---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A lot of shows peak after a series and…"
description: "\"A lot of shows peak after a series and never get it back, but 'Breaking Bad' keeps the tension up all the time.\" — Miranda Raison"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/miranda-raison-31652_after_a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-n_1968415.jpg"
---

#  A lot of shows peak after a series and never get it back…

![“A lot of shows peak after a series and never get it back, but 'Breaking Bad' keeps the tension up all the time.” quote by Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/miranda-raison-31652_after_a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-n_1968415.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/miranda-raison-31652_after_a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-n_1968415.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/miranda-raison-31652_after_a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-n_1968415.jpg)

> “A lot of shows peak after a series and never get it back, but 'Breaking Bad' keeps the tension up all the time.”

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Observation that most TV series lose quality after a peak, but Breaking Bad maintains tension throughout.

**In simple terms:** Breaking Bad stays exciting while others fade.

Key Takeaway

Consistent tension keeps audience engaged.

Themes

media storytelling quality

Mood

analytical enthusiastic

Type

review media

When to use this quote

- TV criticism
- showwriting
- audience expectations

Key Concepts

narrative tension series longevity

Questions to Reflect On

- What techniques keep a series compelling?
- How does audience expectation affect perception?

A Different Perspective

Not all series can sustain high tension; may be subjective.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[After](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/) [Back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/back/) [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Breaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking/) [Breaking bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/breaking-bad/) [Get](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/get/) [Keeps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps/) [Keeps Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/keeps-tension-3291800/) [Lot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lot/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Peak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peak/) [Peak Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peak-series-3291803/) [Series](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series/) [Series Breaking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/series-breaking-3291801/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Shows Peak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows-peak-3291802/) [Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television/) [Tension](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tension/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/)

## Related quotes

> [“There's nothing more dangerous in life than not living".”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-white-breaking-bad/there-s-nothing-more-dangerous-in-life-than-not-living/)

[Walter White (Breaking Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-white-breaking-bad/)

> [I talk about Breaking Bad being the most brilliant show ever, and even minor characters have subtle nuances and are fully drawn.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-anner/i-talk-about-breaking-bad-being-the-most-brilliant-show-ever-and-even/)

[Zach Anner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-anner/)

> [You look at anything, and you're like, 'Is this as good as 'Breaking Bad?'' It took a while for me to stop comparing every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/betsy-brandt/you-look-at-anything-and-you-re-like-is-this-as-good-as-breaking-bad/)

[Betsy Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/betsy-brandt/)

> [There was a point I felt like everyone was heading in that direction of 'How can we be darker than 'Breaking Bad?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/channing-dungey/there-was-a-point-i-felt-like-everyone-was-heading-in-that-direction/)

[Channing Dungey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/channing-dungey/)

> [If YouTube has plenty of premium content, people will watch that in the same way they watch 'Game of Thrones' or 'Breaking Bad.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cabrera/if-youtube-has-plenty-of-premium-content-people-will-watch-that-in/)

[John Cabrera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cabrera/)

> [The scene we shot with Charlie Rose was actually the last piece that was ever shot for 'Breaking Bad.' My daughter and I flew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-gould/the-scene-we-shot-with-charlie-rose-was-actually-the-last-piece-that/)

[Peter Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-gould/)

> [“Just because you shot Jesse James...don't make you Jesse James. ( Breaking Bad : Season 5, Episode 3-"Hazard Pay")”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-ehrmantraut/just-because-you-shot-jesse-james-don-t-make-you-jesse-james-breaking/)

[Mike Ehrmantraut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-ehrmantraut/)

> [“ASIO turned up on Hamza's doorstep a year ago, after he and his mate, both in their mid-twenties, returned from Yemen. They weren't charged…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-safran/asio-turned-up-on-hamza-s-doorstep-a-year-ago-after-he-and-his-mate/)

[John Safran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-safran/)

> [I saw an Emmy ad that AMC took out with all the 'Breaking Bad' nominees' photos, and there's my picture from the show. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-margolis/i-saw-an-emmy-ad-that-amc-took-out-with-all-the-breaking-bad-nominees/)

[Mark Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-margolis/)

> [There's a wide variety of diversity, with people that have disabilities from R.J. Mitte in 'Breaking Bad' to Danny Woodburn being a little man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-brewer/there-s-a-wide-variety-of-diversity-with-people-that-have/)

