Summary
It’s not fair to judge a TV show after just one season, as there are very few series that peak in season 1.I’m always wary of a show that’s too good at the very beginningbecause there’s less room for improvement and a good chance that the quality will decrease as the years progress. However, I can think of manyTV shows where the first season is the worst, but they all had the chance to learn from their missteps and grow into stories beloved by audiences, including myself. Every show deserves the opportunity to succeed or fail.
I’m always disappointed when a series abruptly ends because it doesn’t get the chance to truly begin.
Many great drama andcomedy TV shows were canceled too soon, as no matter the genre, no series is immune to ending before its time. Cancelation can come down to factors the showrunners and writers have no control over. Changes in budgeting and resources can play a role in a show’s cancelation, as can a decline in viewership. However, I’m always disappointed when a series abruptly ends because it doesn’t get the chance to truly begin. Though streaming services have made cancelations happen faster than ever,there are plenty of past examples of TV series canceled after one season.
10 Canceled TV Shows That Could Still Realistically Return
The cancelation of a TV show can be devastating, especially when they’re well-loved. This leads fans to hope that someday, the series will come back.
Firefly
Cast
Firefly is a science fiction television series set in the year 2517, focusing on the crew of the spaceship Serenity. As humans inhabit a new star system, the renegade crew, led by Captain Malcolm Reynolds, navigates conflicts and alliances while pursuing their own interests across lawless territories.
Fireflyis one of the mostpromising sci-fi shows that was canceled too soon, and the enormous fanbase the series retains to this day is proof of that. Many elements went wrong whenFireflyfirst premiered, like the network airing the episodes out of order and the experimental nature of the series. Blending sci-fi and neo-Western elements is common in TV and film today, but in 2002, it was unexpected. However, asthe show’s star, Nathan Fillion, has been featured in many other popular network TV shows,Fireflyhas reached new viewers in the past two decades.
With the whole of space and hundreds of planets at their fingertips, it would have been easy to watch the crew of the Serenity explore the cosmos for an unlimited number of seasons.
I’ve rewatchedFireflynumerous times, and it doesn’t take long considering how tragically few episodes there are. Thoughthe spinoff filmSerenityattempted to wrap up the characters' stories on a satisfying note,it doesn’t capture the same atmosphere and tone as the original series. With the whole of space and hundreds of planets at their fingertips, it would have been easy to watch the crew of the Serenity explore the cosmos for an unlimited number of seasons. However, its brevity is part of what makes the series so special.
Freaks and Geeks
Judd Apatow’s Freaks and Geeks is a comedy-drama series centered around several now-popular stars in their first-ever appearances as outcast teenagers dealing with the “hilarious unfairness of teen life.” The friend groups are split into “freaks” and “geeks,” each with their own quirks that resonate with teens today as they try to find their place in the socially complex world of high school.
James Franco, Busy Philips, and Jason Segal are only a few of the stars ofFreaks and Geekswho demonstrated their talent and abilities in the teen dramedy that got cut short.Freaks and Geeksmight have premiered at the turn of the century, but it was set in the early 1980sand is an excellent example of a period TV show done right. The political and cultural changes that occurred in the ’70s and the ’80s inform the character’s actions, but you can easily relate to the trials and tribulations these high schoolers are going through.
There’s little better than being an angst-ridden teenager and discoveringFreaks and Geeksfor the first time, as it makes you feel seen and understood in a way that few teen television shows have been able to since. Today, there’s a similar nostalgia for the 1990s and even the early 2000s, but there’s something special about watchingFreaks and Geeksand the honesty with which it portrays that unique moment in history. Even in their most selfish moments,the characters ofFreaks and Geekswere ones I wanted to spend years with.
My So-Called Life
My So-Called Life is a TV drama series that aired in 1994-1995, centered on teenager Angela Chase, played by Claire Danes, as she navigates the complexities of high school life, friendships, and family relationships. The show explores themes of identity, peer pressure, and adolescence, featuring a strong ensemble cast including Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano and Bess Armstrong as Angela’s mother, Patty Chase.
Danes' character, Angela, is a relatable heroine, and I’m always impressed by how her voiceovers are written in the show.
Claire Danes went on to transcend the teen genre with ease and enter the film world as she aged into more mature roles, but she shines as a young performer inMy So-Called Life.Though there are many elements of comedy,My So-Called Lifeshows a lot in the serious topicsit took on that were part of the serialized storyline. Danes' character, Angela, is a relatable heroine, and I’m always impressed by how her voiceovers are written in the show. Though she can be dramatic, I never feel she’s being treated with malice or contempt by the writers.
