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| 8 | [[quoteright:350:[[Franchise/StarTrek https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/star_trek_curse_3.png]]]] |
| 9 | |
| 10 | ->"''Sure as day follows night, sure as eggs is eggs, sure as every odd-numbered ''Franchise/StarTrek'' movie is shit.''" |
| 11 | -->-- '''Tim Bisley''', ''Series/{{Spaced}}'', played by '''Creator/SimonPegg''', who starred in [[Film/StarTrek2009 the eleventh Star Trek movie]], wrote [[Film/StarTrekBeyond the thirteenth]], and [[HilariousInHindsight noted the irony]]. |
| 12 | |
| 13 | As a series or franchise goes on and the number of sequels and side works/[[{{Spinoff}} spin-offs]]/etc. increases, it's all but certain that the audience will not find them to all be of uniform quality. However, there are a number of works that show this in one particular way: audiences will generally find that the quality bounces back and forth in a numerically ordered fashion. Typically, this will show up as either the even- or odd-numbered sequels being better than the opposite, although other variants exist. |
| 14 | |
| 15 | The TropeCodifier is the ''Franchise/StarTrek'' movies, which have had a long-standing reputation of "the even-numbered movies are a lot better than the odd-numbered ones". |
| 16 | |
| 17 | See also: SophomoreSlump, for when the first in a series is good, the second is trash, but the third is good again. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | Not to be confused with TheProductionCurse, where the problems go ''much, much'', deeper. |
| 20 | ---- |
| 21 | !!Examples: |
| 22 | |
| 23 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 24 | |
| 25 | [[folder:''Star Trek'' (Trope Namer)]] |
| 26 | ''Franchise/StarTrek'' is the {{Trope Namer|s}}, although ironically it's more CommonKnowledge than an actual example. |
| 27 | ---- |
| 28 | * Of the original cast films, everybody agrees that the even-numbered films (''[[Film/StarTrekIITheWrathOfKhan The Wrath of Khan]]'', ''[[Film/StarTrekIVTheVoyageHome The Voyage Home]]'', ''[[Film/StarTrekVITheUndiscoveredCountry The Undiscovered Country]]'') are excellent as both science fiction films and ''Star Trek'' films. However, the odd-numbered ones are a mixed bag: the first one (''[[Film/StarTrekTheMotionPicture The Motion Picture]]'') is generally considered to not be too bad, with its worst offenses being its leaden pace (a much shorter DirectorsCut from 2001 was very warmly received) and excessive padding with special effects, while the third film (''[[Film/StarTrekIIITheSearchForSpock The Search for Spock]]'') is a cheap-looking, continuity-dense affair that is ''at worst'' SoOkayItsAverage and at best an underrated gem. It also crucially connects with the second and fourth movie to be a sort of trilogy. Only the fifth film (''[[Film/StarTrekVTheFinalFrontier The Final Frontier]]'') is universally derided as awful on almost every conceivable level (though some consider it SoBadItsGood). The "Star Trek curse" received a boost in popularity when Series/SiskelAndEbert listed ''Final Frontier'' among the ten worst movies of 1989. The odd movie curse started with fandom after ''The Search For Spock'' and was confirmed by ''The Voyage Home'', but ''Final Frontier'' sealed it. ''The Motion Picture'' and ''The Search for Spock'' obviously made enough money to keep the franchise going. |
| 29 | * By the 1990s, the curse had taken root in the public's mind, and the three ''[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration Next Generation]]'' films released in that decade certainly didn't shake the perception. The seventh (''[[Film/StarTrekGenerations Generations]]'') and ninth (''[[Film/StarTrekInsurrection Insurrection]]'' -- which the crew dubbed "Nine of Ten" in a futile effort to shake off the curse) films are both considered forgettable and lackluster, and ''Generations'' has a fairly sizeable hatedom for {{Trope|Namer}}-Naming "DroppedABridgeOnHim". Only the eighth (''[[Film/StarTrekFirstContact First Contact]]'') is well-loved by fans and critics. The tenth film overall and last ''Next Generation'' film, ''[[Film/StarTrekNemesis Nemesis]]'' broke the pattern by being poorly received, ending up as a FranchiseKiller. |
| 30 | * The Kelvin timeline films (''Film/StarTrek2009'', ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' and ''Film/StarTrekBeyond''), are seen as further "evidence" amongst fans that the curse has appearently been inverted in the 21st century. ''2009'' was seen as a solid film that revived ''Star Trek'' on the sliver screen after ''Nemesis'' bombed. ''Into Darkness'', on the the other hand, due it openly referencing ''Wrath of Khan'' (to the point where [[TheyCopiedItSoItSucks some see it as copying it a little too closely]]) and its allusions to the UsefulNotes/TheWarOnTerror, was met with a ''very'' polarized response by the fanbase and as such is regarded as a ContestedSequel. Finally ''Beyond'' was more universally well-recieved by the fans and those who were left cold by ''Into Darkness'' see it as a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel. |
| 31 | * When Creator/{{Paramount}} promoted the 2009 reboot with Platform/BluRay box sets of older ''Star Trek'' movies, they also provided the option to buy each even-numbered Blu-ray (save ''Nemesis'') by itself, but kept the odd-numbered [=BDs=] and ''Nemesis'' exclusive to the sets. The promotional campaign for ''Film/StarTrekIntoDarkness'' brought forth individual releases for the odd-numbered discs and ''Nemesis'', but their front covers didn't boast any blurbs of critical praise. |
| 32 | * There is also a separate curse revolving ''Star Trek'' video games, that is most of them falling to TheProblemWithLicensedGames. |
| 33 | [[/folder]] |
| 34 | |
| 35 | [[folder:Anime & Manga]] |
| 36 | * In a fairly minor case of this, fans of ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' tend to consider the odd-numbered ''openings'' to be better than the even-numbered ones. |
| 37 | * When it comes to ''Franchise/{{Digimon}}'', fans often tend to like the odd-numbered seasons over the even-numbered seasons. ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' and ''Anime/DigimonTamers'' are near universally liked among fans, and ''Anime/DigimonDataSquad'' has gained some praise though not as much as ''Adventure'' and ''Tamers'', while ''Anime/DigimonAdventure02'' is divisive with fans of the first ''Adventure'' series (especially with some of the final episodes), and ''Anime/DigimonFrontier'' tends to gain a lot of flack for changing the formula of the previous series. ''Anime/DigimonFusion'' has a number of fans even for an even-numbered season, with the exception of its final arc, the near-universally hated "[[Anime/DigimonXrosWarsTheYoungHuntersWhoLeaptThroughTime Young Hunters]]" arc. ''Anime/DigimonAdventureTri'' received positive reviews at first but reception became more negative as the movies went on. ''Anime/DigimonUniverseAppMonsters'' seemed to have the opposite trajectory of reviews, with people initially being turned off by the radically different premise, but grew to enjoy it. ''Anime/DigimonAdventure2020'' was generally regarded as a weaker entry that didn't live up to the original show, while ''Anime/DigimonGhostGame'' was better regarded, but was also seen as having a more formulaic MonsterOfTheWeek structure without a clear overarching plot. |
| 38 | * For ''Franchise/{{Gundam}}'', it's the "sequel series curse", where sequels to a series other than the original ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam'' tend to be poorly received, or at least [[BrokenBase controversial]], in comparison: ''Anime/MobileSuitZetaGundam'' and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamZZ'', ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEED'' and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamSEEDDestiny'', ''Anime/GundamBuildFighters'' and ''Anime/GundamBuildFightersTry'', and to an extent the second seasons of ''Anime/MobileSuitGundam00'' and ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamIronBloodedOrphans'' and the second cour ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamTheWitchFromMercury''. Averted with ''Anime/MobileSuitGundamWing'' and ''[[Anime/MobileSuitGundamWingEndlessWaltz Endless Waltz]]''. Inverted with ''Anime/GundamBuildDivers'' and ''Anime/GundamBuildDiversReRise''. |
| 39 | * ''Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventure'': |
| 40 | ** At least [[AmericansHateTingle in the west]], the odd-numbered parts of the original run of ''[=JoJo=]'' are more contentious. ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventurePhantomBlood Phantom Blood]]'' is notably shorter than its successors (to the point where it doesn't even occupy ''half'' of the anime adaptation's first season) and [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness hardly feels like JJBA]] while ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStardustCrusaders Stardust Crusaders]]'' and ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureGoldenWind Golden Wind]]'' are criticized for being an endless string of repetitive MonsterOfTheWeek fights. Its respective protagonists, Jonathan, Jotaro, and Giorno, are also [[BaseBreakingCharacter divisive]] among fans, with Jotaro being accused of being a generic NinetiesAntiHero and both Jonathan and Giorno being accused of being just plain generic. ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureBattleTendency Battle Tendency]]'' and ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureDiamondIsUnbreakable Diamond is Unbreakable]]'', meanwhile, are almost universally regarded by western fans as the best parts in the original series for their ability to refine their direct predecessors' formulas, and while ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureStoneOcean Stone Ocean]]'' tends to be overlooked compared to other parts, western fans tend to respond to it with general praise as well (though its ending sees more mixed reception). All three protagonists in these even-numbered parts (Joseph, Josuke, and Jolyne, respectively) also frequently butt heads among fans for the distinction of the series' best protagonist, with each one of them being praised for their in-depth and memorable characterization. |
