Cliff Notes – ‘That cliffhanger was evil!’ 7 sensational shows fans vow were cancelled too early
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Firefly: Despite only airing for one season, this space Western has maintained a devoted fanbase, with many believing it deserved multiple additional seasons to explore its rich narrative.
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Santa Clarita Diet: This unique zombie comedy was abruptly cancelled after three seasons, leaving fans yearning for closure and a proper finale akin to other beloved shows.
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Dark Matter: The sci-fi series was cut short after three seasons, with fans expressing frustration over its cancellation, especially as the third season set the stage for a potential fourth.
Too many TV shows ended far too early, including sci-fi show Dark Matter (Picture: Syfy)
TV shows being cancelled left, right, and centre feels like an all-too regular occurrence nowadays.
However, just because an exhilarating thriller or a world-bending sci-fi series might have been axed before it could have a satisfying ending, that doesn’t mean we can’t still appreciate them years later.
Metro readers have shared their favourite shows that they feel should have had at least one more season – and their answers are bursting with passion.
From a beloved Netflix zombie comedy to a BBC historical drama, these are programmes that not only were cherished by their audiences but have also stood the test of time.
Of course, we at Metro also shared our favourite TV picks that ended way too early below, which we can’t help but still be extremely sour about.
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If you want to join the discussion, you can do so on our Facebook page – otherwise, read on to discover the seven shows chosen by our readers that deserved better.
Firefly
Firefly follows the adventures of a space crew in the year 2517 (Picture: Fox)
When TV fans discuss shows that were ended abruptly but deserved to be on air for longer, Firefly is frequently mentioned.
‘Firefly deserved 10 more seasons,’ Metro reader Nazni Ali remarked.
The space Western drama starring Nathan Fillion as Serenity captain Malcolm ‘Mal’ Reynolds originally premiered in 2002, and only aired for one season. Yet its legacy has lived on for over two decades.
One fan called Lee Luntley said that while they’d ‘love’ to see more Firefly in future, ‘if it doesn’t capture the same magic as before then it’s a bad move’.
Firefly is available to stream on Disney Plus.
Santa Clarita Diet
It’s been six years since the final season of Santa Clarita Diet was released (Picture: Netflix)
The passion for Santa Clarita Diet cannot be overstated.
Starring Timothy Olyphant and Drew Barrymore, the show follows a couple whose lives are turned upside down when it emerges that Sheila (Drew) is showing signs of becoming a zombie, and therefore develops a bloodthirsty appetite.
The show – which has been described as ‘brilliant’, ‘weird’ and ‘genius’ in equal measure – abruptly ended after just three seasons, and fans are still bitter about it.
‘At least Firefly got a film as an ending, Santa Clarita Diet deserves the same,’ Metro reader Paul Ingra quipped, while Heather Louise McDonald added: ‘Santa Clarita Diet deserves more than it got.’
Santa Clarita Diet is available to stream on Netflix.
Heroes
Heroes became a TV phenomenon (Picture: Mitch Haaseth/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
‘Save the cheerleader, save the world.’
Those six simple words captured audiences around the world when Heroes premiered almost 20 years ago, in 2006. The first season boasted an average of 14 million viewers, and it’s still regarded as top-tier television.
There have been attempts to revive Heroes following its initial 2010 cancellation. In 2015, a spin-off series called Heroes Reborn was released, and it’s been claimed that another titled Heroes: Eclipsed is in development.
Nonetheless, fans, including Jimi O’Doherty, wish there had been at least one more season of the original series. ‘Wish they did volume 5 Brave New World,’ they wrote.
Heroes is available to buy on Prime Video.
Which cancelled TV shows left Metro devastated?
Metro’s TV Editor Sabrina Barr shares the shows that she’s personally gutted were axed before their time.
Agent Carter
Oh how I miss Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter (Picture: ABC/Bob D’Amico)
It’s been almost a decade, and I’m still heartbroken that Agent Carter was brushed to one side after just two seasons.
As a Marvel superfan, Peggy Carter (Hayley Atwell) instantly became one of my favourite characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe when she made her debut in the 2011 film Captain America: The First Avenger.
Following the presumed death of Steve Rogers (Chris Evans), Peggy is heartbroken, but jumps into action – and that’s where Agent Carter picks up. It was a brilliant continuation of her story, and it’s gutting that it was cut short.
Agent Carter is available to stream on Disney Plus.
1899
1899 left me scratching my head – but I loved it (Picture: Netflix)
I still haven’t had a chance to watch Netflix’s thriller series Dark yet. However, I did manage to catch 1899, a drama made by the same creators, Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar, and it blew my mind to smithereens.
At first, it seemed as though it was just going to be a chilling period drama set on an eerie ship. But there is so much more to it than that… and I’m wary of revealing too much for anyone who hasn’t seen it yet.