[Jamie Brewer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-brewer/)

> [With TV season structures - and I'm a huge TV watcher - you look at shows like 'Breaking Bad,' which is my favorite show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-esmail/with-tv-season-structures-and-i-m-a-huge-tv-watcher-you-look-at-shows/)

[Sam Esmail](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-esmail/)

> [It's the cable shows that are really the most interesting - 'Mad Men,' 'Breaking Bad,' those shows are really the premiere shows on television…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dylan-mcdermott/it-s-the-cable-shows-that-are-really-the-most-interesting-mad-men/)

[Dylan McDermott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dylan-mcdermott/)

> [I'm a huge 'Breaking Bad' fan; I would be really annoyed if anyone told me anything about what was going to happen in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-m-a-huge-breaking-bad-fan-i-would-be-really-annoyed-if-anyone-told/)

[Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/)

> [“Well, then why should we do anything more than once? Should I just smoke this one cigarette? Maybe we should only have sex once,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-margolis/well-then-why-should-we-do-anything-more-than-once-should-i-just/)

[Jane Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-margolis/)

> [I don't want to hear about the endless struggles to keep sex exciting, or the work it takes to plan a date night. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mindy-kaling/i-don-t-want-to-hear-about-the-endless-struggles-to-keep-sex-exciting/)

[Mindy Kaling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mindy-kaling/)

## More by Miranda Raison

> [I'd seen her name on a call sheet for so many years and been called Jo so many times. If people said Jo in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/i-d-seen-her-name-on-a-call-sheet-for-so-many-years-and-been-called/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [I'm really into beaches, but I also enjoy a bit of culture. An ideal holiday would have a nice balance of the two, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/i-m-really-into-beaches-but-i-also-enjoy-a-bit-of-culture-an-ideal/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [Most shows find themselves descending into sentimentality or earnestness at some point but, with 'Community,' the joke is always on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/most-shows-find-themselves-descending-into-sentimentality-or/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [I was genuinely frightened when I saw the Daleks. These ridiculous-looking things absolutely get to the core of you when you're standing in front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/i-was-genuinely-frightened-when-i-saw-the-daleks-these-ridiculous/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [I've had more fan mail from 'Doctor Who' than anything. People love the show so passionately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/i-ve-had-more-fan-mail-from-doctor-who-than-anything-people-love-the/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [I haven't done as much proper travelling as I'd like to have done. However, I know how important the weather is for my mood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/i-haven-t-done-as-much-proper-travelling-as-i-d-like-to-have-done/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [Working with different people anyway is like life and meeting different people... as long as you can be empathetic, you can take a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/working-with-different-people-anyway-is-like-life-and-meeting/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [My mum lives near Holkham Bay in Norfolk, and with my dad by the coast in Suffolk, I spend quite a bit of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/my-mum-lives-near-holkham-bay-in-norfolk-and-with-my-dad-by-the-coast/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [I'm doing The Physicists, which is great, and I do have my agent to thank for that because a lot of agents try and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/i-m-doing-the-physicists-which-is-great-and-i-do-have-my-agent-to/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [I'm a bad traveller because I suffer from travel sickness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/i-m-a-bad-traveller-because-i-suffer-from-travel-sickness/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [My favourite programme of all time is 'Weeds'; the first three or four series are perfection.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/my-favourite-programme-of-all-time-is-weeds-the-first-three-or-four/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [I do read on holiday, but it tends to be very lowbrow. I'm into really camp biographies, and I'm a shameless fan of Jilly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/i-do-read-on-holiday-but-it-tends-to-be-very-lowbrow-i-m-into-really/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [Anger makes people feel uncomfortable, because the minute somebody shows it, it puts you in a position where you can't laugh or make light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/anger-makes-people-feel-uncomfortable-because-the-minute-somebody/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [Filming 'Doctor Who' is so incredibly different to 'Spooks.' Near to the surface, there's quite a silly atmosphere. A lot of the times, you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/filming-doctor-who-is-so-incredibly-different-to-spooks-near-to-the/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

> [What I've grown to hate in my 'old age' is shouting directors. I find anybody who screams and shouts to be difficult to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/what-i-ve-grown-to-hate-in-my-old-age-is-shouting-directors-i-find/)