| 41 | ** The ContinuityReboot of the series, meanwhile, inverts this. ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureSteelBallRun Steel Ball Run]]'' is near-universally regarded as the greatest work in the entire ''franchise'' for its emotional depth, morally complex characters, gorgeous artwork, and ability to consolidate an action-heavy series with heavily introspective and metaphysical themes. Meanwhile, ''[[Manga/JoJosBizarreAdventureJoJolion JoJolion]]'' is incredibly divisive for its slow-burning and convoluted plot, with many accusing series author Creator/HirohikoAraki of [[WritingByTheSeatOfYourPants making everything up on the fly]]. |
| 42 | * Fan consensus on the ''Manga/OnePiece'' movies tends to favor the even-numbered movies over the odd-numbered ones, with the exception of the eighth movie "[[Anime/TheDesertPrincessAndThePiratesAdventuresInAlabasta Episode of Alabasta]]" and the ninth movie "[[Anime/EpisodeOfChopperPlusBloomInTheWinterMiracleSakura Episode of Chopper]]" which are reversed. |
| 43 | * At least in [[AmericansHateTingle the West]], the ''Anime/RebuildOfEvangelion'' films have this reputation, with the even-numbered films (''2.0'', ''3.0+1.0'') being seen as much better than the odd-numbered films (''1.0'', ''3.0''). This is averted in Japan, where each subsequent film is seen as [[EvenBetterSequel even better than the last]]. |
| 44 | * The various ''Franchise/YuGiOh'' series are known to follow a pattern of "[[GrowingTheBeard first half is bad, second half is good]]" in even-numbered shows (''Anime/YuGiOhGX'', ''Anime/YuGiOhZEXAL'', ''Anime/YuGiOhVRAINS'') and "[[SeasonalRot first half is good, second half is bad]]" in odd-numbered shows (''Anime/YuGiOh'', ''Anime/YuGiOh5Ds'', ''Anime/YuGiOhArcV'').[[note]]The first three ''Yu-Gi-Oh!'' seasons are the most iconic in the franchise, the fourth is a hotly controversial filler arc and the fifth had poor production values and controversial changes from the manga, the first half of ''[=5D's=]'' is widely liked while the second suffered from extremely poor pacing and dropped plot points and barely managed to pull itself together for the finale, and the first season of ''ARC-V'' was widely liked for the interesting MythArc and character relationships, but all of these were downplayed or stretched out in subsequent seasons and the ending is the most controversial and widely loathed in the franchise bar none. Meanwhile, the first season of ''GX'' is agreed to be complete fluff at best, the second a noticeable improvement that suffered from ArcFatigue and VillainOfTheWeek, while the third and fourth are controversial, but largely more praised for their darker tone and CharacterDevelopment that had been somewhat lacking in previous seasons, the first season of ''ZEXAL'' was marred by watchers getting used to main protagonist Yuma while ''ZEXAL II'' was highly praised for the engaging villains and character directions outside of Don Thousand, and the first season of ''VRAINS'' was generally viewed as SoOkayItsAverage due to the TroubledProduction, while the second and third seasons upped the drama considerably and concluded on a heartbreaking note.[[/note]] ''Anime/YuGiOhSEVENS'' broke the trend by having ''both'' halves being well-received for an odd-numbered show, but only time will tell if ''Anime/YuGiOhGORUSH'' keeps up the broken streak. |
| 45 | [[/folder]] |
| 46 | |
| 47 | [[folder:Films]] |
| 48 | * ''Film/TheExorcist'' is considered one of the greatest films of all time. ''Film/ExorcistIITheHeretic'', on the other hand, is considered one of the worst sequels ever made. ''Film/TheExorcistIII'' was considered to be an improvement. ''Film/ExorcistTheBeginning'' was received much more negatively, while the alternate cut ''Film/DominionPrequelToTheExorcist'' was better received. ''Film/TheExorcistBeliever'' also received a negative reception. |
| 49 | * Before the series entered its late-period AudienceAlienatingEra, the quality of the ''Franchise/FridayThe13th'' movies was all over the place. The [[Film/FridayThe13th1980 first two]] [[Film/FridayThe13thPart2 films]] both enjoy good reputations as '80s slashers despite some EarlyInstallmentWeirdness, though most fans would say that the series didn't [[GrowingTheBeard come into its own]] until the second, which introduced Jason Voorhees as the series' [[VillainBasedFranchise iconic villain]]. [[Film/FridayThe13thPartIII The third]], despite introducing the hockey mask Jason the series is best known for, is remembered as a mess that relied more on its [[Platform/ThreeDMovie gimmicky 3D effects]] than plot, characters, or actors, but the fourth film, titled ''[[Film/FridayThe13thTheFinalChapter The Final Chapter]]'' and intended as a GrandFinale, was a near-perfect distillation of everything the series represented and a film that could've ended the franchise on a high note. The fifth film, ''[[Film/FridayThe13thPartVANewBeginning A New Beginning]]'', is remembered as one of the worst films in the series, with the sleaze cranked up to ridiculous levels and a climatic twist [[spoiler:that the killer [[JackTheRipoff wasn't actually Jason]]]] that infuriated fans, while the sixth film, ''[[Film/FridayThe13thPartVIJasonLives Jason Lives]]'', is remembered as one of the best, as a more self-referential take on the franchise that introduced the most popular RevenantZombie version of Jason. After that, however, the series went through a long stretch of films that ranged from middling to outright bad [[labelnote:In order...]]''[[Film/FridayThe13thPartVIITheNewBlood The New Blood]]'' suffered badly at the hands of [[MediaWatchdog the MPAA]] taking [[{{Bowdlerise}} a machete of its own]] to all the kills and fans are split as to whether the film is the last good one or the start of the downfall for the series, ''[[Film/FridayThe13thPartVIIIJasonTakesManhattan Jason Takes Manhattan]]'' was a gimmicky JustForFun/RecycledInSpace entry, ''[[Film/JasonGoesToHellTheFinalFriday Jason Goes to Hell]]'' was seen as ''Friday'' InNameOnly, and ''Film/JasonX'' was another JustForFun/RecycledInSpace entry.[[/labelnote]] before ''Film/FreddyVsJason'' became the first ''Friday'' in sixteen years to more or less meet the approval of fans. [[Film/FridayThe13th2009 The 2009 remake]] is also regarded as a surprisingly not-terrible AdaptationDistillation, even if it's not as iconic as the earlier films. |
| 50 | * ''Film/{{Highlander}}'' is a CultClassic action-adventure tale of an immortal Scotsman killing his centuries-old rival and attaining the unlimited power of The Prize. ''Film/HighlanderIITheQuickening'' is a [[SoBadItsGood ludicrous mess]] involving a dystopian future and Immortals being aliens from the planet Zeist. ''Film/HighlanderIIITheSorcerer'' is a SoOkayItsAverage affair that has a plausible reason for keeping Immortals around after the events of the first film, if not for giving the villain magical illusion powers. ''Film/HighlanderEndgame'' is a continuation from the TV series including numerous plot holes and having Ducan [=MacLeod=] kill Connor [=MacLeod=]. ''Anime/HighlanderTheSearchForVengeance'' is a surprisingly good film that makes Highlander work in an AfterTheEnd anime world complete with MechaMooks and mutant Immortals. ''Film/HighlanderTheSource'' is, well... the FranchiseKiller. |
| 51 | * The ''Film/HomeAlone'' movies have been subject to this among the fanbase. [[Film/HomeAlone1 The first movie]] is widely regarded as a Christmas classic, and ''Film/HomeAlone2LostInNewYork'' is looked upon a decent follow-up. ''Film/HomeAlone3'' was contentious when it was released, but has since been VindicatedByHistory for some. The even-numbered sequels after ''3'' are near-universally ranked as the worst in the series. ''Film/HomeAlone4TakingBackTheHouse'' brought back Kevin [=McCallister=] as the main character, but screwed up the continuity of the first two movies. The fifth in the series, ''Film/HomeAloneTheHolidayHeist'', introduced another brand new cast and brought the setting to a new technological age. However, it's a notable improvement as it maintains the look and feel of a ''Home Alone'' film. The sixth movie, ''Film/HomeSweetHomeAlone'', is considered a major step down with its DesignatedHero protagonist and its sympathetic thieves who suffer cringe-worthy punishments. |
| 52 | * The ''Franchise/IndianaJones'' franchise seems to be the opposite; odd-numbered movies (''Film/RaidersOfTheLostArk'', ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheLastCrusade'') do well, while even-numbered movies (''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'', ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheKingdomOfTheCrystalSkull'') are nowhere near as good. The pattern broke after Creator/StevenSpielberg stopped directing the ''Indy'' movies; Creator/JamesMangold's ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheDialOfDestiny'' became both the fifth installment and the one with the lowest critical reception (although [[BrokenBase it's a toss-up to the average fan if it's better or worse]] than ''Crystal Skull''). That said, there's still a pattern in which the even-numbered films try to shake up the franchise by doing something different, resulting in a film that gets a mixed reception. Meanwhile, the third and fifth films both try, in their own way, to backpedal on their immediate predecessor and go back to the tried and true ''Raiders'' formula. |
| 53 | * ''Film/JamesBond'': |
| 54 | ** The quality of the individual films have been bumpy with no clear odd/even pattern, even for the same actor. Some films criticized at the time of release have been VindicatedByHistory since. |
| 55 | ** The Creator/DanielCraig era has the [[Film/CasinoRoyale2006 odd]]-[[Film/{{Skyfall}} numbered]] [[Film/NoTimeToDie films]] receiving critical acclaim, while the [[Film/QuantumOfSolace even]]-[[Film/{{Spectre}} numbered]] films had ok-to-mixed reception. |
| 56 | ** An example with the Bond ''actors'' themselves: The odd-numbered actors (Creator/SeanConnery, Creator/RogerMoore and Creator/PierceBrosnan) are generally humorous portrayals (the later films for Connery, anyway) with over-the-top gimmick [[ShoePhone gadgets]], while the even-numbered ones (Creator/GeorgeLazenby, Creator/TimothyDalton and Creator/DanielCraig) have generally portrayed the character with more pathos, angst and seriousness and less emphasis on gadgets and spectacle. The first set has next to no introspection while the second set is soaked in it. |
