Nothing is more frustrating than getting into a series only to have it canceled before you’re ready. Or worse, canceled before the story is done! Here are some of the most popular canceled TV shows that definitely deserved another season.
Canceled TV Shows That Deserved Another Season
These shows were canceled for low ratings or because they were too expensive to keep going. Most are cult classics with a following, even today.
I would normally say that you should check the shows on one of these lists but in this case… Proceed with caution.
Reaper
I loved Reaper when it came out and was definitely in the crowd screaming that it ended too soon. It stars a young man who abruptly learns his father (Ray Wise) is the devil. He’s then sent out as a bounty hunter to re-capture escaped souls, and it’s hilarious.
Firefly
I’m pretty sure anyone who writes a list of which canceled TV show deserved another season is obligated to include Firefly on that list. Yes, it got a movie, but that wasn’t all that satisfying.
Rome
It was Game of Thrones before GoT came out. I loved Rome when it aired and was pretty bummed when it was canceled.
Dollhouse
This was another Joss Whedon show that was canceled too soon (maybe he’s cursed?). The best case for this show deserving another season is that the writer actually knew it would be canceled, so he rushed the ending – just when things were getting good.
Pushing Daisies
Another weird dark comedy, Pushing Daisies, is about a guy who finds out he can bring the dead back to life. Naturally, he brings back his childhood sweetheart. The only problem? When he touches her again, she dies. Anyway, it’s hilarious, I loved it, and it definitely deserved to keep going when it was canceled.
Jericho
This amazing post-apocalyptic drama was canceled after only two seasons but definitely deserved another one. Sadly that would never happen, especially since it was actually canceled after season 1 and only brought back for the short 2nd season after a fan campaign.
Mindhunter
“Probably anything cancelled by Netflix,” someone on Reddit said about which canceled TV show deserved another season.
Mindhunter was one of the many shows canceled too early by Netflix. Apparently, it was getting too expensive to keep running – which is a bummer because it definitely could have used a 3rd season.
Freaks and Geeks
Running just one season, Freaks and Geeks is probably one of the more infamous shows that deserved another season on TV. It was actually canceled due to internal reasons at NBC and instantly became a cult classic.
The Sarah Connor Chronicles
As a Terminator fan, I loved The Sarah Connor Chronicles and was seriously bummed when it was canceled after season 2. Unfortunately, the show wasn’t what people were expecting, so it suffered from poor ratings.
Better Off Ted
This hilarious dark comedy resonates with pretty much anyone who’s worked in an office. The critics loved Better of Ted, but sadly it wasn’t watched enough to keep going. Cancelled abruptly, two episodes didn’t even air on TV. In case you missed it, though, they have them up (along with the series) on various streaming platforms.
Hannibal
While it can be said that Hannibal was pretty successful since it did get three seasons, there definitely was still room to keep this series going. This was another that didn’t get cancelled because people didn’t watch it, but because it was too expensive to keep running. Darn.
Alcatraz
Coming off the popularity of Lost, Alcatraz was produced by J. J. Abrams and even included some members of the Lost cast. It didn’t live up to the hype and wasn’t renewed past season 1. What really stung, though, was the rushed and unsatisfying ending.
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This article was produced by SwoonHub.
Everett
Everett has been writing about media, technology, and parenting since 2014. His work has been featured on MIT Technology Review, HuffPost, and various blogs. When not writing or binge watching TV shows, you'll find him playing video games or spending with with his kids.