History Main / GrowingtheBeard

Also note that just because a series eventually grows a beard doesn't mean it was actually bad to start with. Being SoOkayItsAverage is sometimes the worst offense a show can have before it evolves, or it takes a season or two of being just "good" before it develops the myth arc it became famous for. For example, ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' may have needed some time to develop into a truly great piece of work, but it was still an excellent and clever strip from the very beginning.

[[caption-width-right:331: [[VisualPun Ahh...]] ''[[VisualPun much]]'' [[VisualPun better]].]]

[[caption-width-right:331:''[[VisualPun Much]]'' [[VisualPun better]].]]

-->-- '''Midori''', ''Anime/{{Mai-HiME}}'' episode 13

Take note that this is not a requirement with every series. They may have just [[{{Cancelled}} fallen away unnoticed]]. Maybe it started at a high quality and there is no dramatic difference in quality as mentioned, unless it only [[JumpedTheShark went downhill from there]].

Also note that just because a series eventually grows a beard doesn't mean it was actually bad to start with. Being [[SoOkayItsAverage So Okay It's Average]] is sometimes the worst offense a show can have before it evolves, or it takes a season or two of being just "good" before it develops the myth arc it became famous for. For example, ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes'' may have needed some time to develop into a truly great piece of work, but it was still an excellent and clever strip from the very beginning.

The opposite of JumpingTheShark, '''Growing the Beard''' is the definitive moment when a series begins to become noticeably better in quality. This often involves a new writer or other creative person coming on board, the happy discovery of a [[EnsembleDarkhorse popular character]], or the exit of a [[ExecutiveMeddling meddling executive]], or simply realizing what works. In general, this is where the franchise starts to find its voice. Getting someone new into a series with an ''abysmal'' beginning can be difficult, as they only have one's word that "[[ItGetsBetter it gets a lot better, really]]." Can occasionally accompany a downplay or removal of [[TheScrappy less popular characters]].

The key to this trope is seeing a dramatic "before and after" difference along the life of a series. The element can sometimes be attributed to a single, outstanding episode that defines the show. Other times it is just a general improvement, like the TropeNamer ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. Fans of the series noticed a sharp increase in quality and consistent stories and it coincided with Commander Riker, Jonathan Frakes, growing a beard[[note]]This was for his part in the NorthAndSouthUS trilogy, which was filmed between seasons 1 and 2. Frakes liked the beard so much he kept it.[[/note]] and helping the show gain its own identity, even though it still took a little more time before it really took off. The term has spread into internet vernacular to the point that [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iSwAinUFoLs#t=49s Frakes has even brought it up]]. History repeated itself a few years later when fans noted a marked improvement in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' after lead actor Avery Brooks grew a beard (and shaved his head, to boot).

The key to this trope is seeing a dramatic "before and after" difference along the life of a series. The element can sometimes be attributed to a single, outstanding episode that defines the show. Other times it is just a general improvement, like the TropeNamer ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. Fans of the series noticed a sharp increase in quality and consistent stories and it coincided with Commander Riker, Jonathan Frakes, growing a beard and helping the show gain its own identity, even though it still took a little more time before it really took off. The term has spread into internet vernacular to the point that [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iSwAinUFoLs#t=49s Frakes has even brought it up]]. History repeated itself a few years later when fans noted a marked improvement in ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' after lead actor Avery Brooks grew a beard (and shaved his head, to boot).

[[quoteright:331:[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/william_riker_growing_the_beard.jpg]]]]

[[quoteright:330:[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/William_Riker_Growing_The_Beard_4.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:330:''[[VisualPun Much]]'' [[VisualPun better]].]]

[[caption-width-right:330:''Much'' better.]]

The key to this trope is seeing a dramatic "before and after" difference along the life of a series. The element can sometimes be attributed to a single, outstanding episode that defines the show. Other times it is just a general improvement, like the TropeNamer ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration''. Fans of the series noticed a sharp increase in quality and consistent stories and it coincided with Commander Riker, Jonathan Frakes, growing a beard and helping the show gain its own identity, even though it still took a little more time before it really took off. The term has spread into internet vernacular to the point that [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iSwAinUFoLs#t=49s Frakes has even brought it up]].