| 57 | ** Generally, the last installment of each actor that had more than a one-film run (thus excluding ''Film/OnHerMajestysSecretService'') is considered among the most underwhelming ones of the franchise (particularly true for ''Film/DiamondsAreForever'', ''Film/AViewToAKill'' and ''Film/DieAnotherDay'' -- ''Film/LicenceToKill'' has been somewhat VindicatedByHistory). ''Film/NoTimeToDie'', which is also the only one that's been particularly tailored as a GrandFinale for its actor, broke this trend with its good reception across the board. |
| 58 | * The ''Film/MadMax'' series, despite being one of the more consistent film franchises, has this kind of pattern: While ''[[Film/MadMax2TheRoadWarrior The Road Warrior]]'' and ''[[Film/MadMaxFuryRoad Fury Road]]'' are widely considered to be classics and essential viewing for action movie fans, the odd-numbered entries tend to be [[BrokenBase more divisive]], for different reasons: ''Film/MadMax1'' because [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness it is an entirely different genre altogether]], and ''[[Film/MadMaxBeyondThunderdome Beyond Thunderdome]]'' for its LighterAndSofter tone and its relative lack of car chases. |
| 59 | * ''Film/MenInBlack'' is considered a classic. ''Film/MenInBlackII'' is seen as an example of {{Sequelitis}}. ''Film/MenInBlack3'' is regarded as a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel. The fourth installment, the spin-off ''Film/MenInBlackInternational'' was negatively reviewed. |
| 60 | * The ''Film/MissionImpossibleFilmSeries''. |
| 61 | ** ''Film/MissionImpossible1996'' was a mystery like thriller, almost James Bond-esque, with a complex plot in-between tense action scenes. |
| 62 | ** ''Film/MissionImpossibleII'' was an all-out action film, with a very basic plot. |
| 63 | ** ''Film/MissionImpossibleIII'', while lacking tense action, was saved by its deliciously evil villain. |
| 64 | ** ''Film/MissionImpossibleGhostProtocol'' lacked a noticeable villain. |
| 65 | ** ''Film/MissionImpossibleRogueNation'' was the best received since the first film. It was followed by ''Film/MissionImpossibleFallout'', which was considered an EvenBetterSequel, and ''Film/MissionImpossibleDeadReckoning'', which continued the streak of being well regarded. |
| 66 | * Many fans of the ''[[Franchise/ANightmareOnElmStreet Nightmare on Elm Street]]'' series regard its trajectory this way. [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet1984 The first movie]] is a classic, but its sequel ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreetPart2FreddysRevenge Freddy's Revenge]]'' is extremely divisive for the changes it made to the first film's formula, even if its HomoeroticSubtext has earned it an LGBTFanbase over the years and some appreciate it for sticking to pure horror as opposed to the more comedic elements present in the later films. The next two films are generally well-liked; ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet3DreamWarriors Dream Warriors]]'' is considered by some fans to be a genuine rival to the original for the title of best in the series, and while ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet4TheDreamMaster The Dream Master]]'' is regarded as the point where the series' mounting problems really became visible, a large contingent of fans will still defend it as the pinnacle of "Freddy Krueger as pop culture icon". The next two films, ''[[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet5TheDreamChild The Dream Child]]'' and ''Film/FreddysDeadTheFinalNightmare'', are treated as an AudienceAlienatingEra where the series slid into SelfParody, but the follow-up ''Film/WesCravensNewNightmare'' is regarded as an interesting {{spinoff}} and one of the series' best and scariest films, especially in how many of its [[MetaFiction metatextual ideas]] served as a prototype for ''Film/Scream1996'', while ''Film/FreddyVsJason'' was well-liked (albeit not universally) by fans of both ''Nightmare'' and ''Franchise/FridayThe13th''. The [[Film/ANightmareOnElmStreet2010 2010 reboot]], though... exists. |
| 67 | * ''Franchise/{{Predator}}'': |
| 68 | ** [[Film/{{Predator}} The first film]] is a SciFiHorror classic. While ''Film/Predator2'' was dismissed at the time as little more than a retread of the first, retrospective opinions have been [[VindicatedByHistory kinder to it]] thanks to both its ViceCity setting and how it fleshed out [[VillainBasedFranchise its alien villains]] as a ProudHunterRace. |
| 69 | ** After that came the two ''Franchise/AlienVsPredator'' films, its long-awaited cinematic crossover with the ''Franchise/{{Alien}}'' series. Neither of them is particularly well-liked, but fan opinion is generally nicer to [[Film/AlienVsPredator the first film]] (especially its unrated cut) while treating ''Film/AliensVsPredatorRequiem'' as garbage that went DarkerAndEdgier (both [[TooBleakStoppedCaring figuratively]] and [[EvilIsNotWellLit literally]]) and fumbled it. |
| 70 | ** Following the negative reception of ''Requiem'', ''Film/{{Predators}}'' was welcomed as a return to form, one that didn't do much new but still did it well. After that, ''Film/ThePredator'' was widely despised as the worst film in the series thanks to both its convoluted plot and the controversial changes it made to the series' lore, to the point that some fans prematurely called it a FranchiseKiller. A few years later, however, ''Film/Prey2022'' won widespread acclaim as the best film in the series since the first thanks to its combination of a [[RevisitingTheRoots "back-to-basics" storyline]], an interesting new setting, and excellent production values. |
| 71 | * Among the three ''WesternAnimation/{{Rugrats}}'' movies, ''WesternAnimation/TheRugratsMovie'' is considered unremarkable while ''WesternAnimation/RugratsInParis'' is seen as a modest improvement and ''WesternAnimation/RugratsGoWild'' is on par with the original. |
| 72 | * The ''Franchise/{{Saw}}'' franchise is a good example of this. To wit: |
| 73 | ** The [[Film/SawI first]] [[Film/SawII three]] [[Film/SawIII films]] (sometimes referred to as the "original trilogy"), which had [[OnlyTheCreatorDoesItRight the original creators]] involved in the writing, are generally considered the best entries, though the latter two aren't left without [[ContestedSequel a divisive reception]]. |
| 74 | ** ''Film/SawIV'', the installment where the creators derparted from writing and limited themselves to executive production, was, in contrast, poorly received, due to its numerous AssPull twists (most notably the SequencingDeception that most of its events take place at the same time as ''Saw III'') and the plot having the characters act a lot more idiotic. ''Film/SawV'' only worsened things, due to spending more time building further on past events rather than actually continuing the plot, and most characters except the villains achieving absolutely nothing out of sheer stupidity. Many also consider that these two films were the beginning of the series devolving into a KudzuPlot, in spite of them still making plenty of money and having decent audiences. |
| 75 | ** ''Film/SawVI'', although the film that earned the least money at the box office, was received by fans [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel as a vast improvement over the previous three films]] that marked a good start for the series to reshape itself. |
| 76 | ** And then ''Film/Saw3D'' ran smack-dab into the trope, with many considering it the very worst of the films. While pointing out all of its criticisms here would make for a very long read, it's worth noting that most of the criticized points were a consequence of distributor Creator/{{Lionsgate}} resorting to ExecutiveMeddling measures after the poor box office results of ''Saw VI'' (including cramming the plots of two planned films into what we know as ''Saw 3D''). |
| 77 | ** Then [[SequelGap seven years later]], ''Film/{{Jigsaw}}'' came out, which, despite its mixed-to-negative reviews, was considered by fans to be a far more superior film than ''Saw 3D''. It wasn't until four more years that the franchise would return to a good mainstream reception with the release of the even better-received ''Film/{{Spiral|2021}}''. Then that was followed by ''Film/SawX'', which was the best received film in the whole series. |
| 78 | * The reception (and some would say the quality) of the ''Franchise/StarWars'' movies have been ''anything'' but consistent. |
| 79 | ** Of course there's the original trilogy, which is one of the most acclaimed and beloved film series of all time, but even then there are some people who believe the third film to not be ''quite'' as good as the previous two (though this could be considered more due to the first two being a ToughActToFollow, as ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' is still pretty well-received). |
| 80 | ** The Lucas-directed prequel trilogy is not well-liked by the fandom that got heavily attached to the original trilogy. But it does have its supporters with those who grew up with it, and there is a common consensus among even the prequel's detractors that ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith'' is surprisingly decent. |
| 81 | ** And then there's the Creator/{{Disney}}-made sequel trilogy, as while ''Film/TheForceAwakens'' is almost universally praised to some degree, ''Film/TheLastJedi'' is one of the most [[BrokenBase divisive]] films of all time and ''Film/TheRiseOfSkywalker'' is also divisive. And these were also interspersed with the generally well-liked ''Film/RogueOne'' and the SoOkItsAverage ''Film/{{Solo}}''. |
| 82 | * The ''[[ComicBook/TheMightyThor Thor]]'' films have alternated in reception. [[Film/{{Thor}} The first one]] is well-received and had a breakout character in Loki, while ''Film/ThorRagnarok'' is considered to be one of the high points of the Franchise/MarvelCinematicUniverse's Phase 3. Conversely, ''Film/ThorTheDarkWorld'' is considered to be one of the worst, if forgettable, MCU films out there due to ExecutiveMeddling while ''Film/ThorLoveAndThunder'' is very divisive due to increasing the humor from ''Ragnarok'' and cutting out some more serious moments in order to not make it as long as most of the MCU films. |
