TV shows are something we have always relied on to provide entertainment. Every now and then you get hit with a show that has everybody raving. Most of the time people are right and it’s a great show, check out this post on my Netflix recommendations if you want to see some hype-worthy shows. However, there are also some shows that everybody loves and you watch and you just think WHAT?! HOW DOES EVERYONE LOVE THIS? With that in mind, I thought I’d put out what may be some unpopular opinions on some TV shows that I don’t think are worth the hype at all!

Normal People
Remember when we all went mad for this during the summer? Don’t get me wrong, this show isn’t awful but it’s just boring in my opinion. Though, arguably you could say that half of the premise is that it’s meant to show the mundanity of life. However, this doesn’t make for great viewing. I found that it’s just a sex-fest with no real plot or story to make those scenes seem worthwhile. When I tried to watch it I only got to episode 4 and then had to give up as I just needed something with a bit more oomph to it. I don’t hate Normal People as a show and maybe I’ll try and finish the series one day (don’t count on it), but I really don’t think it’s worth the hype!
The Office (US)
Hear me out. The Office UK version – funny. The Office US version – dreadful. I think this partly comes down to the fact that I don’t tend to find American sitcoms or comedies funny at all. Shows like How I Met Your Mother, The Big Bang Theory etc have no appeal to me and I have never laughed at them. For me, the humour is too obvious and loud that I find it irritating to watch. I just don’t understand why there needed to be a US version made that was much less funny in my opinion! For me, this is undeserving of the hype it gets and if you want a good laugh, watch the UK version!
Friends
Everyone and their dog loves Friends and I cannot stand it. Like The Office (US) I just don’t find it funny. Whenever it’s on or someone suggests watching an episode I groan and leave the room. There’s something about Friends that I just don’t like! I have never laughed at an episode and don’t find the characters amusing or interesting. Again, I think this comes back to the fact I really don’t find American comedies funny so anything remotely like Friends gets a big no from me!
The Queen’s Gambit
Everyone seemed to be raving about this show a few months ago. I tried to watch it but found it boring. Similarly to Normal People, I didn’t hate it but there wasn’t enough to keep me watching so I stopped. Clearly, the slow-burning TV show doesn’t work for me. Maybe I just need a bit more drama to keep me hooked and the. I really wanted to get into this TV show so I could understand the hype but I got to about episode 3 before stopping. Maybe I’ll start it again to try and get into it so I might be eating my words soon!
I feel like I’ve expressed some rather controversial opinions here! There are so many TV shows that do live up to the hype and are worthy of praise but these just don’t hit the spot for me. I’d love to know whether you agree with me on the shows that don’t live up to the hype or whether you think I’m mad and love them all!
Do you agree with me? What TV shows do you think aren’t worth the hype?
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Funnily enough, I tried watching the American Office last night and I found it just as dull as the original. I’ve not bothered watching the Queen’s Gambit and after reading this, I won’t bother lol.
I think it’s so interesting to see what people don’t like. I’ve never watched Normal People as it didn’t interest me. The Queen’s Gambit was okay, but I stopped watching half was through as I couldn’t fully get into it. I like the Office US, so maybe I’ll have to watch the UK version to see what it’s all about. Thank you for sharing!!
Em x
I have never watched normal people but heard similar comments from people. I think I will try the book instead! I agree with the office although I have to say I didn’t like the UK version either (not a fan of Ricky Gervais) I do love friends though I have to say!
One I couldn’t get into that everyone seemed to love was Schitts Creek. I just didn’t laugh once at that.
I love your honesty! I get what you’re saying about normal people and can understand why you didn’t like it. I didn’t get into friends until a few years ago and really enjoy it now, to be honest – great post x
Haha I also didn’t like Normal People (the book or the series) and I don’t understand the Sally Rooney hype- she’s not a bad author but I don’t understand why her work has been so highly revered these past few years. I do love Friends though, sorry! It’s cheesy and stereotypical, but I enjoy re-watching it as a comfort watch x
I never saw Normal People so I can’t comment. The Office tended to be a little uneven so I understand why you’d be turned off. I did enjoy the Queen’s Gambit so I need to disagree with you there. Certainly, it had flaws but I found myself rooting for the protagonist. Friends was overrated, without question!! My two cents!
I loved The Queen’s Gambit & Friends but have never watched The Office or Normal People – I couldn’t even read the book! 😂😂
I haven’t watched Bridgerton either as I just don’t see the hype! Same with Pretty Little Liars! 🙄
Sometimes shows can get overhyped & they aren’t really any good which is a shame. Xo
This is so funny! I never watched normal people or the queens gambit because I don’t like to give into hype lol! My mum and sister are both obsessed with the us office and its literally the only thing that’s ever on in our house! Friends i enjoy but there are definitely better shows!
