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SectionFranchise Guides29 pagesUpdated

Franchise guides: watch order, seasons, cast changes and the episodes that matter

Every franchise guide on Rough Cut Review in one list, each with a status line that says whether it covers the latest season.

Franchise guides: watch order, seasons, cast changes and the episodes that matter
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What a franchise guide covers

A franchise guide on Rough Cut Review is one reference page for a show or film series that has run long enough to need a map. It opens with a watch order, because release order, chronological order and the order a newcomer should try are often three different lists. Season summaries come next, kept short and spoiler-labeled, followed by cast changes: who left, who arrived, and in which season. Below that sits a selection of the episodes that matter, the ones a skipper should still see and the ones later seasons keep referring back to.

Every guide also carries a status line near the top. It says in one sentence whether the guide covers the latest season or film, and what state the franchise is in. The 100, for example, ended in 2020 after seven seasons on The CW, so its guide can be complete. A franchise still releasing new material gets a line that names the last season covered, so you know at a glance whether something is missing before you read further.

Guides are kept current by checking the status line against a named source and dating the check. When a new season or film arrives, the affected guide is revised: the watch order gains the new entry, the summary and cast notes are extended, and the line is rewritten. A claim that can go stale on its own, such as a cancellation or a renewal, is recorded with its source and the date it was last confirmed. If a guide has fallen behind, the status line says so instead of implying the page is finished. Guides link out to the full reviews, recaps and rankings that Rough Cut Review publishes on the same franchise, so each one works as a starting point, not a dead end. Pick a franchise below and start with its status line.

0229 pages
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Every franchise guide

Each guide below lists its own status line, so you can see how current it is before you open it.