| 83 | * The ''ComicBook/XMen'' [[Film/XMenFilmSeries film series]], while popular, has received mixed reception over the years. On Website/RottenTomatoes, reviews for all the movies range from as low as 23% (''Film/DarkPhoenix'') to 93% (''Film/{{Logan}}''). The trend for the main franchise (excluding spin-off films like ''Film/Deadpool2016'', ''Film/TheNewMutants'', and the aforementioned ''Logan'') that the first two in a quadrilogy (''Film/XMen1'' and ''Film/X2XMenUnited'' for the first timeline, ''Film/XMenFirstClass'' and ''Film/XMenDaysOfFuturePast'' for the reboot timeline) are well-received, but the third (''Film/XMenTheLastStand'' and ''Film/XMenApocalypse'') is widely considered a step down, and the fourth (''Film/XMenOriginsWolverine'' and the aforementioned ''Dark Phoenix'') is usually the worst in said quadrilogy. |
| 84 | [[/folder]] |
| 85 | |
| 86 | [[folder:Literature]] |
| 87 | * While fans of the ''Literature/{{Temeraire}}'' series of books don't necessarily find the even-numbered books to be bad, there is definitely a pattern of odd being "war and lots of cool dragon battles" and even being "travel and lots of talking". However, both the sixth and seventh books are travel and diplomacy, and the eighth is Napoleon's Russian campaign. |
| 88 | [[/folder]] |
| 89 | |
| 90 | [[folder:Live-Action TV]] |
| 91 | * Fans of ''Series/TwentyFour'' have noted that odd-numbered seasons are generally the show's better ones, featuring a variety of different terrorist scenarios, while the even-numbered ones always revolve around nuclear Islamic terrorism and are generally greatly inferior (except for possibly season 2, which is considered to have a solid core storyline, but let down by the subplot involving [[TrappedByMountainLions Kim constantly being taken prisoner]]). |
| 92 | * ''Series/AmericanHorrorStory'': ''Murder House'' and ''Asylum'' are generally agreed to be good seasons, but after that began a notable trend in which odd-numbered seasons tend to be better well-received than even-numbered seasons, with ''Coven'' being well received, while the fourth season, ''Freak Show'' was considered to be one of the series' worst seasons. ''Hotel'', the fifth season, before it even premiered, became "the season without Jessica Lange." Notably, it was the first season with lower premiere ratings than its predecessor, but it still managed to be successful in its own right. ''Roanoke'', the sixth season, due to its [[OddballInTheSeries unusual nature]], became one of the most controversial seasons to date, while its successor, ''Cult'', while divisive, is much better received due to its satire, and the eighth season, ''Apocalypse'', while agreed to be well-received for its ContinuityPorn, is agreed to be lacking in terms of its own story. The ninth season, ''1984'', is agreed to be one of the show's best seasons, due to its twists on the slasher horror genre and having a story that stands out even with {{Continuity Nod}}s. The tenth season, ''Double Feature'' (which includes both ''Red Tide'' and ''Death Valley''), stands out as one of the worst seasons, narrowly beating out ''Freak Show'' due to their incredibly underwhelming stories and [[TooBleakStoppedCaring gratuitously bleak endings]]. The eleventh season, ''NYC'', is well-received for being one of the most grounded horror stories and its [[TragicAIDSStory unique portrayal of the AIDS epidemic]]. |
| 93 | * ''Franchise/{{Buffyverse}}'': |
| 94 | ** ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer'' has an odd relationship with it. Season 1 is often -- and perhaps retroactively -- seen as a [[SlowPacedBeginning weak and plodding start]]. It suffers from EarlyInstallmentWeirdness and mostly consists of inconsequential MonsterOfTheWeek episodes with the Master only being relevant for a few episodes. Season 2 is [[GrowingTheBeard the point the show found its voice]] with a stronger continuity, more CharacterDevelopment for the cast, [[BreakoutCharacter the introduction of fan favorite Spike]] and the game-changing FaceHeelTurn of Angel. Averted with Season 3 which is generally seen as just as good or even better. However, Season 4 is widely unpopular for the GenreShift with a secret government army, Buffy's [[ReplacementScrappy bland new boyfriend Riley]], and the lackluster Adam as the BigBad. Season 5 is generally considered as a return to form thanks to dropping Riley, the handling of the death of a main character, Glory being one of the most popular villains and [[SeriesFauxnale a memorable finale that could have been a satisfying end for the show]]. Again, the show dropped in popularity after creator Creator/JossWhedon's departure. Season 6 focused heavily on drama and Buffy's struggle with depression and lacked an overarching BigBad other than the comedic and ineffectual (well... [[NotSoHarmlessVillain at first]]) Trio. This eventually culminated with controversial plot points like [[spoiler:Xander leaving Anya at the altar, Tara abruptly dying, Willow turning evil, and Spike attempting to rape Buffy]]. Season 7, despite Whedon's return, is also considered as a low point. Fans are split whether it was a marginal improvement for reverting the bleakness and the return of a more compelling villain with the First Evil or ''even worse'' because of the [[TheScrappy annoying potential slayers]], [[ArcFatigue the First Evil arc dragging on for too long]] and overall lacking the emotional stakes of the previous season. |
| 95 | ** Coincidentally, ''Series/{{Angel}}'' followed the same pattern as its parent show. The first season, while not bad, was mostly episodic, [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness struggled to find its identity]], and relied on crossovers with ''Buffy'' to keep ratings. This was possibly not helped by [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter the early departure of Doyle]] then Wesley and Gunn not joining the cast until later on. Seasons 2 and 3 are generally seen as [[GrowingTheBeard the point where the show hit its stride]]] thanks to a stronger continuity, the introduction of Lorne and Fred with Darla and Holtz being both terrific antagonists. Season 4, however, is widely seen as the nadir of the show and suffered from a convoluted arc and an unpopular romance between Cordelia and the underage ([[TheScrappy and despised]]) Connor. The subsequent and final season is widely seen as a return to form thanks to a heavy {{Retool}}, Spike being transplanted from ''Buffy'', and overall is seen as one of the strongest installments of the ''Buffyverse''. |
| 96 | * ''Series/{{Fargo}}'' is a weird example, as its first three seasons were well-acclaimed. However, the odd-numbered seasons had significant criticisms: [[Series/FargoSeasonOne Season 1]] sometimes had too many {{Call|Back}}-Backs to [[Film/{{Fargo}} the original movie]], and [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks even felt like a retread]] to some viewers. Season 3 had a SlowPacedBeginning that made the season drag, and an AmbiguousEnding that upset some for a lack of closure. Both are in contrast to Season 2, which had near-universal acclaim for its more original plot and [[GreyAndGrayMorality complex character arcs]]. The curse later switched around with Season 4. Considered the weakest season of the show for large amounts of AuthorTract, TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter, and abandoning the show's main setting of UsefulNotes/{{Minnesota}}, Season 4 was largely seen as the show's lowest point. This was in stark contrast to Season 5, which pulled a WinBackTheCrowd with a return to the MinnesotaNice elements and a stronger main villain. |
| 97 | * ''Series/{{Justified}}'', while still being a very well received show, suffers this to some extent: Seasons 2, 4 and 6 are considered all-time great seasons of television. Season 1 has all the signs of a series [[GrowingTheBeard in the process of finding its voice]]; Season 3, although widely beloved, was seen as a step down from the superlative second; and Season 5 is almost universally considered the worst the show ever had. |
| 98 | * ''Franchise/PowerRangers'': |
| 99 | ** Fans have an unique version with anniversary seasons ''[[Series/PowerRangersTurbo Turbo]]'' (Season 5), ''[[Series/PowerRangersOperationOverdrive Operation Overdrive]]'' (Season 15), ''[[Series/PowerRangersMegaforce Super Megaforce]]'' (the 20th anniversary celebration but [[SequelNumberSnarl don't ask the exact season number]]), and ''[[Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel Super Ninja Steel]]'' (Season 25) considered among the worst or most divisive. ''[[Series/PowerRangersWildForce Wild Force]]'' (Season 10) and ''[[Series/PowerRangersCosmicFury Cosmic Fury]]'' (Season 30) are the two exceptions to the rule. |
| 100 | ** Another curse ''Power Rangers'' has relates to how well the source material is received -- in general, ''Power Rangers'' adaptations of [[Franchise/SuperSentai Sentai]] series that were well-liked (i.e., ''Series/JukenSentaiGekiranger'', ''Series/MahouSentaiMagiranger'', ''Series/SamuraiSentaiShinkenger'', ''Series/GoGoSentaiBoukenger'') are either considered OK (''Series/PowerRangersJungleFury''[[note]]although this one would be VindicatedByHistory later on[[/note]], ''Series/PowerRangersMysticForce'') or are despised by the fandom (''Series/PowerRangersSamurai'', ''Series/PowerRangersOperationOverdrive''); on the other hand, Sentai series that were seen as OK or disliked by the fandom (''Series/ChourikiSentaiOhRanger'', ''Series/SeijuuSentaiGingaman'', ''Series/HyakujuuSentaiGaoranger'', ''Series/EngineSentaiGoOnger'', ''Series/ZyudenSentaiKyoryuger'', and ''Series/TokumeiSentaiGoBusters'') tend to produce well-liked adaptations (''Series/PowerRangersZeo'', ''Series/PowerRangersLostGalaxy'', ''Series/PowerRangersWildForce'', ''Series/PowerRangersRPM'', ''Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge'', and ''Series/PowerRangersBeastMorphers''). There are a few exceptions to this rule -- ''Series/DenjiSentaiMegaranger'' and ''Series/MiraiSentaiTimeranger'' are both well liked, yet their ''Power Ranger'' counterparts (''Series/PowerRangersInSpace'' and ''Series/PowerRangersTimeForce'') are fan favorites[[note]]although for a while, people recommended watching ''Time Force'' over ''Timeranger'', it was more because of [[NoExportForYou the lack of complete fansubs]] for the latter as opposed to the quality of the show, meaning that unless you could speak Japanese, you had to stop watching after episode 30; nowadays, however, people won't recommend watching one before the other, since Creator/ShoutFactory licensed the entire series and released it on DVD[[/note]]; inversely, ''Series/TensouSentaiGoseiger'' is a divisive season by western fans, and fan opinion of ''Megaforce'' is already mentioned above. ''Series/ShurikenSentaiNinninger'' and ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel'' are also exceptions as both shows are disliked by both fanbases due to the former having unusually poor writing and ''horrendously'' paced action and the latter for its BrokenAesop and unfunny fart jokes (which one is less awful is up for debate). |
