FTR, this can be any form of media, be it books, movies, or TV shows.

I'm reading The Dark Tower series by Stephen King for the first time (never seen the movies/tv show either), and am a few chapters into the second book. Is there any series with such a drastically different sequel from the first book? I thought the first book was interesting, but it read more like King was trying to start his own religion than write a Sci-fi/fantasy novel. The second book is much more of what I was expecting from the story.

Anyways, are there any other series you can think of like that?

I would assume the revised version, but it's an audiobook I listened to, and I don't see either way, other than it was released in 2016.

Great series

Vince Blake said:

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Kingkiller Chronicles. First book is like a more mature Harry Potter novel and the second book becomes fantasy erotica.

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Great description. There is still a lot of the first book style, but there was probably 80 pages of him just describing a few sex marathons.

For movies, I'd say Harry Potter. Movies 1-3 are much more different than 4-7. I liked the tone of 1 and 2, but thought movie 3 had the best tone/atmosphere. Movies 4-7, I did not appreciate the direction they went with tone/atmosphere.

For books, I love how the Dresden Files starts as almost an episodic detective series, but then expands to be much more epic fantasy. This would be one I use as an example for good change or evolution in story.

I loved the first half of batman vs. superman, and hated the second half. Basically once Supes and Bats have their fight it goes to ***** Affleck's version of Batman is really strong for the first half.

I also like the first half of Revenge of the Sith a lot better than the second. The first is filled with lots of tension and the layers of the mystery pulling back. Anakin and Palpatine's scene at the opera and when Palpatine reveals himself are cool. Everything from Anakin deciding the only way to stop a fight is to chop Mace Windu's arm off is not as good, outside of the Order 66 montage.

Hancock as well.

I realize the OP said series, but all I can think about are movies.

Pirates of the Caribbean went from mostly funny to sort of confusing to sweeping epic in the first 3 movies, then returned to the form of the first one by the 5th one. The 4th one was not great IMHO

American Vandal begins as a potty-humor gag, and then becomes a really insightful examination of high school in the social media age.

DallasTeleAg said:

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For movies, I'd say Harry Potter. Movies 1-3 are much more different than 4-7. I liked the tone of 1 and 2, but thought movie 3 had the best tone/atmosphere. Movies 4-7, I did not appreciate the direction they went with tone/atmosphere.

For books, I love how the Dresden Files starts as almost an episodic detective series, but then expands to be much more epic fantasy. This would be one I use as an example for good change or evolution in story.

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I think Dresden Files is at the top of my list of shows that would make an excellent tv series if done right.

Falling SKies went from being a cool idea for an alien invasion with a American Revolutionary-themed resistance and one of the best season-ending plot twists ever to what I can only assume was a really minimized budget and some of the worst plot holes, week-to-week nonsense and really bad special effects in the last couple of seasons.

Whoever the studio head was that decided to change Thor's MCU movies from dark-and-moody to action comedies deserves a fast track pass to heaven.

Parks and Rec had a subtle but significant change.

wcb said:

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Clearly none of you have seen Icarus on Netflix. Possibly the most insane plot twist I've ever seen, all while attempting to film a documentary.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Icarus_(2017_film)

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Good one. Totally forgot about this.

Prison Break.

Started out as a show with numerous twists&turns and an ingeniously intricate plan for breaking out. Then it went on hiatus mid-season; when it came back it was literally just a bunch of guys digging a tunnel to escape.

NipTuck?

Person of Interest comes to mind. Starts as a typical procedural and ends with superintelligent AI fighting to determine the fate of mankind.

Madmarttigan said:

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Chuck Cunningham said:

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Red Rising Series

First few books were 1 character driven, and then all of the sudden it's about galactic civil war.

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I just reread the original trilogy and start 4/5. I'm in the middle of 5 now and kind of wish I just left it with the perfect ending of the first trilogy.

It's good but I don't like the different viewpoints and I don't like trudging through all of the sociopolitical issues that the rebellion created. 5th book is also just darker and more depressing than any of the other books.

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Yep. I couldn't finish the 4th or 5th one.

Madmarttigan said:

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Chuck Cunningham said:

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Red Rising Series

First few books were 1 character driven, and then all of the sudden it's about galactic civil war.

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I just reread the original trilogy and start 4/5. I'm in the middle of 5 now and kind of wish I just left it with the perfect ending of the first trilogy.

It's good but I don't like the different viewpoints and I don't like trudging through all of the sociopolitical issues that the rebellion created. 5th book is also just darker and more depressing than any of the other books.

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I made the decision halfway through book 4 that the second trilogy had no chance to match the original. Never finished it and probably won't attempt to.

I would say that Breaking Bad S1 was a dark comedy. S2 forward was more dramatic and relied on plot more than the humor.