Better Call Saul is a show that properly utilizes fan service to incorporate previous Breaking Bad characters into the prequel's timeline. 2021's South Korean dystopian drama Squid Game is in danger of too much fan service if season 2 resurrects deceased players in a non-constructive manner due to character popularity.
The concept of fan service can be a double edge sword. One side is reflective of creative minds hearing the voices that catapulted their shows, while others feel it's only to appease the masses. Fan service can be rewarding in moderation, but an abundance has proven itself to be overkill and lead to permanent disdain for the fandoms.
Game Of Thrones
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Adapted from George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire, Game of Thrones is a solid example of too much fan service. When the source material was officially covered, show creators David Benioff and D.B. Weiss took the story into their own hands. While all the storylines needed to intersect, some events were clearly for the masses.
The fan-favorite romance between Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke) was a big focus in the final seasons. This tumultuous relationship permanently damaged both characters, doing a complete 360 of where they began.
Grey's Anatomy
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Shonda Rhimes has proven herself to be the Dick Wolf of her generation, as seen with countless hits. Grey's Anatomy, a medical drama with intensity and heart, has heavily relied on fan service in its later seasons as the initial sparkle began to fade.
Fan service has been heavily seen with the constant returns of former characters, whether in the form of flashbacks or multiple episodes due to their longevity within the fandom. While some characters are thoughtfully included in their reappearances, others should remain in the past where they were.
The Mandalorian
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As the first live-action Star Wars television series, The Mandalorian flew onto the scene with the debut of the streaming service Disney+. The show has been hailed a hit for being innovative and intriguing, but belonging to such a popular franchise makes the implementation fan service inevitable.
The Mandalorian has constantly relied on homages and references to other productions throughout the Star Wars series. While it is imperative to salvage the connection to the source material, creativity should be at the forefront of an already dynamic show.
Friends
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Jennifer Aniston broke her comedic typecasting by expanding genres with her future project selections. However, she is most synonymous with Rachel Green, her breakout role in the classic 90s sitcom Friends. Due to the character's popularity, some of Rachel's storylines were a large result of fan service.
Season 8's Thanksgiving episode "The One with the Rumor" featured Aniston's then-husband Brad Pitt as a special guest star. While Pitt showed his comedic chops, the appearance was more for the fans than anything. This would also be seen again in Rachel's brief romance with Joey (Matt LeBlanc).
Stranger Things
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Created by The Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things is one of Netflix's most valuable properties. A supernatural teen drama set in the 1980s, Stranger Things is essentially the love child born from the magic of Steven Spielberg and Brian de Palma.
As the show has accrued in popularity, it has also incorporated more fan service, as was seen when the romance between Nancy Wheeler and Jonathan Byers received longevity from the relationship between their actors Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton. While this does contribute to Nancy's love triangle with Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) and Jonathan, this is solely for the fence.
The Office
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Known for some of the best cold opens, The Office is a show that has teetered a fine line regarding fan service. Since the ending, Peacock debuted "Superfan "episodes containing bonus material. Before this, the fan service might have been too much of a crutch.
Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) were the show's essential romance almost from the start. The later seasons would see the couple facing much strife in their marriage, but a poignant yet too clean of an ending for the fans' benefit greatly hindered a more genuine storyline.
Family Guy
Created by Seth MacFarlane, Family Guy is a pop-culture juggernaut with numerous references and countless guest stars. In recent years, Family Guy's reliance on fan service would end up being a detriment.
Once popular running gags have worn out their humor due to over-usage. In addition to exhausting the old formula, it greatly prevented any long-term development for the Griffin family or any other characters within their universe. The incorporation of guest stars for the sake of a piece in the fence also takes away from authentic stories.
The Big Bang Theory
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The Big Bang Theory has had countless guest stars, from Bill Nye the Science Guy to Luke Skywalker himself Mark Hamill, but other moments weren't as gratifying. Chuck Lorre's sitcom about the shenanigans of a group of scientists was beloved, but the element of sin service made the show lose its way.
Similar to The Office, The Big Bang Theory continued storylines for the popular romances of the show for the benefit of the sands. Between the aforementioned and deviating from the original material, this resulted in the show outstaying its welcome.
The Walking Dead
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Originating from Robert Kirkman's comic book series of the same title, The Walking Dead has become a pinnacle of the zombie genre. While the show remained mostly faithful in adapting the comics to the small screen, a new character brought about a large source of fan service in later seasons.
Daryl Dixon (Norman Reedus) became a fan favorite for his badass crossbow, sarcastic zingers, and rugged sex appeal. Despite proving to be a character with a layered interior, Daryl's eventual eclipse of the main protagonist Rick Grimes (Andrew Lincoln) was largely fueled by fan service.
How I Met Your Mother
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How I Met Your Mother has been resurrected in popularity due to its spin-off How I Met Your Father. In its prime, fan service was a heavy influence on the show, which was seen with multiple musical numbers, but also within character dynamics.
Barney Stinson originated as a comedic deuteragonist on How I Met Your Mother, but similar to Daryl Dixon, he would soon overshadow Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor), the male protagonist. This was especially evident in Barney’s whirlwind romance with Robin (Cobie Smulders), leading to both characters suffering from a developmental regression.
Source:gamerant.com