| 101 | ** Also worth noting is that every series which uses a fifth set of suits is generally well-received, whereas the one that comes before it isn't[[note]]this counts the ''Alien Rangers'' series as its own series[[/note]], due to the fact that the core five suits from ''Series/GoseiSentaiDairanger'' were not used -- the aforementioned anniversary series used the 4th, 9th, 14th, and [[SequelNumberSnarl 18th/19th]], whereas the series that came after them, ''In Space'', ''Ninja Storm'', ''Jungle Fury'', and ''Dino Charge'', which used the 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th sets of costumes respectively, were received better than their predecessors (and in the case of ''In Space'', is widely considered the best)[[note]]this does not count the suits used in ''Film/PowerRangers2017'' towards the number of suits, on the grounds that it does not adapt a set of ''Sentai'' suits, and the suits are re-imaginings of existing suits as opposed to new suits entirely[[/note]]. |
| 102 | ** An [[InvertedTrope inverse curse]] is in effect for dinosaur-themed seasons -- they're always good to great. [[labelnote:Explanation]]''[[Series/MightyMorphinPowerRangers Mighty Morphin']]'' is a classic, ''[[Series/PowerRangersDinoThunder Dino Thunder]]'' is considered to be the best of the Disney era alongside ''RPM'', ''[[Series/PowerRangersDinoCharge Dino Charge]]'' is considered to be the only good series from the Neo-Saban era and a pretty good ''Power Rangers'' season overall, and ''[[Series/PowerRangersDinoFury Dino Fury]]'' had enough of a positive reception that it was the first series since ''Mighty Morphin''' to have a third season, ''Cosmic Fury'', already listed above as a milestone season that dodged the anniversary curse.[[/labelnote]] |
| 103 | * Season 2 of ''[[Series/RuPaulsDragRace RuPaul's Drag Race: All Stars]]'' is generally considered to be one of the best seasons the show ever produced, ''All Stars'' or otherwise, following the universally reviled Season 1. Season 3 was then widely hated for its lackluster challenges and infamous final episode, with Season 4 being seen by many as a return to form. Like clockwork, Season 5 was again a disappointment for many, then Season 6, while not without its faults, was generally praised thanks to its talented cast, fun episodes, and strong finale. |
| 104 | [[/folder]] |
| 105 | |
| 106 | [[folder:Music]] |
| 107 | * Music/LLCoolJ: While his first album ''Radio'' is a warmly remembered debut, it was only his sophomore effort ''Bigger and Deffer'' that made him into a mainstream superstar. His third album, ''Walking with a Panther'', was a major disappointment at the time released during his feud with Music/KoolMoeDee, but his fourth record ''Mama Said Knock You Out'' marked the high point of his whole career. His fortunes began slipping again with the misguided attempt at gangsta rap, ''14 Shots to the Dome'', only for his sixth album ''Mr. Smith'' to solidify his post-''Chronic'' staying power with three top 10 hits. The shiny suit hip hop album ''Phenomenon'', while still fairly successful, wasn't as warmly received as its predecessor. Its followup ''G.O.A.T.'' is often considered LL's last good record. ''10''[[note]]in reality his ninth album, excluding the GreatestHitsAlbum ''All World''[[/note]] was his biggest commercial success since ''Mr. Smith'' but otherwise not well-received by most fans, while ''The [=DEFinition=]'' saw diminishing returns despite two moderate hits. ''Todd Smith'' produced his final major hit "Control Myself", but is otherwise regarded to be one of his worst albums; ''Exit 13'' was slightly better-received, but not a commercial success. His final studio album to date, ''Authentic'', was OvershadowedByControversy due to releasing at the same time as the infamous Music/BradPaisley duet "Accidental Racist". |
| 108 | * Though not applicable to his entire output, the operas of Music/GioachinoRossini between ''L'italiana in Algeri'' (his eleventh) and ''Otello'' (nineteenth) fall into this territory, with the odd numbered operas (''L'italiana'', ''Il turco in Italia'' [13], ''Elisabetta, regina d'Inghilterra'' [15], ''Theatre/TheBarberOfSeville'' [17] and ''Otello'') being better respected than the evens (''Aureliano in Palmira'' [12], ''Sigismondo'' [14], ''Torvaldo e Dorliska'' [16] and ''La gazzetta'' [18]). |
| 109 | * The pop-reggae musician Shaggy fell into this pattern with the first six albums of his career. His odd-numbered records (''Pure Pleasure'', ''Boombastic'', and ''Hot Shot'') sold millions worldwide and produced his most popular singles. Conversely, his even-numbered releases (''Original Doberman'', ''Midnite Lover'', and ''Lucky Day'') were commercial failures that produced few to no hits. |
| 110 | [[/folder]] |
| 111 | |
| 112 | [[folder:Professional Wrestling]] |
| 113 | * The best remembered seasons of the original version of Wrestling/{{WWENXT}} are the odd-numbered seasons. The first was universally considered the best, back when the NXT concept was being taken seriously. It directly led to Wrestling/TheNexus, one of the most iconic angles in WWE history, and also launched the short-lived but hugely memorable WWE career of [[Wrestling/BryanDanielson Daniel Bryan]]. The third season is remembered for being the only all-female season and for its SoBadItsGood nature, to the point that [[Wrestling/NXT3 the season got a TV Tropes page all to itself]]. The fifth was the year-long season with a noticeable retool that, for better or worse, gave the product a different image. The second and fourth seasons, however? They were forgotten almost instantly. |
| 114 | [[/folder]] |
| 115 | |
| 116 | [[folder:Tabletop Games]] |
| 117 | * ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons''' even-numbered editions, regardless of individual quality, seem to coincide with downturns for the brand: |
| 118 | ** Second edition happened during Lorraine Williams' controversial tenure as head of Creator/{{TSR}}, and was known for attempting to avoid the controversy of the SatanicPanic by removing all references to demons and devils. This edition saw D&D lose its position of top-selling RPG for the first time, to ''TabletopGame/VampireTheMasquerade'', and TSR going bankrupt and being bought out by Creator/WizardsOfTheCoast. |
| 119 | ** After a revival of the brand with 3rd edition and 3.5, 4th edition made a controversial overhaul to gameplay and stands as probably the least popular edition, losing the title of best-selling RPG once again, this time to the 3.5-based ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}''. |
| 120 | * ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'': Odd-numbered installments of the SelfParody un-sets are better received than the even-numbered ones if we ignore ''Unsanctioned'' (which had an unusual release model and consisted mostly of reprints). The first one, ''Unglued'' was well received. The follow-up ''Unhinged'' went over worse thanks to mechanics that were seen as clunky and unfun, leaving the series dormant for 13 years. It finally made a comeback with the popular ''Unstable'', only for ''Unfinity'' to have a mixed reception due to the unpopular decision to retire the silver border in favor of making some un-cards legal -- which in particular included the divisive-at-best sticker mechanic. |
| 121 | [[/folder]] |
| 122 | |
| 123 | [[folder:Video Games]] |
| 124 | * ''Franchise/AssassinsCreed'' has seemingly fallen into this with the even-numbered games being better received than the odd-numbered ones. Even after they StoppedNumberingSequels with ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedUnity Unity]]'' and ''[[VideoGame/AssassinsCreedSyndicate Syndicate]]'' it held the pattern. |
| 125 | * ''VideoGame/DeadOrAlive'' also seems to have a pattern of the odd-numbered games being better received than the even ones, [[UpdatedRerelease upgraded versions]] notwithstanding. The first game is well regarded, while ''[=DOA2=]'' was hampered by the ObviousBeta nature of the original release (something that the revisions would amend, particularly ''[=DOA2=]: Hardcore''). ''[=DOA3=]'' was well received and became a KillerApp for the Platform/{{Xbox}}, while ''[=DOA4=]'' is a ContestedSequel for [[CasualCompetitiveConflict competitive players]]. ''[[VideoGame/DeadOrAlive5 DOA5]]'' was well received due to its character redesigns and numerous {{Guest Fighter}}s, while ''[[VideoGame/DeadOrAlive6 DOA6]]'' is one of the most [[ContestedSequel contested entries]] to date due to its TamerAndChaster redesign of costumes and lack of the series' [[BestKnownForTheFanservice trademarked fanservice]]. |
| 126 | * ''Franchise/{{Deus Ex|Universe}}'' has this issue with odd-numbered games being considered amazing and even-numbered games being {{Contested Sequel}}s. The original ''VideoGame/DeusEx'' is considered one of the greatest video games of all time, the direct sequel ''VideoGame/DeusExInvisibleWar'' is significantly less popular due to the oversimplification of game mechanics, the prequel ''VideoGame/DeusExHumanRevolution'' is a return to form for the series, and ''VideoGame/DeusExMankindDivided'' received flak for [[ItsShortSoItSucks its short length]]. |
