Summary

• Cancelations of TV shows, even when well-received, are common due to various reasons like budget cuts and lack of audience consistency.
• Cliffhangers in the final episode of a canceled series can leave fans frustrated and with unanswered questions about the show's future.
• Despite positive reception and potential for success, some TV shows are canceled after only one season, leaving fans disappointed and wanting more.

Some TV shows have been undeservedly canceled over the years after only one season. While they're unfortunate, cancelations aren't rare, especially amidst budget cuts from studios and the continuous creation of new content, but that doesn't make it any less heartbreaking for fans. From the inability to find a strong and consistent audience, to production delays, there are varying reasons for canceling a TV show. A streamer or network can choose to cancel a TV show, regardless of whether it receives positive reception from both audiences and critics.

This is especially unfortunate when the canceled series in question had the obvious potential to succeed in future seasons and had a fan base cheering it on to do so. Whether it's the premise of the series or the themes present within it, oftentimes TV shows that were canceled too soon could've been big, had they only been given the opportunity. Another problem found with canceling TV shows is the cliffhangers in the final episode, which leaves fans with many questions about the canceled series. This can become frustrating, even devastating, for invested viewers as their questions will likely never get answered.

10 Gordita Chronicles (2022)

A heartwarming and representative story about an immigrant family.

Programming changes at Max resulted in Gordita Chronicles being canceled one month after its first season premiered and was removed entirely from the streaming service at the end of 2022. Gordita Chronicles tells the story of the Castelli family who have immigrated to Miami, detailing their journey through heart and humor. Despite its cancelation, the series garnered a positive reception from both critics and audiences, many citing the potential for the series to grow and something that Gordita Chronicles' executive producers stated showed the importance of LatinX representation within the media.

9 The Get Down (2016-2017)

Shined a spotlight on an influential community.

The Get Down was a musical drama created by Baz Luhrmann and tells the story of New York teenagers in the '70s during the rise of hip-hop and disco and positive reviews of The Get Down praised the musical numbers and the actor's performances. However, The Get Down's inability to grow is not a result of the series' promising content. There were multiple production delays and script rewrites, on top of The Get Down being one of Netflix's most expensive projects and Luhrmann's desire to focus on film - it felt inevitable the series would have to end.

8 The Society (2019)

A familiar tale of teenagers running their own town.

In the years following The Society's cancelation on Netflix, many invested viewers have taken to the internet to make petitions and express their desperation for a second season to answer their lingering questions. The Society, which follows a group of teenagers running their town after the other community have disappeared, had been renewed for a second season before ultimately being canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Though The Society wasn't a massive breakout series for Netflix, it did have a ionate fan base with the potential to become successful like similar TV shows such as The 100.

7 Julie And The Phantoms (2020)

Humor and music led to a lighthearted comfort show.

Julie and the Phantoms follows the musical adventures of the titular teenager after she accidentally summons the ghosts of three deceased bandmates. Julie and the Phantoms was a popular series for Netflix and had audience and critics scores in the 90s on Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences and critics found Julie and the Phantoms to be a breath of fresh air, appreciating the series' songs, the cast's chemistry, and the lighthearted humor. Yet, fans waited over a year before they were given confirmation from Netflix that the series would be canceled.

6 Freaks And Geeks (1999)

An awkward, but endearing portrayal of high school.

Now deemed a cult classic, Freaks and Geeks wasn't a success when it first aired. Although many of the actors in Freaks and Geeks have gone on to have successful careers, fans are still upset the series was unable to continue. Freaks and Geeks presented the all-too-relatable awkwardness and hardships during one's teenage years. Still, Freaks and Geeks was unable to find success due to competition with other shows, which would eventually lead to its cancelation. Although NBC wanted to make high school appear cool, the writers understood the relatability and accurate depiction of high school was what made the series great.

5 My So-Called Life (1994-1995)

Realistically portrayed adolescence.

Starring Claire Danes, My So-Called Life touched on many difficult, but realistic issues teenagers deal with, such as drug use and school violence. It was an honest portrayal of one's teenage years, contrasting what other teen series looked like at the time. While viewers of My So-Called Life were ionate and would have gladly accepted another season, the numbers weren't enough for ABC to continue. Its low ratings are the main reason for My So-Called Life's cancelation, but the series was still able to receive award nominations at the Emmys, and Danes won her first Golden Globe in 1995.

4 Bunheads (2012-2013)

A charming series in the likes of Gilmore Girls.

Bunheads, a comedy-drama series created by Amy Sherman-Palladino, was well-received for its tone and charm, similar to Sherman-Palladino's previous work. Bunheads follows its main cast at a ballet school as they help one another through the struggles of life. Much like Sherman-Palladino's Gilmore Girls or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Bunheads' dialogue is quick and witty, a tone many viewers find to be charming and endearing. However, the need to learn choreography during filming, long hours on set, and low ratings, resulted in Bunheads' cancelation.

3 Pitch (2016)

An aspiring tale of a woman playing in the Major Leagues.

In Pitch, Ginny Baker is asked to play for the San Diego Padres, making her the first woman to play in the Major Leagues. The reason for Pitch's cancelation is due to low ratings, a similar consequence for other great shows with strong potential. Though Pitch didn't make a large enough impact, the series, especially the performance by Kylie Bunbury who played Ginny, was celebrated by critics, additionally citing the storyline Pitch set up for a second season. Pitch ends with Ginny getting injured, leaving fans to perpetually wonder what that means for her baseball career.

2 Everything Sucks! (2018)

A reflection of high school in the '90s.

Everything Sucks! is reminiscent of former teen dramas exploring the unpredictability of high school, but is set in the '90s and is full of nostalgia. Within its only season, Everything Sucks! took some time to find its footing, but once it did, it was clear the series had the potential to continue for another season. Everything Sucks! was not a massive success, but it was clear the writers cared about the characters. This care was particularly evident through a character's coming-out story, which earned the series a strong fan base that took to the internet to petition for another season.

1 High Fidelity (2020)

Retelling a 1995 novel and 2000 film adaptation.

Based on the novel and film adaptation of the same name, High Fidelity follows Rob (Zoë Kravitz) and her friends as they navigate life. The series was canceled by Hulu months after the first season premiered, ending the continuation of a difficult, but beloved character. Much like the character seen in Nick Hornby's novel or the film adaptation starring John Cusack, Rob was negative and flawed. Fans rooting for High Fidelity were hoping to finally see Rob grow as a character across multiple seasons, in addition to the other unfinished storylines presented in the finale.