How many times have you become attached to a new show and its characters only to have it taken away by the TV powers that be?
While some shows are given the ax and fade into obscurity, others reach legendary status and their legacy lives on years and even decades after they met their untimely end.
From Sweet/Vicious to My So-Called Life, here are 10 amazing shows that were unceremoniously cancelled after their first season.
‘Sweet/Vicious’
An unlikely friendship forms and the duo becomes a powerful force on campus. Not only were Jules and Ophelia the feminist superheroes we needed, Sweet/Vicious also had one of the most realistic portrayals of anxiety on the small screen.
The show and its fans deserved a renewal, but MTV axed it in 2017. At the very least, another network or streamer missed an opportunity to continue the story. Instead, it will have to live on as 10 perfect episodes.
‘My So-Called Life’
Angela also deals with her feelings for Jordan Catalano (Jared Leto). Despite several award nominations and wins, ABC cancelled it after the first season due to poor ratings, mainly because it was up against the comedy juggernaut Friends.
‘Hindsight’
Becca believes the universe has given her a do-over, and while she has a bit of trouble readjusting to life in the ’90s, she tries to change the course of her relationship with Lolly.
An intriguing mix of rom-com and sci-fi, Hindsight was renewed for a second season, but a change in regime at VH1 pulled the plug on it as prep was under way. Although season 1 ended on one heckuva cliffhanger, it’s definitely worth tracking down and watching.
‘Firefly’
It gained popularity and legions of fans with its release on DVD, and unlike many other axed shows, Firefly was given the chance to continue its story on the big screen in the 2005 film Serenity.
‘Everything Sucks!’
The 10-episode season really captured the essence of that time in history — complete with a killer soundtrack — and shared a beautiful coming out story at the same time. Unfortunately, Netflix cancelled Everything Sucks! because not enough viewers made it through the first episode.
‘Terriers’
Where other buddy detective shows take the case-of-the-week procedural route, Terriers was an intriguing serialized story with great character development.
The case was solved by the end of the 13-episode run, so it can be watched as a standalone season, but it would have been fun to follow Hank and Britt for at least a few more seasons as they continued to solve crimes.
‘Tuca and Bertie’
Although the characters are animated, the series deals with issues like PTSD, addiction, and misogyny better than many live-action series.
It received critical acclaim for its award-worthy storylines, but Netflix cancelled it due to low viewership. The 10-episode season has a complete arc, so if you haven’t watched it yet, it’s definitely worth checking out.
‘Enlisted’
Enlisted was a fun single-camera comedy with a lot of heart, but didn’t get enough viewers for a second season. Fox also aired the episodes out of order, which made it hard for audiences to follow along and become invested in the story.
‘Freaks and Geeks’
Set in a Detroit suburb in the early 1980s, the show follows Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini), a gifted high school student who becomes friends with the slackers — or “freaks” — while her younger brother, Sam (John Francis Daley), and his freshman “geek” friends try to adjust to high school.
Along with Cardellini and Daley, it helped launch the careers of castmates Busy Philipps, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel and James Franco. Erratic scheduling and competition from game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire contributed to the show’s poor ratings and cancellation.
‘Bunheads’
It was a charming show with a talented cast, but despite lots of love from critics and fans, ABC Family — now known as Freeform — cancelled it after only one season. Then again, if Bunheads had continued, we may not have been blessed with both Younger and The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.
Hopefully at least a couple of these shows are brought back to life one day!