| 127 | * In the ''VideoGame/DevilMayCry'' series, the odd-numbered games are better received than the even-numbered ones. [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry1 The original]] is a well-liked hack and slash. [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry2 The second game]] is widely seen as [[SophomoreSlump the worst]] to the point that even Creator/{{Capcom}} rarely acknowledges its existence. [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry3DantesAwakening The third game]] is a SurprisinglyImprovedSequel and possibly the best in the series. [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry4 The fourth game]] is good but it's considered as a step down from its predecessor because of [[ReplacementScrappy Nero replacing Dante]] and its excessive backtracking brought about by a TroubledProduction. [[VideoGame/DMCDevilMayCry The reboot]] broke the trend being by far the most contentious installment. [[VideoGame/DevilMayCry5 The fifth game]] in the main series both plays this straight and inverts it, straight as in as far as main series goes, it has received universal praise while inverted in the fact that it is technically the sixth game in the series if you count the reboot. |
| 128 | * The ''Franchise/{{Fallout}}'' series has one, in which the [[FourIsDeath fourth]] game by the current owner will be considered the worst from that company. Interplay's fourth game, ''VideoGame/FalloutBrotherhoodOfSteel'', flopped so badly that it led to Interplay going bankrupt and being forced to sell the rights. If you ignore third-party developer Obsidian Entertainment's ''VideoGame/FalloutNewVegas'', then the fourth ''Fallout'' game under Bethesda's banner (after ''VideoGame/Fallout3'', ''VideoGame/FalloutShelter'', and ''VideoGame/Fallout4'') was ''VideoGame/Fallout76'', which became the worst-reviewed game of the entire series. Even the series as a whole has this problem with the numbered installments; ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', while not as hated as ''Brotherhood of Steel'' nor as poorly made as ''76'', still isn't as adored by the community as ''VideoGame/Fallout1'', ''VideoGame/Fallout2'', or even ''Fallout 3''. |
| 129 | * Early ''Franchise/FinalFantasy'' titles followed a pattern where odd-numbered games were more gameplay-focused than the even ones, which were more story-driven. ''VideoGame/FinalFantasyVII'' broke this pattern, and all games afterwards tended to be very story-heavy. |
| 130 | * ''VideoGame/MarioKart'': The evenly-released installments (''[[VideoGame/MarioKart64 64]]'', ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartDoubleDash Double Dash!!]]'', ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartWii Wii]]'', and ''[[VideoGame/MarioKart8 8]]'') are generally agreed to be much better than the oddly-released installments, which have more contentious elements to them. ''VideoGame/SuperMarioKart'' is often said to [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness lack polish compared to later entries]], ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartSuperCircuit Super Circuit]]'' is considered a BizarroEpisode that has rather unintuitive controls, ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartDS DS]]''[='=] {{meta}} became dominated by [[GoodBadBugs snaking]], ''[[VideoGame/MarioKart7 7]]'' has the most questionable character roster in the series, and ''[[VideoGame/MarioKartTour Tour]]''[='=]s microtransactions became a [[BrokenBase hot button]] amongst the fandom. Mind you, even the more contested entries are still seen as games of decent-at-worst quality while the more celebrated entries also have their fair share of controversial aspects (ex. the [[OddballInTheSeries two-driver-per-kart mechanic]] in ''Double Dash!!'', the [[GameBreaker strength of bikes compared to karts]] and [[ComplacentGamingSyndrome their ubiquity in online play]] in ''Wii'', ''8'' feeling more like ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros Super Smash Kart]]'' than a proper ''Mario Kart'' game due to all the crossover elements and having its own share of questionable roster choices[[labelnote:*]]most notably, each of the seven Koopalings having their own separate slots and various OriginalGeneration and/or PaletteSwap characters like Baby Rosalina, Pink Gold Peach, Tanooki Mario, and Cat Peach, both of which combined to account for almost ''half'' the roster prior to the DLC additions with the Booster Course Pass[[/labelnote]], etc.), to the point that every game from ''Double Dash!!'' onward could qualify as a ContestedSequel in some way or another. |
| 131 | * ''Franchise/{{Metroid}}'': The 2D lineage has the curse with the even installments. While still agreed upon to be good games, both ''VideoGame/MetroidIIReturnOfSamus'' and ''VideoGame/MetroidFusion'' are nonetheless viewed as step downs from their respective predecessors (''VideoGame/Metroid1'' and ''VideoGame/SuperMetroid'') due to having more linear progression. This extends to the remakes as well, with ''VideoGame/MetroidZeroMission'' being beloved, while ''VideoGame/MetroidSamusReturns'' received more scrutiny from the fanbase than it did from critics (though this was in part because of [[VideoGame/AnotherMetroid2Remake a very well-received]] FanRemake that had been in circulation before ''Samus Returns'' released, with Creator/{{Nintendo}} [[FanWorkBan issuing]] [[ScrewedByTheLawyers a DMCA takedown]] of ''[=AM2R=]'' before unveiling their own official product). |
| 132 | * For the ''VideoGame/SamuraiShodown'' series, the even-numbered entries (excluding updates, and counting ''Edge of Destiny'' as the seventh entry and ''2019'' as the eighth) are generally considered [[EvenBetterSequel even better sequels]] compared to the odd-numbered entries. |
| 133 | * ''Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog'' has had many, many, ''many'' ups and downs, with a humongous BrokenBase and many an AudienceAlienatingEra to show for it. The cracks started showing around the time of ''VideoGame/SonicHeroes'', then got extremely visible around the time of ''VideoGame/ShadowTheHedgehog'' and ''VideoGame/SonicTheHedgehog2006'', due the increased focus on ultra gritty stories and questionable story beats resulting in truckloads of {{Narm}}, alongside increasingly slippery and sloppy gameplay. Things started looking up around the time of ''VideoGame/SonicColors'', only to backslide and reach a ''new'' polarizing era with ''VideoGame/SonicBoomRiseOfLyric'', continuing further with the middling reception of ''VideoGame/SonicForces''. However, the SurprisinglyImprovedSequel that was ''VideoGame/SonicFrontiers'', alongside the overall positive reception of [[Film/SonicTheHedgehog2020 the]] [[Film/SonicTheHedgehog22022 movies]], and the mostly good view of [[ComicBook/SonicTheHedgehogIDW the IDW comics]], restored a significant amount of goodwill by the early years of TheNewTwenties. Time will tell how this era plays out. |
| 134 | * The ''[[VideoGame/SoulSeries Soulcalibur]]'' series (excluding the first game, ''Soul Edge''/''Soul Blade'', and spinoffs) seems to suffer an inverse curse from that of its sister series ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'', though it's actually is something of [[ZigZaggingTrope a loop-de-loop]]. The first ''Soulcalibur'' is, [[VideoGameLongRunners to date]], ''the highest-reviewed game in the series'' (a whopping 98% on Metacritic), [[SequelDisplacement completely displaced its predecessor in the minds of the public]], and had a stellar [[Platform/SegaDreamcast Dreamcast]] port that became a KillerApp for the system. While ''Soulcalibur II'' didn't receive ''as'' high a critical reception[[labelnote:*]]sitting at a 92/93% on Metacritic depending on [[MultiPlatform the version]][[/labelnote]], it is considered by much of the fanbase to be an EvenBetterSequel and led to the series [[NewbieBoom gaining even wider appeal]]. ''Soulcalibur III'' had mixed reception due to its bugs, lack of balance, and being exclusive to the Platform/PlayStation2[[labelnote:*]]''SCII'' was available on the [=PS2=], [[Platform/NintendoGameCube GameCube]], and Platform/{{Xbox}}, being one of the rare times where the GC version outsold the other console ports[[/labelnote]] while ''Soulcalibur IV'' had more refined gameplay albeit at the cost of story content; ''SCIII'' edges out ''IV'' in critic scores[[labelnote:*]]86% vs. 85% on Metacritic[[/labelnote]] and is typically preferred by the fanbase on account of the strength of its single-player experience. Then came ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburV'', which was widely derided for its removal of fan favorite characters and lackluster single-player content, nearly [[FranchiseKiller putting the series on ice]] and being commonly seen as the lowest point of the ''Soul'' series. On the other hand, ''VideoGame/SoulcaliburVI'' was regarded by many as [[SurprisinglyImprovedSequel a return to form]] in terms of both single-player and multiplayer modes, [[WinBackTheCrowd becoming a critical and commercial success]]. |
| 135 | * Most ''Franchise/SpiderMan'' games have the distinction where direct sequels to a game are thought of as weaker than their predecessors. This includes ''[[VideoGame/SpiderMan2EnterElectro Enter Electro]]'' to [[VideoGame/SpiderMan2000 the first PlayStation title]], ''VideoGame/SpiderManAndVenomSeparationAnxiety'' to ''VideoGame/SpiderManAndVenomMaximumCarnage'', ''VideoGame/SpiderManEdgeOfTime'' to ''VideoGame/SpiderManShatteredDimensions'', and ''VideoGame/TheAmazingSpiderMan2'' to [[VideoGame/TheAmazingSpiderMan the first]]. The games based off the [[VideoGame/SpiderManTrilogy Sam Raimi trilogy]] zig-zag this: ''VideoGame/SpiderMan2'' is considered an EvenBetterSequel to the first due to its GenreShift, but ''VideoGame/SpiderMan3'' more directly follows up on the second by also adopting the sandbox gameplay style, and is similarly thought of as a disappointment. |
| 136 | %% May need to edit this entry to mention how the Insomniac games fit into this paradigm. |
| 137 | * ''Franchise/StreetFighter'': |
