Over the years, many great TV series have been canceled, leaving fans disappointed. Some shows were cut due to low ratings, others because of production costs, and a few were simply unlucky. Here’s a look at five popular series that ended too soon and why they were canceled.
Forever (2014–2015)
Forever was a crime drama with a supernatural twist. It followed Dr. Henry Morgan, a medical examiner who had lived for over 200 years but could never die permanently. While the show had an interesting story and a dedicated fan base, ABC canceled it after just one season. The reason? Low viewership. Even though it had a strong following, the network felt the ratings weren’t high enough to continue. Fans protested, but unfortunately, Forever did not get another chance.
The Tomorrow People (2013–2014)
This series was a remake of a 1970s British show about young people with special abilities, such as telepathy and teleportation. It had action, suspense, and a loyal fan base. However, despite its potential, The Tomorrow People lasted only one season before being canceled by The CW. The main reason was competition other shows on the network, like The Flash and Arrow, had higher ratings. Even though fans enjoyed it, the network chose to invest in more popular superhero series instead.
Daredevil (2015–2018)
Daredevil was one of the best Marvel series on Netflix, featuring intense action and a darker take on the superhero world. It had great reviews, a strong fan base, and successful seasons. However, it was canceled after Season 3 not because of poor performance, but because of business decisions. When Disney, which owns Marvel, decided to launch its own streaming service (Disney+), it ended its partnership with Netflix. This led to the cancellation of Daredevil and other Marvel shows like Jessica Jones and The Punisher, even though fans wanted more.
Hannibal (2013–2015)
This psychological thriller followed the famous character Hannibal Lecter and his complex relationship with FBI profiler Will Graham. It had stunning visuals, deep storytelling, and strong performances. Critics and fans loved it, but NBC canceled it after three seasons. The main issue was viewership while it had a passionate fan base, the show didn’t attract enough mainstream viewers. There were also difficulties in securing the rights to use The Silence of the Lambs characters for future seasons, which made things complicated.
Rubicon (2010)
Rubicon was a political thriller about a secret government conspiracy. It was smart, slow-burning, and filled with suspense. Some fans believed that its realistic portrayal of intelligence agencies might have led to its cancellation. However, the actual reason was simpler low ratings. AMC, the network that aired it, decided to cancel it after one season because it didn’t attract enough viewers. Still, conspiracy theories about why it was really canceled continue to circulate.
These are just a few examples of TV shows that were canceled before they could reach their full potential. Many others, such as Mindhunter, Sense8, The OA, Pushing Daisies, and Firefly, also faced early cancellations despite having loyal fan bases. Some shows were ahead of their time, others struggled with ratings, and a few were victims of business decisions. While fans often hope for reboots or revivals, sometimes great stories are left unfinished.
If you could bring back one canceled show, which one would it be?