I completely agree about the US Office! I’ve never actually watched it, but I’ve seen bits here and there. The UK version has that true cringe/ embarrassment to it that Americans don’t seem to understand – but that’s actually what we’re like! Similar to how they tried to do a US Inbetweeners, it was never going to work cause they don’t get our awkwardness x
Yes I completely agree! Oh yeah, US Inbetweeners is awful as well!!
It’s always interesting to hear other people’s TV opinions so I really enjoyed this post! I haven’t seen The Office (US or UK) or The Queen’s Gambit but neither are top of my list in terms of what I want to watch next. I do love both Normal People and Friends though! x
https://www.femaleoriginal.com
Haha I loved reading this! Although I did enjoy the Queen’s Gambit, I’m not a huge Friends fan as well. It’s fine when it’s on, but I wouldn’t plan my evening around it.
Good post! Everyone has their own opinion. There are a lot of Malaysian dramas that I believe not worth the hype at all. But there are still people supporting them. Umm…… Just sharing.
I wholeheartedly disagree with The Queen’s Gambit. I absolutely adored that show – one of the best I’ve seen in the last few years. But each to their own of course! I love to see what other people think about the shows I’ve watched. I gotta admit, I’ve grown out of Friends now. I used to love it but I don’t think I could watch it again now. I haven’t seen the other two x
I agree with The Office and Friends! I could never understand why people like them, especially as “hallmark sitcoms” because they were not funny to me.
Unfortunate that you didn’t like The Queen’s Gambit! I loved it but also I binged it in a day and warched at 1.5x speed so maybe it’s actually quite slow?
I think it’s great when people throw out challenges to shows/films/concepts that are so well loved by lots of others – can tell you’re not just doing it to be edgy but you actually have your genuine reasons! As much time as I have for Ricky Gervais I’m personally not a fan of the UK series of The Office so personally cannot see how I would enjoy the US one any more.
Friends is one of those loved by so many people (including myself) but I can sometimes see why it can be a bit tedious – maybe it’s because I know so much about it!
Good post and well done for challenging some of the norm!
Thank you so much!
I really don’t like the forceful, loud and uncomfortable nature of US comedy at all so popular programmes like The Office, Big Bang Theory, How I Met Your Mother are too much for me. I did used to watch Friends when I was at university but I know that I probably wouldn’t even be able to get through one episode nowadays.
Haha me neither! I completely agree with you!
I only watched Friends from the list so can’t comment much on the rest! I think Friend it’s quite overhyped, it’s fine to watch but never got why people hype it so much! Thanks for sharing x
Oh, I love an opinionated blogger! Thank you for this. So, I LOVED Normal People and The Queen’s Gambit, but am really with you on Friends and the US Office. I’d occasionally laugh at Friends, but overall it irked me.
I feel like I need to give the Queen’s Gambit another go as everyone loves it!
Normal People is one series I didn’t like, it bored me too! Even the book isn’t all that brilliant! I do have to say that I do love Friends and loved well before it got to Netflix! x
Lucy | http://www.lucymary.co.uk
I can’t comment on a couple of them as I’ve never watched them but I definitely agree with you when it comes to Friends & The Office. I could just never really get into them.
Friends is funniest to those of us who grew up in the 90s, watching it week to week. It’s a bit dated now, but I’ll always love it.
I have never watched any of these but there has been so much hype around The Queen’s Gambit and it’s already on my TBW list. One of the shows I feel is not worth the hype is sex education haha. I watched it and to me it’s fairly good and not all that everyone claims it is. I guess everyone has different movie tastes and a movie that seems to go well for everyone might not go well for you and that’s okay.
I love reading people on both sides of the Friends debate! I quite like it as a comfort show, but I can totally appreciate why people don’t obsess over it!
Katie | katieemmabeauty.com
I find this very relatable. I too don’t find Friends that funny and don’t think its worth the hype it gets. I think I’m the only one in my entire friends circle that doesn’t find this show very appealing. Many people have tried forcing me to watch the show but they’re the ones who get disappointed at the end 😂
Haha yes I’m the same!
I love your honestly! Especially towards popular shows, it’s refreshing although I do enjoy a lot of these shows I still love hearing others opinions!
I haven’t seen Normal People and The Office, but I love Friends and The Queen’s Gambit! I do get that The Queen’s Gambit is slow-burning and the episodes are quite long so it’s not for everyone.
I agree with all of these apart from the Queens Gambit. I really enjoyed that
I loved Normal People and am happy to dip in and out of The Office, but I’m right with you on Friends!
I agree with US Office – UK one is better in my opinion! Really interesting that you’re not a fan of Queen’s Gambit, I haven’t watched it myself but heard good things, so I’m kinda torn whether to watch it! I can see why Normal People may have felt a bit boring/slow, but I loooove the book and thought it was quite well done.
I still need to finish Normal People but it didn’t grip me so I never got round to it, haha!