| 138 | ** Present with the {{numbered|Sequels}} mainline games. The [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII second]] and [[VideoGame/StreetFighterIV fourth]] games in the series are remembered as the games that respectively [[GenrePopularizer launched]] and [[GenreRelaunch reinvigorated]] the fighting game genre. [[VideoGame/StreetFighterI The first game]], [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness which played very differently]], [[SequelDisplacement has been largely forgotten in the shadow of its successors]], [[VideoGame/StreetFighterIII the third]] is seen as great but not ''quite'' on the level of the second (except in competitive circles, but even then the game wasn't viewed very positively [[VindicatedByHistory in the early days]]), and [[VideoGame/StreetFighterV the fifth]] is highly divisive due to the limited features and it being seen as too unfriendly for casual gamers. While [[VideoGame/StreetFighter6 the sixth]] didn't exactly reinvigorate the genre (as it's still generating buzz), it managed to include every feature players wanted right at the start and made it so that it was also accessible for causal gamers, reigniting interest in the series. |
| 139 | ** If one counts the ''VideoGame/StreetFighterAlpha'' series of {{interquel}}s, however, the trend breaks, as the trilogy had strong sales and were collectively seen as a worthy successor to ''SFII'', even if they could never replicate that game's landmark influence on the genre. Following the release dates further complicates things, as ''III'' launched after ''Alpha 2'', meaning the two subseries were running concurrently during the end of TheNineties (with ''Alpha 3'' having to WinBackTheCrowd after the poor reception of ''New Generation'' and ''Second Impact''). |
| 140 | %% As Examples Are Not Recent, this entry will need to have an eye kept on it due to SF6's recent release (June 2, 2023) at the time of these edits (late June/early July 2023). |
| 141 | * ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRage'' series is yet another example of the even-numbered entries being better received than the odd ones. The original, while decently regarded, was ultimately seen as little more than Creator/{{Sega}}'s answer to ''VideoGame/FinalFight'' and had quite a bit of EarlyInstallmentWeirdness going on. The sequel, on the other hand, is where the series [[GrowingTheBeard truly came into its own]] and is typically viewed as one of the greatest BeatEmUp titles of all time. Part 3 was seen as a step down from ''[=SOR2=]'', including a very experimental soundtrack from series composer Music/YuzoKoshiro that wouldn't be {{vindicated|ByHistory}} until many years later (and even then is it usually compared unfavorably to the music of the first two games), and [[BadExportForYou the American version]] having [[DubInducedPlotlineChange a reworked plot]] and [[DifficultyByRegion unnecessarily ramped up difficulty]] [[ExecutiveMeddling at the behest of Sega's American branch]] certainly didn't help matters. The [[SequelGap long-awaited]] fourth installment would be lauded as a return to form, with general consensus being that it doesn't quite outdo the second game (or the similarly acclaimed ''VideoGame/StreetsOfRageRemake'') but certainly not for lack of trying. |
| 142 | * ''VideoGame/SuperSmashBros'', while mostly well-loved by gamers, isn't without a rocky history. [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBros64 The first installment]] was seen as an upstart fighting game that had yet to find its voice. ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosMelee Melee]]'' is considered a substantial improvement and one of the best four-player party fighters of all time. ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosBrawl Brawl]]'' was still tons of fun for most gamers, especially with the fan-favorite story mode The Subspace Emissary and the arrival of plenty of beloved characters, but many people agreed the gameplay wasn't nearly as competitive-friendly as ''Melee'' was. Both halves of [[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosForNintendo3DSAndWiiU the fourth game]] were widely seen as a return to form, keeping some of ''Brawl'''s more liked changes while reverting the less popular ones back to how they were in ''Melee''. ''[[VideoGame/SuperSmashBrosUltimate Ultimate]]'' seems to have broken the curse, seen as a substantial improvement over the rest of the franchise, taking the elements that the base has come to love (the original's character crossover excitement, ''Melee''[='s=] competitive-friendly gameplay, ''Brawl''[='s=] story campaign, and ''3DS/Wii U''[='s=] clean look) and combining them into one; it does have some shortcomings, such as a flawed online service, but the reception has definitely been highly positive overall. |
| 143 | * Not counting the spin-offs or upgrades, ''Franchise/{{Tekken}}'' also seems to have this curse, albeit only starting from the third and fourth games -- ''Tekken 2'' was seen as a stark improvement over the original by both players and devs alike, and received its own EvenBetterSequel in the commercially and critically successful ''VideoGame/Tekken3''. ''VideoGame/Tekken4'' was seen as a fairly weak entry that changed too much (from the gameplay mechanics to the roster count), while ''VideoGame/Tekken5'' reverted many of those changes to wide acclaim. Since then, the following numbered installments have so far alternated in terms of perceived quality, with ''VideoGame/Tekken6'' being seen as a step down from ''5'' whereas ''VideoGame/Tekken7'' was received much more favorably, going on to become the most commercially successful entry in the series at nearly 12 million copies sold as of March 2024. For the ''Tag Tournament'' [[DreamMatchGame games]], meanwhile, the original was seen as great while the second received a more middling (but still decent) reception. |
| 144 | %% Will need to wait to add in Tekken 8 (released at the tail end of January 2024; this current edit is from early April 2024), particularly once it is out of the honeymoon phase, but general reception so far indicates it broke the curse. (It also sold over 2 million copies in its first month, which is more than T7 sold in the same time according to Bandai Namco.) |
| 145 | * ''VideoGame/{{Uncharted}}'': While downplayed, as all of the games in the series are considered good, the even-numbered games have received much more praise than the odd-numbered ones. The first game, ''[[VideoGame/UnchartedDrakesFortune Drake's Fortune]]'', is seen as a good start but did still have some shaky moments. The second, ''[[VideoGame/Uncharted2AmongThieves Among Thieves]]'', is considered to be where the series really [[GrowingTheBeard came into its own]]. The third game, ''[[VideoGame/Uncharted3DrakesDeception Drake's Deception]]''. received much praise, but did have some problems with being [[ItsTheSameNowItSucks a little too similar]] to the second. The fourth game, ''[[VideoGame/Uncharted4AThiefsEnd A Thief's End]]'', once again received near-universal acclaim for featuring more open areas, new gameplay elements, and a much more emotional story to serve as the series' [[GrandFinale big sendoff]]. |
| 146 | * Creator/ValveSoftware has the Threes Curse, that being their inability to produce a game with a three in the title. ''VideoGame/Left4Dead'', ''[[VideoGame/TeamFortress1 Team]] [[VideoGame/TeamFortressClassic Fortress]]'', ''VideoGame/DefenseOfTheAncients'', and ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' have all had their most recent entries at 2 (''VideoGame/LeftForDead2'', ''VideoGame/TeamFortress2'', ''VideoGame/Dota2'', and ''VideoGame/Portal2'' respectively), with no news of anything further, but ''VideoGame/HalfLife'' is the most infamous: ''VideoGame/HalfLife2'' had two [[MissionPackSequel "Episode" installments]] in 2006 and 2007 to act as continuations rather than a third game, and the third Episode fell into DevelopmentHell and had yet to be released over a decade later. This was ''finally'' bucked with the release of the third ''Half-Life'' installment [[SequelGap in 2020]], ''VideoGame/HalfLifeAlyx'', which was met with extreme acclaim. |
| 147 | * Though all of ''VideoGame/WorldOfWarcraft'''s expansions tend to be divisive, the even-numbered versions of the game are generally not remembered as fondly as the odd-numbered ones. |
| 148 | ** Even: ''The Burning Crusade'' got bad flak for its lore developments, particularly cases of CharacterDerailment. ''Cataclysm'' originally held the title of the weakest expansion after ''Wrath of the Lich King'' proved to be a ToughActToFollow. ''Warlords of Draenor'' dethroned ''Cataclysm'' for having too much gameplay tied into [[PlayerHeadquarters garrisons]] and its overall short length (being the first expansion to end with a .2 patch instead of .3 or .4, and having only three raids across two tiers) despite having a slightly higher price tag than previous expansions. ''Battle for Azeroth'' is loathed by much of the playerbase for various reasons, primarily having unsatisfying gameplay and a plot that felt like a repeat of ''Mists of Pandaria''. |
| 149 | ** Odd: The "vanilla" version when the game launched in 2004 is generally treated kindly in spite of its flaws that would be ironed out over the next two decades. ''Wrath of the Lich King'' is considered by many to be the game's absolute peak in terms of both gameplay and story. ''Mists of Pandaria'' received some criticism for its setting and the addition of the pandaren race, but was eventually VindicatedByHistory for its good points. ''Legion'' is seen as a genuinely good expansion that fixed most of the problems that players had with ''Warlords'' on top of adding a popular new class and the widely acclaimed class halls and campaigns. |
| 150 | ** ''Shadowlands'', the eighth expansion and ninth version overall, seems to have bucked the trend. While it sold well, it was also heavily criticized for its overreliance on tacked-on gameplay systems [[FranchiseOriginalSin that continued a trend started by]] ''[[FranchiseOriginalSin Legion]]'', a story that attempted to be "epic" but ended up feeling more like a SaturdayMorningCartoon, and simply didn't feel like ''Warcraft'' anymore. The expansion's first major patch was similarly met with ridicule over being released a whopping eight months after the expansion's initial launch and its increasingly questionable writing and doubling down on the aforementioned systems, which, combined with the ObviousBeta release of ''Warcraft III: Reforged'', the lukewarm reaction to the re-release of the aforementioned ''Burning Crusade'', and some other controversies surrounding Creator/BlizzardEntertainment at the time, turned both the company and their flagship game into a laughing stock. |
