID-19 occurred to further complicate matters, resulting in a four-year delay between seasons two and three. Thankfully, the producers decided to film the final two seasons. atlanta At the same time, fans didn’t have to wait that long to see how things would end. Stream on Hulu

Five Master of None (2015-2021)

4 years

master of none is a Netflix comedy-drama series starring and written by comedian Aziz Ansari, previously known for his hilarious role as Tom in the film. parks and recreation. The show draws on Ansari’s own personal experiences to create an entertaining mosaic of cross-sections of his life, following him as he navigates his 30s as an actor in New York.

The show’s first two seasons were an immediate success, winning three major Emmy Awards. but, master of none Ansari went into a long hiatus while searching for inspiration. When the series returned for the first time in four years, fans were treated to a major tonal shift, with Ansari passing the lead baton to Lena Waithe and her character Denise. It was a creative choice, accepted by few, but ultimately a success. master of none Until its end. Stream on Netflix

Four True Detective (2014-present)

5 years

true detective

release date

January 12, 2014

cast

Mahershala Ali, Stephen Dorff, Carmen Ejogo, Scoot McNairy, Jodie Foster, Kali Reis, Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson, Alexandra Daddario, John Hawkes, Colin Farrell, Vince Vaughn

season

Four

Read our review of season 4

first season true detective was an instant hit when it premiered in 2014. Both an homage and a satire of the best crime mystery tropes, the characters were engaging and the main case thrilling thanks to the chemistry between Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. However, when an anthology show starts off this strong, maintaining consistency becomes a near-impossible task.

In that sense, true detectiveThe follow-up was underwhelming despite a new star-studded cast including Vince Vaughn, Colin Farrell, and Rachel McAdams. Due to the poor reception, fans were unsure whether the show would return. That happened in 2019, four years after season two. true detective aired again, and the gap between seasons 3 and 4 widened to an even more mysterious five years. Stream with Max

3 Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000-2024)

6 years

Larry David first became famous for seinfeld, the legendary sitcom “About Nothing,” which he co-created with Jerry Seinfeld. He continues the legacy of plotless adventure. curb your enthusiasmThere, he plays a fictional version of himself dealing with extreme situations caused by the trivial events of ordinary life.

It took David 24 years to produce 12 seasons, largely due to a lengthy hiatus in which production on the series was halted for six years.Continue curb your enthusiasmhad its eighth season in 2011, but the show returned in 2017 as if nothing had happened and aired for four more seasons, with the twelfth season set to be its final season. Stream with Max

RELATED: Curb Your Enthusiasm: The Best Episodes Ranked

2 Happy Valley (2014-2023)

7 years

happy valley

release date

April 29, 2014

creator

sally wainwright

cast

Sarah Lancashire, Siobhan Finneran, James Norton, Charlie Murphy

season

3

happy valley One of the best British crime dramas in recent memory, about Detective Sergeant Catherine Cawood’s struggle to balance her turbulent personal life with the hardships of her professional life. Her three seasons on the show only had six episodes each, and fans had to wait a full seven years after season two to finally see the continuation of Sgt. Kaywood.

The reason for this unsettling hiatus is due to the showrunners’ insistence that they not recast Lis Conna and wait for Ryan Cawood to develop, much like Richard Linklater did in the film. there were. Boyhood. happy valley Returned in 2023 and was finally given the rank of Sgt. Cawood is the closure required for the character. Stream on AMC+

1 Twin Peaks (1990-2017)

26 years

Few television shows can convey such a frenzied atmosphere. twin peaks, although many shows have attempted it over the years. It could be a typical melodrama with a criminal undertone, about the residents of Twin Peaks dealing with the aftermath of the murder of a popular teenage girl. But David Lynch’s creative vision made possible a surrealist masterpiece that plays with what audiences perceive as reality.

The show was canceled in 1991 due to declining ratings, but Laura Palmer’s iconic line “See you in 25 years” may have indicated that Lynch always intended to return. do not have.what makes it so twin peaksA retelling, not a revival, is a way for the show to pick up directly where it left off 26 years ago, exploring once again the darkest depths of the forest that surrounds Twin Peaks. Stream on Paramount+