Let’s be honest––American television is simply not good. Sure, there are a few gems out there, but as a whole, it’s mediocre at best and cringe-worthy at worst. Most television shows seem to only exist as a money-making vehicle for their creators and stars, and seem to lack any sort of creative integrity. Within each genre (sitcom, drama, crime procedural, etc.) there exists an unspoken set of criteria each has to be fulfilled in order to maintain marketability, and because of this, all shows are pretty much the same. Still, every once in a while, a show comes around that breaks these conventions. Unfortunately, many of these shows don’t make it past the first season due to the fact that they are unmarketable––which brings me to my point: there seems to be a sort of trifecta for the perfect TV show that not many are able to fulfill. Therefore, if a show is well-written and marketable, it will not be unique. If a show is well-written and unique, it will not be marketable. And if a show is unique and marketable ... well, odds are, it won’t be well-written (see: "Glee," "Once Upon a Time"). So what do we, as members of the American audience, do when a show does hit the trifecta? We accept it with open arms, devouring it, for we are so starved of quality entertainment that we will watch just about anything. And the creators notice. And it gets to their heads. And before we know it, these shows continue long past their prime, becoming hollow shells of what they once were.

I’ve seen this happen to far too many good shows, and it never becomes any less painful. However, for some reason, I always feel like I am one of the only people who can see what is going on, while others eagerly anticipate the next season. Therefore, I am here to deliver the painful truth. Here are four shows that, I believe, have gone on for far too long, I’m tired of hearing about, and deserve to die a horrible, fiery death. Not that I’m bitter or anything.

1. "American Horror Story"

I’ll be the first to admit that this show was always kind of a mess. The first season lacked coherence, structure, and a common theme. Yet it was still a joy to watch, and I think that’s because there was a degree of self-awareness, like the show knew just how ridiculous it was. The following seasons grew much stronger, and although they both sort of fell apart at the end, it seemed like that was the way it was supposed to be. All of the ideas still felt fresh, and it was exciting to watch week to week. And then the fourth season happened, and I lost all faith in the show. In true Ryan Murphy fashion, he became too aware of his audience and took the pandering to the next level. It was not an enjoyable mess; it was just a mess. When I heard Lady Gaga was going to be the star of the fifth season, my belief that the show was a lost cause was confirmed. Also, the man loves using rape as a plot device and nothing more, which is not only an overused trope, but a disgusting one. The hype is dead. The show is no longer exciting or fresh. Please, Ryan Murphy. Put us out of our misery.

Speaking of pandering to audiences and rape being used as a plot device…

2. "Orange is the New Black"

I wanted this show to be great. So, so badly. The first season, it was one of the most well-thought out, beautifully structured, impactful pieces of television I have ever witnessed. The second season was also excellent in its characterization and exploration of complex social and moral themes. However, it suffered from lack of focus and poor structure, and after finishing it, I had a feeling that the third season was going to completely fall apart. And, hoo boy, was I right. The show has lost all sense of focus. In order for an ensemble show to work, there needs to be some sort of common thread or through-line connecting the stories, giving the narrative a sense of flow and arc. Instead, the show has become a series of isolated vignettes without any sense of thematic connection. Furthermore, the stories themselves have become absurd, forced, and no longer grounded in reality. It seems as though the writers are trying to hit on every hot-button social issue (see: Pennsatucky) and paint Piper as the antagonist in order to appease fans. I no longer know the central theme to this show, and that’s because it no longer has one. In sacrificing their own vision for their fans’ vision, the writers have dug themselves into their own grave. So let’s hop off the hype train and admit it: this show needs to be laid to rest.

3. "Arrested Development"

This may be a bit more controversial, but it needs to be said: "Arrested Development" needs to die. There’s no denying that in its glory days, the show was fantastic and forever changed the face of the American sitcom. It is also true that it died a sad, untimely death. However, through the power of a cult following and the internet, the show was resurrected and returned for a fourth season. And it was ... okay. There were some funny moments, but as a whole it was kind of “meh.” After that whole debacle, I thought the show would be done. However, as I found out recently, the show has been confirmed for a fifth season. At first I sincerely thought this news was either a joke, or some kind of elaborate internet hoax. But, no. It is very real. And very wrong. And deep down, I think we all know that the new "Arrested Development" will never live up to its former glory. There’s no point in trying to relive the past, and to do so would only sully the name of a modern masterpiece. It’s time to let go. "Arrested Development" is dead. Long live "Arrested Development."

4. "Game of Thrones"

Lastly, I would like to take this opportunity to get something off my chest. Ideally, I would like to use copious amounts of profanity, but alas, I need to keep this article semi-appropriate. So, here goes:

I bloody hate this bloody show. Out of all the shows I have listed, this one, by far, deserves to die a gruesome, horrible, painful death. I’m sick of hearing about it, I’m sick of seeing it everywhere, and I’m sick of the hype. This show brings a bad name to the fantasy genre, and I will forever resent it for that. The show was once good. I will admit this. The idea behind "Game of Thrones" itself, of basing a high-fantasy story around the war of roses, and placing politics at the center of the narrative, is fresh, interesting, and unique. George R.R. Martin’s world building and characterization is nuanced and detailed, and that's something I have a deep respect for. However, the show has become an empty bastardization of the novels. The way the writers violate and exploit female characters for the sake of shock value is nothing less than deplorable. "Game of Thrones" has evolved from an interesting take on the fantasy genre to glorified torture porn, featuring dragons. It may just be because I have a personal vendetta, but this show needs to be put to a violent end. I will not be sad to see it go. Kill it. Kill it with fire.