->''"Okay, since when did this show suddenly become AMAZING?!"''
-->-- '''Yugi''' WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries "Seto Kaiba vs The World"

-->-- '''Yugi''' WebVideo/YuGiOhTheAbridgedSeries "Seto Kaiba vs The World"]]

->''"What is there to say? The best Dalek story of the classic series, the best story up to this point in the classic series, a story so radical that it changed how people did ''Doctor Who'' forever. Would there have been a new series if the show had been cancelled before this? I’m not sure there would have been..."''
-->-- '''Dr. Phil Sandifer''' [[http://www.philipsandifer.com/2011/08/title-and-image-to-go-in-when-my.html on]] ''Series/DoctorWho'', [[{{Recap/DoctorWhoS25E1RemembranceOfTheDaleks}} "Remembrance of the Daleks"]]

The opposite of JumpingTheShark, '''Growing the Beard''' is the definitive moment when a series begins to become noticeably better in quality. This often involves a new writer or other creative person coming on board, the happy discovery of a [[EnsembleDarkhorse popular character]], or the exit of a [[ExecutiveMeddling meddling executive]]. In general, this is where the franchise starts to find its voice. Getting someone new into a series with an ''abysmal'' beginning can be difficult, as they only have one's word that "[[ItGetsBetter it gets a lot better, really]]." Can occasionally accompany a downplay or removal of [[TheScrappy less popular characters]].

-->--'''Dr. Phil Sandifer''' [[http://www.philipsandifer.com/2011/08/title-and-image-to-go-in-when-my.html on]] ''Series/DoctorWho'', [[{{Recap/DoctorWhoS25E1RemembranceOfTheDaleks}} "Remembrance of the Daleks"]]

In general, this happens only once during a series run. But there are times where long after Growing the Beard a show starts to hit a low point like a DorkAge or StrictlyFormula. A [[WinBACKTheCrowd second Growing the Beard can occur with a refreshing of ideas and hitting a new high]]. We might well call this trope "Greying the Beard".

Also note that just because a series eventually grows a beard doesn't mean it was actually bad to start with. Being [[SoOkayItsAverage So Okay It's Average]] is sometimes the worst offense a show can have before it evolves, or it takes a season or two of being just "good" before it develops the myth arc it became famous for. For example, ''CalvinAndHobbes'' may have needed some time to develop into a truly great piece of work, but it was still an excellent and clever strip from the very beginning.

->''"What is there to say? The best Dalek story of the classic series, the best story up to this point in the classic series, a story so radical that it changed how people did ''Doctor Who'' forever. Would there have been a new series if the show had been cancelled before this? I’m not sure there would have been…"''\\
--'''Dr. Phil Sandifer''' [[http://www.philipsandifer.com/2011/08/title-and-image-to-go-in-when-my.html on]] ''Series/DoctorWho'', [[{{Recap/DoctorWhoS25E1RemembranceOfTheDaleks}} "Remembrance of the Daleks"]]

If it is a comedic series, then this is usually when it deviates from an overall lighthearted tone and reaches an impressive emotional depth. If it is a drama (or something in between), this would be when the character dynamic is spelled out clearly and starts to resonate with the storyline. In the case of science fiction another major characteristic of this trope is that the show will begin to develop actual continuity, (generally spanning the lifetime of the series, once begun) rather than just spending its time on one-off episodes which don't mean anything outside each individual episode itself. While there may not be a true MythArc as such, there will still be some form of memory, and you can expect to see events from episodes referenced by characters later.

The opposite of JumpingTheShark, '''Growing the Beard''' is the definitive moment when a television series begins to become noticeably better in quality. This often involves a new writer or other creative person coming on board, the happy discovery of a [[EnsembleDarkhorse popular character]], or the exit of a [[ExecutiveMeddling meddling executive]]. In general, this is where the franchise starts to find its voice. Getting someone new into a series with an ''abysmal'' beginning can be difficult, as they only have one's word that "it gets a lot better, really." Can occasionally accompany a downplay or removal of [[TheScrappy less popular characters]].

* GrowingTheBeard/ProWrestling

If it is a comedic series, then this is usually when it deviates from an overall lighthearted tone and reaches an impressive emotional depth. If it is a drama (or something in between), this would be when the character dynamic is spelled out clearly and starts to resonate with the storyline. In the case of science fiction, another major characteristic of this trope, is that the show will begin to develop actual continuity, (generally spanning the lifetime of the series, once begun) rather than just spending its time on one-off episodes which don't mean anything outside each individual episode itself. While there may not be a true MythArc as such, there will still be some form of memory, and you can expect to see events from episodes referenced by characters later.

Also note that fans can be [[BrokenBase starkly divided]] [[TheyChangedItNowItSucks as to whether a change is]] Growing the Beard or Jumping the Shark.

Take note that this is not a requirement with every series. They may have just [[TooGoodToLast fallen away unnoticed]]. Maybe it started at a high quality and there is no dramatic difference in quality as mentioned, unless it only [[JumpedTheShark went downhill from there]].

If it is a comedic series, then this is usually when it deviates from an overall lighthearted tone and reaches an impressive emotional depth. If it is a drama (or something in between), this would be when the character dynamic is spelled out clearly and starts to resonate with the storyline. In the case of science fiction, another major characteristic of this trope, is that the show will begin to develop actual continuity, (generally spanning the lifetime of the series, once begun) rather than just spending its' time on one-off episodes which don't mean anything outside each individual episode itself. While there may not be a true MythArc as such, there will still be some form of memory, and you can expect to see events from episodes referenced by characters later.