| 151 | [[/folder]] |
| 152 | |
| 153 | [[folder:Visual Novels]] |
| 154 | * ''VisualNovel/DanganronpaV3KillingHarmony'' has this formula with its cases. The first class trial is fairly well liked, although [[spoiler:killing off Kaede]] is highly controversial. The next two cases are generally considered relatively weak, possibly in part due to the first being a ToughActToFollow. The fourth case and the fifth case are generally seen as the high points of the game. The sixth case, however, is often regarded as one of the worst, without even going into the very controversial ending. |
| 155 | [[/folder]] |
| 156 | |
| 157 | [[folder:Web Animation]] |
| 158 | * ''WebAnimation/SonicForHire'' began experiencing this following Season 2, where odd-numbered seasons (Seasons 3, 5, and 7) are well-received while even-numbered seasons (Seasons 4, 6, and 8) are highly divisive. |
| 159 | [[/folder]] |
| 160 | |
| 161 | [[folder:Webcomics]] |
| 162 | * ''Webcomic/SurvivorFanCharacters'', especially later on, follows a trend opposite that of ''Star Trek'': The odd-numbered seasons are quite popular while the even-numbered seasons get lukewarm reception at best. The author himself has noticed, and hopes Season 14 will break the pattern. |
| 163 | [[/folder]] |
| 164 | |
| 165 | [[folder:Web Video]] |
| 166 | * WebVideo/TheNostalgiaCritic summarizes the {{Trope Namer|s}} throughout a series of reviews on the odd-numbered installments with a recap saying "Last time, in the ''good'' Star Trek movie..." |
| 167 | [[/folder]] |
| 168 | |
| 169 | [[folder:Western Animation]] |
| 170 | * ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'': |
| 171 | ** The show's seasons tend to alternate between [[BrokenBase base-breaking]] and generally well-received by the fandom: |
| 172 | *** While Season 1 is by no means considered ''bad'', it suffered from EarlyInstallmentWeirdness and a much more restrictive [[AnAesop Aesop]] format due to having to adhere to E/I guidelines. |
| 173 | *** Season 2 is generally considered to be where the show [[GrowingTheBeard grew the beard]] (although it had far more controversial episodes than Season 1 did). |
| 174 | *** Season 3 suffered from being half the length of the previous two and having an extremely controversial finale where Twilight Sparkle becomes Princess of Friendship, seen by many at the time as JumpingTheShark (although it has since been the consensus that it did not actually signify a long-term decline in quality). |
| 175 | *** Then Season 4 was mostly well-received (especially the finale). |
| 176 | *** Season 5 (seemingly) broke this trend by being generally well-received, although its finale [[BrokenBase was controversial]] for featuring Starlight Glimmer's HeelFaceTurn, which some saw as undeserved (or, at least, rushed and anticlimactic). |
| 177 | *** Season 6 promoted Starlight Glimmer into one of the main characters, which furthered the BrokenBase of the Season 5 finale. |
| 178 | *** Season 7 was much more well-received than its predecessor. |
| 179 | *** Season 8 created another BrokenBase due to its premise of making the main characters teachers at a new "School of Friendship", which is either a blatant gimmick or an interesting source for new episode plots and characters. |
| 180 | *** Season 9, the show's GrandFinale, was generally seen as a fitting send-off for the show, meaning the curse was inverted starting with the 5th season. |
| 181 | ** The spinoff [[WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyEquestriaGirls Equestria Girls]] follows the standard evens-over-odds curse with its movies/longer specials. The second, fourth, and sixth are much better received than the first, third, and fifth. |
| 182 | * ''WesternAnimation/SpiderManTheAnimatedSeries'': The odd numbered seasons actually do better than the even numbered seasons. While the first season lacks the story arcs of the later seasons, it's fondly remembered for having many well liked episodes and for how it introduced its characters. Season 2 on the other hand is less popular, as while it had a few well liked episodes such as the two part crossover with ''WesternAnimation/XMenTheAnimatedSeries'' many didn't enjoy the "Neogenic Nightmare" storyline of the season. Season 3 meanwhile is much more well liked for its "The Sins of the Fathers" arc, which many found more thematically interesting especially since it can be applies to a larger variety of characters as opposed to neogenics, which was more specifically tied to characters with origins similar too Spider-Man's. It helped that this season not only had some fan favorite episodes, but it also finally introduced the Green Goblin and had a memorable conclusion. Season 4 suffered from a lack of direction with its "Partners In Danger" arc, as while it did introduce Black Cat who fans liked the season mainly brought back some of the weaker elements from Season 2 such as Morbius. It didn't help that the storyline of Spider-Man relationship with Black Cat was rendered pointless when she left, with the show then continuing the storyline of Season 3 for the last couple of episodes. Season 5, while not considered as good as Season 3 and suffering from an infamous cliffhanger ending, is more enjoyed for having several different story arcs that had the character interact with a variety of different heroes and villains, culminating in the first ''ComicBook/SpiderVerse'' storyline in the character's history. |
| 183 | * ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitans2003'': The even-numbered seasons tend to fare better than the odd ones. Season 2 had the Terra betrayal arc based on ''ComicBook/TheJudasContract'' while Season 4 had Raven facing her father Trigon over the fate of the world; both storylines are considered to be [[SignatureSeriesArc the most iconic parts of the series]]. Season 1 was [[GrowingTheBeard still struggling to find its voice]], Season 3 was LighterAndSofter and had Cyborg facing the lackluster Brother Blood, and Season 5 had some divisive changes to its formula while infamously [[AmbiguousEnding ending with an ambiguous and inconclusive episode]]. |
| 184 | [[/folder]] |
| 185 | |
| 186 | [[folder:Real Life]] |
| 187 | * In UsefulNotes/AustralianRulesFootball, the Essendon Bombers seem to have an AudienceAlienatingEra roughly every four decades: The decades in which they failed to win a premiership are the 1930s, 1970s and 2010s. The 1890s are an interesting case -- while they ''did'' win the premiership in 1897, they did NOT win the Grand Final, as [[EarlyInstallmentWeirdness the finals that year were in a Round Robin format]]. |
| 188 | * Platform/MicrosoftWindows has had the curse since Windows 3.1, at least when it comes to their major public releases. Windows 95, Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows XP, and Windows 7 were all popular and well-received, while Windows 98, Windows ME, Windows Vista, and Windows 8 made rather controversial changes, were unstable, or had other problems which made it difficult to recommend upgrading. (Even TheUnfavourite releases have their fans, of course.) Windows releases tend to follow a pattern of "revolutionary" -- in which many changes are made at once -- followed by "evolutionary", or mostly polishing what was in the last one. Thus, every other version has a lot of new bugs ''and'' new features, and takes some getting used to; by the time the next version comes out, these issues have mostly been resolved (by patches and service packs for the software, and by users getting used to how it looks and works). Another way of looking at it is that Microsoft puts out a "public beta", followed a couple of years later by the final, mostly-working-as-advertised version, charging their customers for both (and for the privilege of testing their software for them). Microsoft followed Windows 8 with Windows 10 (skipping Windows 9), which was better received than its predecessor by major reviewers and generally continuing the pattern, though with [[BigBrotherIsWatching concerns over privacy]] with the new telemetry system, Microsoft's [[UnwantedAssistance rather pushy efforts]] to get Windows 7 and 8 users to upgrade, and the even pushier automatic update systems within Windows 10 itself (basically barring hacking, you can't set Windows 10 updates to manual control). It's not unheard of to hear people joke that Microsoft skipped "Windows 9" because that one would have been a ''good'' OS. With Windows 8 being widely derided, Window 10 having a highly mixed reception and a rough start, and early reception to Windows 11 looking to be much the same as Window 10's rocky start, some lean towards the interpretation that skipping Windows 9 has indeed broken the pattern, [[GoneHorriblyRight via ensuring that EVERY version of Windows is going to be problematic from here on out]]. |
| 189 | * While the [[UsefulNotes/NationalBasketballAssociation San Antonio Spurs]] were consistently good starting with their 1999 title, they only got to the finals, all of whom were championships, in equally odd-numbered years (2003, 2005, 2007)... until 2013, when the Miami Heat denied the Spurs a Game 6 title clinch [[DownToTheLastPlay in the last seconds]], won that game and the deciding Game 7. And the Spurs won a HeroicRematch the following year to further break the trend. |
| 190 | * The [[UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball San Francisco Giants]] and "Even Year Magic" (or "Even Year Bullshit" to the rest of the league). They won a World Series in 2010, finished four games back of a playoff spot in 2011, won a World Series in 2012, finished fourth in their division in 2013, and won a World Series in 2014. After a 3-1 loss to the Cubs in the 2016 National League Division Series, the Giants no longer benefit from this effect. Indeed, in 2021 they inverted it by placing first in the National League, the first time they had done so since '12, and exhibiting the best win-loss ratio of any team playing that season. |
| 191 | [[/folder]] |
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