One of the strengths of an anthology series is how everything can change from season to season. Every season of The White Lotus takes place in a different resort; every season of American Horror Story has a different focus and different characters; and every season of Fargo follows a different story.
But this can be a double-edged sword. While this format does allow for the story to start over from scratch, there’s always a risk that the following seasons won’t recapture the magic. There’s no better example than True Detective, the HBO series that was a smash hit with its first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, but never reached the same heights. In fact, when The New York Times listed its list of best shows of the 21st century, the entry for True Detective clarified that it only meant Season 1.