I like slow-burning shows so I enjoyed The Queen’s Gambit, but I definitely agree with your view on Friends! I would watch it when it came on tv, but I never enjoyed it. I also haven’t seen Normal People, but I just watched the trailer & it didn’t look interesting & it just seems like they have sex all the time.
Haha yep that’s basically all that happens in the episodes I watched!
I LOVED Normal People when it came out, it was right back at the start of lockdown so it was a novelty to dedicate an entire weekend to a TV show! I read the book last summer too which was fab!
We watched The Queen’s Gambit over 2 days. I thought we wouldn’t be into it but it was so clever!
Rosie
I absolutely LOVED Normal People and FRIENDS is one of my favourite tv shows ever but it’s always so interesting reading other people’s opinions! I am tempted to give Queen’s Gambit a go!
I love American sitcoms 🙈 I feel like The Office is one of those shows you’ve gotta watch, no matter how bad it is and how annoying it is! I agree about Normal People though xx
Totally with you on the Office and Normal people, I mean normal people was OK, my fiance LOVED it, I just thought it was OK but just that, certainly not worth the hype.
Friends I love! I grew up on it though and have fond memories of sharing those early episodes and the excitement each one bought with it.
The Queen’s gambit was so much better than I thought.
I always thought I was a fan of the hard hitting, grabs you straight away kind of TV but recently I have been more enjoying the slow burners. I love this post though, we are all so used to sharing what we love but I love this twist!
Thank you – I’m glad you enjoyed reading!
I like hearing what other shows people don’t like and why; it’s just nice to hear another perspective. Before Lockdown, I was always late to the ‘show hype’, but I’ve got more time to watch new shows now. I had to search what ‘Normal People’ was as I haven’t watched that, nor do I recall seeing anything about it. 😅 I haven’t seen The Office, either version, but everyone always suggests watching the UK version. I don’t have any strong feelings towards Friends. I’ve watched many episodes, but if I can watch something else, I will.
I absolutely adored Queen’s Gambit; the build-up worked nicely for the show and built the characters up. It was interesting how they made a relatively quiet game into something so engaging and captivating. Thank you for sharing your opinions about these shows. 😊
I feel like I need to try the Queen’s Gambit as a few people have said it’s slow but is worth it!
I have only watched friends on this list, and although I do enjoy it, I am kind of over it now. It’s not something I would choose to watch now. Ooh I did add the queen’s gambit to my watch list though, haven’t seen it yet though so might have to give it a go and see what I think! xx
Id love to know your thoughts on it!
I really enjoyed Normal People but got so bored with the Queen’s Gambit. Have never watched the Office, either version so can’t comment on that one.
Ahh I would have to disagree with you on a few of these! I haven’t seen normal people yet, but it doesn’t really sound like something I would watch but I love the other series! X
I am so glad I am not the only one who thinks these shows aren’t worth the hype. I have never seen an episode of Friends and I just couldn’t get into the Queen’s Gambit.
I’m glad I’m not the only one!
I love a controversial opinion, especially on things that everyone seems to be raving about. Loved getting your thoughts especially on Queen’s Gambit. I am not a fan but my sister loved it, so individual preference plays a big part in finding a show to really love. 🙂
Ooh thank you for these! I’d heard good things about Queen’s Gambit and it was on my list but sounds like it’s not one to rush to. It’s really satisfying finding someone who isn’t a big Friends fan – I’ve never really watched it but everyone just seems to rave about it so much. Great list – if that’s the right way to say it for this kind of post?
Haha yes I agree! I really don’t understand why people rave about it!
Yet to see Queens Gambit, but I have to agree with you with the other three. Especially Friends which felt stale when it came out, now it’s just cringy.
Yes, I hate friends!
I didn’t get the hype with The Queens Gambit either – not my sort of thing at all!
I suppose it’s a case of “different strokes for different folks” …
I loved Friends when it originally aired. I’m not sure that it has aged very well.
Hate all things Gervais so not a fan of UK Office and no intention of watching what would doubtless be an even worse US version!
I wasn’t expecting to like The Queen’s Gambit. I typically like nonsensical plots, car chases, mindless violence – I like a bit of escapism, I don’t want to watch Oscar-worthy luvvy dramas! But guess what? I really enjoyed it! I can’t really put my finger on why but it just drew me in.
Haven’t gotten around to watching Normal People yet.
I started reading Normal People and I really don’t like it so I don’t think I will be checking out the show :- D The Queen’s Gambit, on the other hand, I absolutely loved :- ) I have mixed feelings about Friends – it’s a nostalgic show for me but recently I saw an episode and found it quite annoying and not that funny :- D
i appreciate your honest & unpopular opinion review but i love Friends, The Office & The Queens Gambit. To each your own though & I can see how people can find it to be overrated. And as the years go by, I feel like Friends might not seem relevant to the times after a while.