All I’ll say is – if you enjoy a psychological thriller, period dramas, sci-fis, a brilliant ensemble cast where characters from different countries who might have never met cross paths, then you’re in for a treat.
1899 is available to stream on Netflix.
Glow
Glow deserved to have a final showdown on its own terms (Picture: Erica Parise/Netflix/Kobal/Rex/Shutterstock)
I’m a sucker for stories set in the 80s, and I love a fantastic female-led ensemble cast. So the minute I saw a glimpse of Glow, I knew that it’d be right up my street.
I’ll profess – I didn’t know much about wrestling beforehand, and I’m still nowhere near an expert. But learning about the ‘Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling’ gave me a stronger appreciation for the sport, and made me want to find out more.
It’s such a shame that Glow was cancelled due to Covid, and that it couldn’t be resuscitated. I will continue to hold it hope that even six years later, it could have legs in the future.
Glow is available to stream on Netflix.
Shadow and Bone
Netflix fans are constantly demanding that Shadow and Bone be renewed (Picture: Courtesy of Netflix)
As a devout fantasy fan, Shadow and Bone mesmerised every ounce of me. I haven’t read the books (they’re on my To Be Read list), but I had every faith in the show, and I wasn’t left disappointed.
The disappointment did come, however, when Netflix confirmed that season two would be its last, despite ending on a huge cliffhanger. What’s more, this meant that the previously announced spin-off Six of Crows was also no longer going forward.
If you’ve ever stumbled upon a Netflix post on Instagram and wondered why so many people are urging the streaming site to save Shadow and Bone, give it a watch and discover for yourself.
Shadow and Bone is available to stream on Netflix.
The Last Kingdom
The Last Kingdom stars Alexander Dreymon as Saxon warrior Uhtred of Bebbanburg and is set between the 9th and 10th centuries (Picture: BBC/Carnival/Steffan Hill)
The Last Kingdom is an exception on this list, as the story did conclude in a feature-length film titled The Last Kingdom: Seven Kings Must Die, which was released on Netflix in 2023.
However, for some fans, that didn’t suffice.
‘Would have preferred another series rather than Seven Kings Must Die,’ Metro reader Michael Webb quipped about the show.
The historical drama originally premiered on BBC Two in 2015, before moving to Netflix for its final three seasons.
The Last Kingdom is available to stream on Netflix.
Lockwood and Co
Netflix fans are still mourning the loss of Lockwood and Co. (Picture: Netflix/Parisa Taghizadeh)
Lockwood and Co. had a lot of promise. So much so that one of the lead actors, Ruby Stokes, stepped away from her role on Bridgerton to commit to the project.
Despite the acclaim it received from critics and fans alike, the supernatural detective series was cancelled after just one season.
‘Netflix couldn’t even explain their decision with any conviction “It was one of our top-rated shows ever, but the decision was made to not greenlight season two and concentrate on making new quality content”,’ Kirsty Sparkman fumed while speculating over the thought process behind the decision..
Macy Macleod added that they’ve ‘never forgiven’ those who decided Lockwood and Co. would be axed.
Lockwood and Co. is available to stream on Netflix.
Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies aired from 2007 until 2009 over two seasons (Picture: ABC)
Pushing Daisies is another TV show that fans will often bring up as an example of a series that not only was cancelled too soon, but also deserves a comeback.
Starring Lee Pace, Anna Friel and Kristin Chenoweth among the stacked cast, the comedy-drama is about a pie-maker called Ned (Lee) who has the ability to bring dead things back to life, and uses the unusual skill to solve murder cases.
The ending of the show was altered when the creators knew that it was being cancelled, to try and provide fans with a satisfying ending. But several people admitted that they felt as though it was rushed. ‘Pushing Daisies, that cliffhanger was evil!’ Vicky Cosgrove wrote in frustration.
Pushing Daisies is available to buy on Prime Video.
Dark Matter
Were you a fan of Dark Matter when it aired from 2015 to 2017? (Picture: Syfy)
There are a plethora of sci-fi shows to choose from when you’re looking for a new programme to binge on streaming, but one that stands out among fans is Dark Matter.
Not to be mixed up with the series of the same name that premiered on Apple TV Plus last year, the 2015 space-based drama Dark Matter lasted for three seasons.
‘Dark Matter deserved season four on Syfy. Syfy cancelled it after three seasons, even though season three was the build-up for season four. Stupid,’ a Metro reader going by the name SaveHolbycity David stated.
Dee Lever-Johns listed Dark Matter among a list of other sci-fi and fantasy shows that have had premature ends, including Killjoys, Shadow and Bone, Warrior Nun and Lockwood and Co., adding: ‘Yet they keep some total rubbish on TV.’
Dark Matter is available to stream on Apple TV Plus and Prime Video.
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Which cancelled TV shows do you think deserved at least one more season?
