(risky trope) A show changes genres mid way

[u/ErlikHan6]

The 100: the show starts as a somewhat grounded post apocalypse where humans who have taken refuge in a space station return to earth after it has become inhabitable again and resources on the space station run out. At first the show is about survival in a hostile environment. It slowly introduces more and more sci fi elements. At first, it's an Aİ that wants control over humanity. Towards the end of the show, the main characters have traveled throughout the galaxy, met humans from other planets, some of which have settled among ruins of ancient alien species, where they try to contact more advanced alien species in order to achieve "transcendence": rid humans of their physical bodies and become a more advanced lifeform.

AOT: this one is less gradual than the 100 and the change comes after a massive plot twist. The first 3 seasons of the show are about a relatively primitive society of humans who live inside humongous walls. Outside the walls are titans: giant monstrous creatures which hunt and devour humans. After a big plot twist and reveal, the society finds out that there is a whole bigger world out there, and the rest of the world is plotting to genocide them. They quickly industrialize after this discovery and wage war against other countries.

[u/Careless_Excuse4150]

That scene is basically a masterclass in making a comedy suddenly hit you with the weight of war.

[u/microgirlActual → u/Careless_Excuse4150]

Possibly slightly beaten by the final episode of Blackadder Goes Forth.

Though if you haven't seen it I'd strongly recommend at least watching the whole of the season - if not the whole of Blackadder II and Blackadder the Third (you can skip the first season, The Black Adder; it has a completely different tone and isn't as good, IMO) - and not just the last episode, as it won't hit the same.

Each season is just 6 half-hour episodes, so it's not a lot of TV, but that last season.... Holy Fuck that's some impactful anti-war tone whiplash right there.

[u/Matt_the_Splat → u/microgirlActual]

Each season is that short? I might have to go watch it then.

I miss out on a lot of shows because they're multiple long seasons in and I don't have the attention or interest to spend that much time watching. I can do a few hours here and there, though.

[u/sobrique → u/Matt_the_Splat]

Yeah. A lot of British shows work on 6 episode 'seasons'. BlackAdder never made that many in total, and it's really top tier comedy.

Well, ok, the first season was a bit rough, and still finding it's feet, but seasons 2-4 are exceptional.

[u/microgirlActual → u/Matt_the_Splat]

Yeah, this is a BBC show from the 80s. Even dramas were much shorter season than US network shows, usually only 12 episodes, though they'd usually be a full hour long (BBC doesn't do advertising). But comedies are usually only 30 min episodes and often short mini seasons.

[u/tobiasvl → u/Matt_the_Splat]

That's typical for British shows, short and sweet. The original British version of The Office was just two seasons of 6 half-hour episodes plus two Christmas special episodes, 14 in total. The American version of the Office ran for 9 seasons and a total of 201 episodes.