[Miranda Raison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

[Explore all 16 Miranda Raison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/)

## More After quotes

> [At the drop of a hat, people will say there are no roles for women after 40. It's there with a bunch of other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lesley-nicol/at-the-drop-of-a-hat-people-will-say-there-are-no-roles-for-women/)

[Lesley Nicol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lesley-nicol/)

> [When my main character in 'Heat' climbs the tower, the highest diving platform, hoping to resume competitive diving after an injury, I am there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-cadnum/when-my-main-character-in-heat-climbs-the-tower-the-highest-diving/)

[Michael Cadnum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-cadnum/)

> [I was strictly after hits when it came down to the Jackson 5. That's all I was concerned with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deke-richards/i-was-strictly-after-hits-when-it-came-down-to-the-jackson-5-that-s/)

[Deke Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deke-richards/)

> [It's important for American soldiers to be culturally sensitive when deployed in foreign countries. But it's just as important for the U.S. never to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-bauer/it-s-important-for-american-soldiers-to-be-culturally-sensitive-when/)

[Gary Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-bauer/)

> [No lusting after your neighbor's house - or wife or servant or maid or ox or donkey. Don't set your heart on anything that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moses/no-lusting-after-your-neighbor-s-house-or-wife-or-servant-or-maid-or/)

[Moses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moses/)

> [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/)

[Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/)

> [When good media takes a bounded form, and comes once in a period of time, it begs to be consumed as a whole -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-battelle/when-good-media-takes-a-bounded-form-and-comes-once-in-a-period-of/)

[John Battelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-battelle/)

> [Markets are designed to allow individuals to look after their private needs and to pursue profit. It's really a great invention and I wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-soros/markets-are-designed-to-allow-individuals-to-look-after-their-private/)

[George Soros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-soros/)

> [I have a lot of success and make a good living, but after while, you start going 'Why? Why are you doing all this?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyra-banks/i-have-a-lot-of-success-and-make-a-good-living-but-after-while-you/)

[Tyra Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyra-banks/)

> [See to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-freeman-clarke/see-to-do-good-and-you-will-find-that-happiness-will-run-after-you/)

[James Freeman Clarke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-freeman-clarke/)

> [I went to school at night in L.A. to brush up on my engineering while I applied to the astronaut program. I really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mae-jemison/i-went-to-school-at-night-in-l-a-to-brush-up-on-my-engineering-while/)

[Mae Jemison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mae-jemison/)

> [Sometimes after a compliment about my characterization skills, I'm asked if I model my characters on real people. Emphatically, no. And sort of, yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brent-weeks/sometimes-after-a-compliment-about-my-characterization-skills-i-m/)

[Brent Weeks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brent-weeks/)

> [After The Wizard Of Oz I was typecast as a lion, and there aren't all that many parts for lions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bert-lahr/after-the-wizard-of-oz-i-was-typecast-as-a-lion-and-there-aren-t-all/)

[Bert Lahr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bert-lahr/)

> [I'm pretty cautious and not very athletic, so I've only had really dumb injuries, like sprained ankles and allergic reactions. I did have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mara-wilson/i-m-pretty-cautious-and-not-very-athletic-so-i-ve-only-had-really/)

[Mara Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mara-wilson/)

> [I'd like an omelet named after me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rufus-sewell/i-d-like-an-omelet-named-after-me/)

[Rufus Sewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rufus-sewell/)

[Browse all 3,411 After quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/after/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "A lot of shows peak after a series and never get it back, but 'Breaking Bad' keeps the tension up all the time.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Miranda Raison"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-never-get-it-back-but-breaking/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "After"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-never-get-it-back-but-breaking/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/miranda-raison-31652_after_a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-n_1968415.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/miranda-raison-31652_after_a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-n_1968415.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c78/miranda-raison-31652_after_a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-n_1968415.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“A lot of shows peak after a series and never get it back, but 'Breaking Bad' keeps the tension up all the…” — Miranda Raison",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Miranda Raison",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miranda-raison/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "A lot of shows peak after...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-never-get-it-back-but-breaking/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miranda-raison/a-lot-of-shows-peak-after-a-series-and-never-get-it-back-but-breaking/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
