Here's The Season When Your Favorite TV Show Peaked

Television is enjoying a renaissance these days as the creative people in show business realize that season-long arcs can be a more compelling way to build a story than two hours in the cinema.

The shows also tend to generate a lot of controversy and debate about their high and low points. We pulled data from IMDB user review scores for some of the most compelling, popular, or immortal shows of the the past couple years to try to find when they peaked according to viewers.

On IMDB, registered users are able to give numerical reviews, 0-10, of television episodes. On the following charts, each episode is represented by a diamond. The x-axis is the seasons of the show. The y-axis is the score of each episode.

It's remarkable how one season can change the trajectory of an entire series.

We added a trend-line to the charts to track how the average ratings for the seasons changed over time.

Here we go:

The Sopranos, which is widely credited with kicking off the small-screen renaissance, had outstanding odd-numbered seasons and slightly-less-so-but-still-outstanding even numbered seasons. _{(In this chart, Season "6" refers to 6a and Season "7" refers to the final nine, 6b)}

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

South Park on Comedy Central got its best reviews in its sixth and seventh seasons but remains an animation powerhouse.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

We can just admit it folks. It's okay. The fourth season of Arrested Development kind of sucked compared to the masterpiece that came before. Now the healing can begin.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia won our hearts with a bold and unprecedented first season, but according to IMDB has become more erratic since.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

After a rough first three season, Seinfeld hit outstanding quality for six seasons running. The eighth season is Peak Seinfeld.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

Breaking Bad will not stop getting better. It's remarkable.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

The Simpsons, the journeyman of the group, peaked in season six and really started the decline in season nine, as thousands of loud, drunken arguments across America have by and large confirmed. Still, it's held steady for over a decade, which is nothing to sniff at.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

Battlestar had a rocky third season but finished strong. Also, ardfent fans of the series can actually see the reviled "Black Market" episode - in season 2 - from this chart alone. Just abominable.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

Dexter's had a rocky ride, but the second through fourth seasons are made up of some of the best stuff they'd ever done.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

Family Guy has seen a bit of a dip in quality recently according to IMDB, but the show has pulled off almost a dozen seasons of solid performance, which is an achievement to say the least.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

Friends was a consistent performer for years and peaked right at the end.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

Mad Men peaked in Season 4 and you know it.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

Futurama has come back from the dead with remarkable regularity, so the show's sustained performance is remarkable. Still, budget cuts, years off the air and a writer exodus hollowed out the new product on Comedy Central.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

Anyone else pretty shocked Grey's Anatomy is still on the air?

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

This chart does not do justice to the roller coaster that was watching Lost in real time.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

The Office got pretty unbearable after season 5. However, it's widely acknowledged that they pulled off one hell of a finish.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

HBO's Six Feet Under started strong, lagged in the middle, but really pulled it off in the final season.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

The West Wing was awesome, and then Sorkin left, so it stopped being quite as awesome.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

The Wire's third and fourth seasons are absolutely its strongest. Apologies to the longshoremen and the Baltimore Sun, but those were considerably weaker stretches.

Walter Hickey/BI, data via IMDB

UPDATE: By request, here's 24.