Angela’s empathetic and understanding characterization was hugely important, as young female characters onscreen are often misunderstood.My So-Called Lifedidn’t intend to bait audiences into watching through exploitations of teen issues. The series was meant to take them seriously and treat its characters as real people.The series should be praised for how frankly it deals with sexuality and coming-of-ageduring a time when these topics were shied away from on TV. Today, there are few replacements for whatMy So-Called Lifeachieved in just one season.
Bunheads
Bunheads is a TV series centered on Michelle Simms, a former ballerina who becomes a small-town dance instructor after marrying on a whim. Starring Sutton Foster as Michelle, the series explores her adjustment to rural life and her impact on a new generation of young dancers. Created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, the show combines elements of comedy and drama against the backdrop of a ballet school.
Amy Sherman Palladino’sBunheadswill likely never be as well-known as her earlier project,Gilmore Girls. This makes sense, as manyGilmore Girlsmoments explain why the show is still so popular, and its premise is timeless. Conversely,Bunheadstarget a niche audience with an interest in musical theater and ballet. These are topics that Sherman Palladino brings up inGilmore Girls, but they aren’t the main thrust of the plot as they are inBunheads. However,Kelly Bishop, who played Emily Gilmore, returns as one of the leads inBunheads.
For all its humor and charm, the premise ofBunheadsbegins on a dark note, and this could be why audiences didn’t stick with the series. There are plenty of off-beat locals in the small town whereBunheadstakes place, and the setting is just as sweet as Stars Hollow, butit’s clear thatBunheadscould’ve used a few more seasons to find its footing.The same can be said ofGilmore Girls, as the tone and pacing of season 1 are vastly different from the rest of the show.
I Am Not Okay with This
I Am Not Okay With This is a Netflix series centering on the complicated life of Sydney Novak, played by IT star Sophia Lillis. Sydney is a teenager who is juggling life as a high schooler, family issues, and her sexuality. To top things off, she’s also starting to develop mysterious superpowers.
There’s a distinct possibility thatI Am Not Okay With Thiscould have pushed the superhero genre to the next level had it been green-light for a second season. The protagonist, Sydney, played by Sophia Lillis, is not only dealing with the typical frustrations of high school, but she’s also grappling with her feelings for her best friend and the sudden appearance of otherworldly powers.It’s unfortunate thatI Am Not Okay With Thisdidn’t continue, as it ended on a cliffhangerthat would’ve propelled the show into several other seasons. Additionally, the relationship between Sydney and Dina is a sweet expression of young love.
I was impressed by how easily the show toes the line between the supernatural and the interpersonal dramas.
Unfortunately, like many TV series that premiered in 2020,I Am Not Okay With Thisfaced difficulties getting a chance at a follow-up season to see the end of Sydney’s story. I was impressed by how easily the show toes the line between the supernatural and the interpersonal dramas. Much of this tonal balance is because of the comic book that is the source material. Though there are moments of violence and intrigue,the series thrives when it’s focused on the relationships between characters.Luckily, it’s unlikely we’ve seen the last of the actors in the show.
The Society
One day in West Ham, Connecticut, the students of the local high school return from a field trip to find the rest of the town’s population gone. With a dense forest surrounding the town and no way to contact the outside world via phone or internet, the teenagers must formulate their own rules to maintain their own society and survival.
When everyone in the town of West Ham, Connecticut disappears except for the teenagers and children, the remaining population must do everything they can to maintain order and survive.The least interesting part ofThe Societyis the question of where the adults wentand why the children are trapped in the town. It’s far more riveting to see how the characters react to their newfound freedom and power as they get to make their own rules. For some, this is an opportunity for violence. For others, it’s a chance to put their convictions to the test.
While this premise can easily draw comparisons to the famous novelLord of the Flies, it expands upon the questions about morality and humanity that the book touches upon. Unfortunately, despite a positive reaction to the show and an initial renewal for a second season,The Societyseason 2 never saw the light of day because of the 2020 lockdown.HadThe Societyreturned for another outing, it could have focused on some of the moments of happiness and heart in the wake of the character’s grief.
The Get Down
In the South Bronx neighborhood of New York City in the 1970s, the rise of disco and hip-hop music is chronicled through the eyes of a group of teenagers and music hopefuls as they move into young adulthood.
