Can a TV Show Be Great Even If Its Main Storyline Barely Progresses?

Have you ever watched a TV show where several episodes pass, yet the main storyline seems to be moving at a snail's pace, but you still can't stop watching? Sometimes, the characters, their relationships, the humour, and the smaller stories are so engaging that you don't mind waiting for the bigger plot to develop. Would you keep watching?

Yes, the well-known "filler" or "fan service" can actually be good enough, even if it causes the plot to progress more slowly; personally, I quite enjoy fan service.

I haven't seen a great show with no progressive storyline. I was even forced to delete some shows with slow pacing from my phone.

On Oct 18, 2026, Flower said:

I haven't seen a great show with no progressive storyline. I was even forced to delete some shows with slow pacing from my phone.

And which ones did you delete, for example? I’m curious to know which series you felt had a plot that was too slow.

Yes, a show can still be great even if the main storyline is not that great. Sometimes the gist, the character banter, and the side stories carry the show more than the main plot.

On Oct 18, 2026, Uptrend said:

Yes, a show can still be great even if the main storyline is not that great. Sometimes the gist, the character banter, and the side stories carry the show more than the main plot.

Is that possible? Tell me, then—what would they be, for instance? Give me some examples of series where what you’re describing actually happens.