There’s nothing more frustrating than getting deeply invested in a show, falling in love with the characters, and getting excited for what’s to come next, only to find out that the show has only one season and worse, yet the last episode ends on a cliffhanger. There are plenty of shows out there that never got the chance to complete the story they wanted to tell.
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Whether it’s low ratings, expensive budgets, or lack of interest, some shows just, unfortunately, don’t make it through the wringer. Many come and go and are easily forgotten, but not all. Some shows live on in fans' hearts, long after they’re gone, leaving some to wonder what could’ve been.
The Black Donnellys (2007)
Family above all.The Black Donnellystells the tale of four Irish brothers in New York who get caught up in the world of organized crime. It’s a show about family and their rise to power within the Irish Mob. Led byJonathan TuckerandOlivia Wilde,the show was a good blend of action, romance, and drama.
Unfortunately, due to low ratings,The Black Donnellyswas canned after its first season. With only eight episodes premiering onNBCwhile the rest could only be seen on DVD. The failed gangster drama never really got a chance to tell the story it wanted to tell.
Cowboy Bebop (2021)
The live-action adaption ofCowboy Bebophad a lot of potential in its doomed first season and promised to expand into interesting territory for its second outing. Unfortunately, only a month after its releaseNetflix canceled the show. Following the adventures of two space cowboys, Jet and Spike,Cowboy Bebopwas an unconventional sci-fi trip that never really found its footing.
Being a remake of a beloved anime series,Cowboy Bebophad some big shoes to fill. Lacking the moody atmospheric brilliance of the original and some questionable changes to the story,Bebopjust wasn’t the hit Netflix was hoping it would be. That being said there are some positives to the show, such asMustafa Shakiras Jet and the expanding of antagonist Vicious' story, but it just wasn’t enough to keep interest, and sadly the show’s second season will never be.
Timeless (2016-2018)
NBC’sTimelessseries revolved around a trio of unlikely time travelers that travel through time to protect the past from a mysterious organization that wants to alter the course of history. The show was actually canceled twice. Once after its first season, but was brought back due to fan outcry, then was sadly canceled again for the last time after its second season run.
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With a cast of likable characters, led byAbigail Spencer, and an interesting premise that provided tidbits of historical trivia,Timelessproved to be a fan-favorite in its first and only two seasons. Due to an expensive budget and declining ratings, the show was never picked up for a third season, but wasone of the best shows involving time travel on television.
Mob City (2013)
Set in 1947, Los Angeles,Mob Cityfollows LAPD Detective Joe Teague, played byJon Bernthal,as he deals with corruption in the Los Angeles Police Department brought on by ruthless mobsters like Bugsy Siegel. Inspired by true accounts during that time,Mob Citywas a neo-noir love letter fromFrank Darabontthat just never found its audience.
The show only lasted one season due to a lack of commercial success.Mob Cityis one of those shows that had all the makings to be a hit; from its great casting and atmospheric setting to its exciting action sequences, but just never really made the impact it hoped for. Perhaps the beloved noir genre of the 40s is finally dead andMob Cityalong with it.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)
The prequel toJim Henson’s epic, puppet-centric, fantasy masterpieceThe Dark Crystal(1982),explores the history of the world Henson had created, known as Thra.The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistancecenters around the two main inhabitants of Thra, the wicked and disgusting avian-like species known as The Skeksies, and the peaceful elf-like Gelflings. It’s a tale about the rise of the evil Skeksies and the fall of the good-natured Gelflings.
The prequel series was a great addition to the world of Thra. Bringing a fresh take on the lore and world-building but still staying true to the original. Brought together by fascinating set designs, incredible puppetry, and a compelling story,Age of Resistanceproved to be an acclaimed hit. Though due to its rather expensive budget Netflix was forced to pull the plug before the show ever got a second season.
Magic City (2012-2013)
Set in the sunny beaches of 1950s Miami,Magic Citywas a dazzling, slick drama about a hotel owner, Ike Evans (Jeffery Dean Morgan), that has close connections with the Mob. Ike must navigate the dirty dealings of the underworld while trying to keep his family and business out of it.
Magic Citybrought all the glitz and glamour of the 1950s, creating a visual atmosphere that oozed style, but underneath all the decadence laid the ugly truth of sordid dealings and violent mobsters. It was an interesting show that sometimes valued style over substance, but was entertaining nonetheless.Magic Citywas canceled after its second season, leaving on a cliffhanger.
Undeclared (2001-2002)
Coming off the critically acclaimed yet ultimately doomedFreaks and Geeks,Judd Apatowtook another swing at comedy serialized writing throughUndeclared.Revolving around college freshmen in the early 2000s,Undeclaredwas a comedic, introspective look into the lives of Steven Karp (Jay Baruchel) and his dorm-mates as they traverse the world of academia.
Hosting a talented cast before their big breaks, likeSeth RogenandCharlie Hunnam,Undeclaredwas a show that never got its just dues. With creative differences happening behind the scenes, the show only managed to make it to one season and was then canceled byFox.
Rome (2005-2007)
HBOhas always been known for providing excellent, mature television andRomewas no exception. Spanning back to the days of togas and sandals,Rometook an introspective look at the daily lives of Ancient Rome’s citizens. Following the wealthy upper class as well as the city’s lowly commoners,Romeprovided a gritty, realistic take on what it was like to live in the days before the Fall of Rome.
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Despite commercial acclaim and an incredible cast of interesting characters,Romewasn’t destined to last. The show was planned to run for five seasons, depicting the eventual fall of the great empire, but due to its extremely expensive budget, the show was canceled after only two seasons. With some storylines from the planned future seasons mushed into the final episodes.
Firefly (2002-2003)
Considered to be one of the greatest sci-fi shows of all time,Fireflycaptured the hearts of many and quickly became a cult classic after its untimely demise after only one season. Following a ragtag crew of space-faring smugglers, led byNathan Fillion’sCaptain Mal Reynolds, as they traverse the outer edges of the galaxy while trying to avoid enemy factions.
Blending an exciting mix of action and humor, the space western garnered a loyal following during its time on the air. Though due to a weird set of circumstances, like airing the episodes out of order and creative differences between show creatorJoss Whedonand Fox executives, the show was canceled after only airing 11 of its 14 episodes.
Freak and Geeks (1999-2000)
Judd Apatow’scult classic is an honest yet still hilarious take on teen life and the growing pains that come along with it. Set in a small suburb outside of Detroit in the 1980s,Freaks and Geeksfollowed a nerdy ‘mathlete’, played byLinda Cardellini,who seeks to rebel against the norm and falls in with a group of burnouts. While her awkward younger brother Sam, played byJohn Francis Daley,starts freshmen year with his two geeky friends.
Freaks and Geekswas fresh, funny, thoughtful, and extremely entertaining, but due tocreative differences between Apatow and the studio headsthe show was sadly canceled before its first season even ended.
