I watched season one of the hit show, The Best Years, religiously. Sometimes I'd watch three or four episodes in one sitting. It was engrossing. So, I waiting ages for season two to begin and now that I have seen the first episode, I have to say I'm disappointed.
The show, which is about a girl tackling college, was exciting and dramatic last season. This season opener was boring and just blah. When it ended, I had that bitter feeling like when you brush your teeth and you can't seem to get that horrible taste out of your mouth. If this was the first episode I saw, I wouldn't even bother watching the new season. The episode didn't even deserve a second chance.
Obviously, the biggest problem is literally half the cast left the show last season (probably since the show was on hiatus for two years!): Niall Matter (Trent), Athena Karkanis (Dawn), and Brandon Jay McLaren (Devon). One of the most important things about the show is cast chemistry. Taking out half the cast is like separating peanut butter and jelly. It's just not as good. I kept saying to the TV, "You're not Trent! Bring back Trent!" It's frustrating, because I've grown used to the old cast members and it's hard to imagine seeing how the show is successful without them.
Charity Shea plays Sam, who is the main character on the show. The only other cast members to come back are Randal Edwards (Noah) and Jennifer Miller (Kathryn). I love all these actors to death and the characters they play. But the characters are different and not in a good way. I know people change, but this isn't for the better. Noah last season was cute yet awkward. That's what was great. This season he's suddenly not. Kathryn used to be fun and pink, now she's just depressing. I don't know why the writers would change that.
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Article comments
1 - Nops
I AGREE! I just finished re-watching the best years season one on the-n.com and couldnt wait for season two to start. Season One is one of my absolute favorite tv shows of all time and it is so totally different this season that i almost feel like the dissapointment of season two ruined season one for me. Samantha looks completely different and no longer has the same charm and interesting style. Plus she got new teeth which sort of ruins more of her charm. Thankfully Noah and Kathryn my other fave cast members came back but they are totally different. I hate the new cast members alot they are too boring and uninteresting. Why didnt they mention anything about where dawn, trent, lee, and devon went? Im dissapointed and depressed almost as if the show died.
2 - x-tine
TOTALLY AGREE! season premiere was definitely disappointing. and it started with her being with some different guy; when i was rooting for her and trent. and they dont even mention where he went. but yeah totally disappointing [hoping the rest of the season will be better]
3 - kay21
I havent watched it and not sure i will Dawn and Devon were my favs i wont watch if they arent there :(
4 - Lady-A
I agree that Dawn,Devon,and Trent kept it interesting. Without them the show did become boring. If I watch the show again,it will be to see the character Delman who I find very attractive.Though I do hope the show gets better!
5 - Megan (a.k.a) biggest Trent Lover EVER!
OMG Its seriously like i wrote this article. Very well written. With out trent this show is stupid and just non interesting at all to me. Why would they do that! COME ON 1st season amazing 2nd not at all
6 - Julie
I couldn't have said it better. What the french is up with that freaky chick with all the techno and rave????? Where is Trent? I am still hoping that we are getting punked.
7 - PrettyUpset
Ifully agree with all of the above comments! Sooo with the way Season 1 ended put together with Season 2's opener we are to believe that Dawn is back in LA being a movie star, Devon went to Europe to play BBall,heartbroken over Sam, Trent...Idk...o-d?? And Lee shut down colony and is just off somewhere being hiv positive. The logic of Sam leaving CU to rough it in S America for 8 months just doesn't fit with the Sam I knew..ugh. Ok I've DVRed the rest of Season 2 to date so I'll watch to see if it's much better!
8 - taya sparks
i agree i really argee. season 2 sucks i mean its plain boring. no story about patrick or the mother. dawn and devon and trent need to come back. wherees the drama i mean the author of this thing is really starts to ig me. i mean come on it was getting good. i started watching this show on april 2, 2009 and i was like wow that was amazing. that was one of my top 5 shows but then when i saw season 2 i was lik ill this cant be happing. seriously after a whole 2 years thing they just put a whole new vibe with new characters. thats just terrible. but ill keep watching season two for the sake of it. it would be cool it a surprise guest would show up on one of the episodes. like trent or dawn or devon and the colony openig again. i can picture it now the drama reviving. i just hope something interesting will blow my mind in season two. it a shame that people waited so long for this bull crap!! just bull!!! season 2 bull!!! bring back the old cast members and or combine the old cast with the new cast and make it a big reunion with alot of drama and im show that viewers will be happy and the show would enlighten my interest. who agree with me????
9 - nikki
okay, i do agree wiff all yuh guys. season one ws da bomb! this one is kinda disappointing. but rich and delman are the only new ones i lyke. rich is totally hot, but trent was way hotter. the only reason why i watched tht show was because of sam and trent.
but im hoping so badd, tht third season evryone comes bak.
i mean they said trent ws in san francisco runnin a coffee shop.
then one of the episodes sam was goin thru alicia's stuff and she found a picture of trent i was so sad, crying!
then after alicia leaves cu and goes to visit trent hopefully she comes bak wiff him.
but ughh....im lyke so madd, trent is gone!
10 - Taylor
I agree, i was dissapointed. they better bring someone back. i want trent to pop back up.
11 - Hannah
I hate this new season. The shows are stupid and have dumb pointless drama. I hate hate hate hate hate hate this season!
12 - Aunalee
this season is so lame i hate the new "the-n" with crap filled shows like zoey101! they ruined degrassi but now THE BEST YEARS!
13 - KC
First season was so strong. The show had good writing and interesting chracters. Season 2 was bad I couldn't get past more than a few episodes. Did the show get new writers or something? It didn't even jump the shark it was DOA. There were so many new and unnecessary chracters this season. What happened to Dawn,Devon,and Trent. Even the chracters from last season weren't written well.
14 - cynde
I don't understand what happened I just started watching and am very interested trying to find out as much as possible and then with season 2 apparently the canadians just lost inerest in good tv
15 - Stephanie
100% agreed. EVERYTHING is different and it's ruined the show. It honestly feels like a COMPLETELY DIFFERENT SHOW. Not to mention Sam's entire character, which is what the show is about, is not the same girl. In season one she was this powerhouse girl power-fighting, I-don't-need-a-man to survive, driven young woman. Season two she does nothing but cry over men. Whiny and a different person altogether. Yes, people change in college. Who doesn't? But not like that. Not to mention they didn't explain the fates of Trent, Devon or Dawn in too much depth, which left season one fans feeling cheated for these characters they grew to love. Oh, and Charity Shae's cheeks look anorexic in this season.
16 - Kimberly
I believe if the show was never put on hiatus the show would have went down a different path and stayed in the same good direction from the first season. It's too bad that happened and even after the second season it was cancelled again. The show they really shouldn't have cancelled was instant star. The show was there second best show with ratings behind degrassi the creators just all the sudden wanted to go in a different direction. Such a bummer. Really e joyed those shows as a kid.
17 - Aliya
I've finished watching the first season of the show and LOVE it! I knew a while back about the cancellation and then resurrection of the show but as I wasn't watching at the time, I didn't pay much attention to it. Now, that I've fallen in love with the actors and characters (like you have) I am really disappointed that Devon, Trent and Dawn aren't around for the second season (which I'm awaiting in the post). I was hoping that Sam would get back with Devon and we'd see a proper resolution to the loose ends presented at the end of season one. The plus point is that Noah and Kathryn are still going to be around so I'll have to reserve judgement until I watch all 8 episodes of season two.