  1. No. 01The 100 Episodes Guide: Every Season Explained, With Counts and Watch OrderSeven seasons and 100 episodes of The 100 aired on The CW between 2014 and 2020. The guide covers the content and length of each season and gives a starting point for viewers short on time.
  2. No. 02Quantum Leap Season 2 Episode Guide: Ending Explained for the Original and the RevivalFive seasons on NBC from 1989 to 1993, then two more from 2022 to 2024: that is the run of Quantum Leap. Each season is described below with its length, along with advice on where to start.
  3. No. 03James Bond Films Guide: Each Film Explained, Dr. No to No Time to DieTwenty-five official James Bond films have been released, from Dr. No in 1962 to No Time to Die in 2021. They are taken here era by era, with directors, years and a suggested place to start.
  4. No. 04Star Trek Movies Guide: All 13 Films Explained in Release OrderThirteen theatrical Star Trek films were released from The Motion Picture in 1979 to Beyond in 2016. They are sorted below by crew, with directors, years and a suggested starting point.
  5. No. 05Mad Max Films Guide: All Five Films Explained in Release OrderFive Mad Max films were released between the original in 1979 and Furiosa in 2024. Each one is covered by year, director and cast, followed by advice on where to start.
  6. No. 06The Boys Seasons Guide: Five Seasons Explained, Spoiler-FreePrime Video has released The Boys in five seasons from 2019 to 2026, 40 episodes in all. Each season gets its own summary and episode count below, plus a pointer for readers who want to know where to begin.
  7. No. 07Marvel TV Shows and Movies: Every Film and Series Family ExplainedMarvel on screen covers 38 MCU films, more than 30 series on five platforms and film families from other studios. The sections below sort them into eras, with counts and years for each and a suggested starting point.
  8. No. 08DC TV Shows and Movies: Every Series Family ExplainedSmallville in 2001 and the new DC Universe of 2025 and 2026 mark the range of DC's screen output. The films and series below are grouped into families, with counts, years and a suggested starting point for each.
  9. No. 09Star Wars Series Guide: Shows and Films Explained, Family by FamilyTwelve films and around twenty series on Disney+ and other networks make up Star Wars on screen today. The families below come with counts, years and a suggested starting point.
  10. No. 10Game of Thrones Episodes Guide: All Eight Seasons ExplainedHBO aired Game of Thrones for eight seasons between 2011 and 2019, 73 episodes in total. What each season covers, how long it runs and which episodes to see first are set out below.
  11. No. 11The Walking Dead Seasons Guide: Eleven Seasons Explained, with CountsAMC aired The Walking Dead for eleven seasons between 2010 and 2022, 177 episodes in total. The sections ahead explain what each season is about, how long it runs and which episodes to see first.
  12. No. 12Shadowhunters Episodes Guide: Three Seasons Explained, Splits IncludedFreeform aired Shadowhunters across three seasons from 2016 to 2019, 55 episodes in all. Below: what each season covers, how the split seasons were scheduled and which episodes to see first.
  13. No. 13Killjoys Seasons Guide: Five Seasons Explained, Plus Where to BeginKilljoys, a Canadian production co-produced with Syfy, ran five seasons from 2015 to 2019, 50 episodes in all. The guide below covers what each season is about, its length and the episodes to see first.
  14. No. 14Atlanta Seasons Guide: The Four FX Seasons Explained in OrderAtlanta aired four seasons on FX between 2016 and 2022, 41 episodes in total. Each season gets a summary here, along with its length and a few episodes that work as a shortcut.
  15. No. 15Resident Alien Seasons Guide: All Four Seasons ExplainedResident Alien ran for four seasons on Syfy between 2021 and 2025, 44 episodes in total. The sections below describe each season and its length and point to a starting place for readers short on time.
  16. No. 16Supernatural Seasons Guide: 15 Seasons Explained, and Where to Jump InSupernatural lasted 15 seasons on The WB and The CW, from 2005 to 2020, and 327 episodes. The guide goes through what each season is about, how long it runs and which episodes to prioritize.
  17. No. 17Archer Seasons Guide: 14 Seasons, 145 Episodes, One Clear PathAcross 14 seasons on FX and FXX between 2009 and 2023, Archer produced 145 episodes. The sections below give each season's premise and length, plus a short list of episodes for anyone pressed for time.
  18. No. 18Mr. Robot Seasons Guide: Four Seasons Explained, with Watch OrderOn USA Network from 2015 to 2019, Mr. Robot ran four seasons and 45 episodes. Each season is summarized below with its length, and the watch order and a starting point are covered for anyone short on time.
  19. No. 19Futurama Seasons Guide: Fox, Comedy Central and Hulu ExplainedSince 1999 Futurama has built up 11 seasons and 180 episodes on Fox, Comedy Central and Hulu. Each stretch of the show is described below with its length and a place to start for viewers short on time.
  20. No. 20MST3K Episodes Guide: Every Season Explained, KTMA to GizmoplexSince 1988, Mystery Science Theater 3000 has moved through television and streaming. The guide describes the character of each season, its episode count and a sensible entry point.
  21. No. 21Stranger Things Seasons Guide: Five Seasons Explained for NewcomersNetflix released Stranger Things in five seasons between 2016 and 2025, 42 episodes in total. Each season is summarized below, with a note on watch order and where to begin when time is short.
  22. No. 22The Last of Us Episodes Guide: Both Seasons Explained, with DirectorsHBO has aired two seasons of The Last of Us, 16 episodes in all, and a third season is in production. Below, each season's contents and length are laid out along with a place to begin.
  23. No. 23Obi-Wan Kenobi Episodes Guide: The Season Explained, Part by PartSet ten years after Revenge of the Sith, Obi-Wan Kenobi is a six-episode Disney+ limited series released in 2022. Every part is covered below, along with the release schedule and a note on what to watch first.
  24. No. 24The Imperfects Netflix Guide: The One Season Explained, Cast IncludedNetflix released all of The Imperfects, a Canadian superhero drama, at once on September 8, 2022. The ten episodes, the cast and the questions the single season leaves open are covered below.
  25. No. 25Rick and Morty Seasons Guide: All Nine Seasons ExplainedRick and Morty has aired nine seasons on Adult Swim, 91 episodes from December 2013 to July 2026. This guide lays out what each season is about, how long it is, what changed in 2023 and where to start.
  26. No. 26Doctor Who Series Guide: Every Revived Series, Doctor and SpecialDoctor Who returned to BBC One in 2005 and has run 15 series since, with seven Doctors and dozens of specials. This guide covers each series, each Doctor, the 2026 pause and where to start.
  27. No. 27Pinball Guide: Makers, Classic Tables, Virtual Pinball, Where to PlayPinball is an arcade game with roots in the 1930s that now has five active American makers and a busy digital scene. This guide covers who builds tables, which classics get named, how tables are rated and where to play.
  28. No. 28The Expanse Seasons Guide: Episode Counts, Dates and Where to StartThe Expanse ran six seasons and 62 episodes, on Syfy from 2015 to 2018 and on Amazon Prime Video from 2019 to 2022. This guide lays out what each season covers, how long it is, which novel it adapts and where to start.
  29. No. 29Westworld Seasons Guide: Episode Counts, Dates and Where to StartWestworld ran four seasons and 36 episodes on HBO from 2016 to 2022 before its cancellation. This guide lays out what each season covers, how long it is, what happened after the cancellation and where to start.

Questions about this section

What does a franchise guide contain?

Each guide opens with a watch order and moves on to season summaries, cast changes and a selection of the episodes that matter. Summaries are kept short and are spoiler-labeled.

What is the status line at the top of a guide?

It is a one-sentence note on whether the guide covers the latest season or film and what state the franchise is in. A franchise still releasing new material gets a line naming the last season covered.

How are guides kept current?

The status line is checked against a named source and the check is dated. When a new season or film arrives, the watch order gains the entry and the summaries and cast notes are extended.

What happens when a guide falls behind?

The status line says so instead of implying the page is finished. Claims that can go stale, such as a cancellation or a renewal, are recorded with their source and the date they were last confirmed.

Do guides link to other pages?

Yes. They link to the reviews, recaps and rankings published on the same franchise. That lets each guide work as a starting point.

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