The musical numbers, coupled with the compelling dramatic themes of the show, created an atmosphere and tone unlike anything else seen on TV.
The Get Downmight be one of Baz Luhrmann’s best works, which makes it all the more disappointing that it never got a second season. Unfortunately, based on the budget and resources required to produce the show, it’s no wonder that Netflix wasn’t keen on allowing Luhrmann to explore new storylines. However, the musical numbers, coupled with the compelling dramatic themes of the show, created an atmosphere and tone unlike anything else seen on TV. All of this was helped bythe all-star cast, who threw themselves into their musical and theatrical performances.
ThoughThe Get Downwas split into two parts, it still technically had only one season. However, the second part of season 1 already showed how much the series could have evolved and sharpened into something unforgettable.Focusing on the music scene in the Bronx during the 1970s,the show fully captured the period through costuming and amazing visuals. While condensing some of the flashier elements might have allowed for another season, it would have diminished the aspects that defined the series.
Crashing
Crashing is a British comedy-drama series created by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge. Premiering in 2016, the show follows six twenty-somethings living as property guardians in a disused hospital, navigating relationships, personal aspirations, and the complexities of shared living. The ensemble cast includes Jonathan Bailey, Julie Dray, and Damien Molony, delivering a blend of humor and heartfelt moments set against a backdrop of urban living.
Before Phoebe Waller-Bridge wrote and starred in the hit Amazon Prime TV showFleabag, she played a vastly different character in Netflix’s comedyCrashing. However, she’s not the only familiar face to be featured in the series, asBridgerton’s Jonathan Bailey plays one of the inhabitants of the abandoned hospitalwhere the characters live. It’s an interesting premise, and it’s comical to see these adults acting like college students living in the same dorm with relationship troubles and uncontrolled jealousies.
ThoughFleabagleft unanswered questions after its ending,Crashingleft even more, as it was clearly meant to have a second season. It’s true thatBritish shows often have shorter runs than their American counterparts,but some relationships had yet to blossom inCrashing. I have to admit thatFleabagis the stronger series overall and that ifCrashinghad to have one season forFleabagto exist, then it was worth it. However, as she’s known as a prolific writer, it’s likely Waller-Bridge could have churned out a conclusion toCrashing.
Everything Sucks!
Set in the 1990s, Everything Sucks! follows the lives of high school misfits in Boring, Oregon, as they navigate the trials of adolescence, including friendships, budding romances, and the clash between the A/V Club and Drama Club.
Before Sydney Sweeney landed her star-making role as Cassie inEuphoria, she played the complicated and charismatic Emaline inEverything Sucks!. She stars alongside a cast of equally interesting characters.The series is perfect for those of us who can relate to being part of the drama or A/V cluband wanting to give a creative voice to the swirl of emotions that are part of the deal when going through the period of adolescence. However, the show is also relatable and hilarious for anyone who attended high school and felt like they didn’t quite fit in.
The most compelling part of the show’s singular season is the growing relationship between Emaline and Kate.
Much of the plot revolves around the central character making a movieand the complicated relationships that spring up between the actors and the filmmakers. However, the most compelling part of the show’s singular season is the growing relationship between Emaline and Kate. It’s a shame that so many TV series with positive depictions of young love between women are cut short, as the series demonstrates how emotionally resonant these relationships are with all types of viewers. The biggest pitfall of the series is that the supporting characters can be slightly neglected.
8 TV Shows That Would’ve Been Much Better With 1 More Season
Occasionally, a TV series ended before it had time to reach its full potential, when just one more season would have made it immensely better.
The original movie of the same name is a favorite of the rom-com genre, but without John Cusack’s charm, it wouldn’t be so well-remembered.Hulu’sHigh Fidelityseries took the story and format of the first iteration and improved itin almost every way. Zoë Kravtiz’s character, Robyn, is far from perfect, but she’s not as irredeemable as Rob in the movie, and the series is aware that Robyn shouldn’t be forgiven by her ex by the end of the season.High Fidelitylets Robyn move on from her past in a way that the film’s characters never do.
While Robyn’s arc might have been complete in season 1, there were many other amazing characters thatHigh Fidelitycould have explored in the following seasons.The series struck the perfect tone of romantic, sensual, and comedic,which is a difficult balance to find. Additionally, any music lover is instantly drawn in by the clear love and dedication that the writers put into the soundtrack’s connection to the story. It would be amazing if it’s not too late forHigh Fidelityto come back in the future.
