Yahoo Lifestyle 19 TV Shows That Only Lasted A Season But Were Actually Just A Perfect Series From Beginning To End
Judd Apatow's Freaks and Geeks revolves around two different groups of high school students — a mathlete who gets involved with a group of burnouts and a freshman and his two nerdy friends. Despite receiving wide critical acclaim now, it was canceled after only one season because episodes were aired during an unpopular time slot, thus failing to get high ratings.
2.Grand Army
If you liked Euphoria, you'll love Grand Army. The show is an adaptation of Katie Cappiello's 2013 play, Slut. Following five students at a public high school in Brooklyn, the series shines a light on various aspects of race, gender, and sexuality. Unfortunately, the show was canceled after writers on the show quit after experiencing "racist exploitation and abuse," according to Entertainment Weekly.
This coming-of-age show follows 17-year-old Sydney Novak as she navigates high school, her budding sexuality, and newfound superpowers. Sadly, the series was axed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to ScreenRant.
If you liked Sex Education, you'll probably like this show. It's a high school dramedy set in the '90s, complete with plotlines about emerging sexuality, nerdy kids who want to be taken more seriously, and unrequited love. According to ScreenRant, Netflix canceled the show due to low ratings.
5.The Queen's Gambit
Unlike the other shows listed so far, The Queen's Gambit is a "limited series," meaning that it was always meant to be one season. However, with how good this show was, I'm surprised they didn't decide to make a second season. The story follows an orphaned chess prodigy, Beth Harmon, and her journey to becoming the best chess player in the world. If you weren't interested in chess before, you will be after watching this.
6.Beef
Beef is also a limited series, but should have definitely been renewed for another season. As the title implies, the show is about the "beef" between two strangers who get into a road rage incident. It's a hilarious show, so it's no wonder it was nominated for an Emmy.
7.Pretty Smart
I don't know about you, but I'm a big "background noise" TV show person. You know, those shows that you can watch very casually while doing something else? This one-season sitcom is perfect for that, and features actors like Emily Osment and Gregg Sulkin who will make you nostalgic for mid-2000s Disney Channel.
8.The Fall of the House of Usher
The Fall of the House of Usher is actually a limited series inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's works, including his short story of the same name. The story follows the killings of the Usher family, and all eight episodes are "jam-packed with adaptations and references to stories and poems from Poe’s entire body of work," according to Netflix. It's thrilling, mysterious, and a perfect watch for cozy fall months ahead.
9.Maid
Maid is based on Stephanie Land's memoir of the same name, so it's based on Land's real-life experiences. It's both heartbreaking and heartwarming, following the story of a woman who gets out of an abusive relationship and becomes a "maid" to earn money for her daughter. It's a must-watch if you're in the right headspace for it.
10.My So-Called Life
Like many other shows on this list, My So-Called Life was canceled after just one season, but it was way ahead of its time. Yes, it's another high school teen drama, but the show's writing and acting are superb. It stars Claire Danes and Jared Leto as some of the main characters, so that in itself is worthy of a watch.
11.The Tomorrow People
Those who are big sci-fi fans must watch The Tomorrow People. The premise of the show is a teenager who gets involved with a group of genetically advanced teens who are being killed by a scientist-led army. It's a fascinating story and you won't be able to stop watching. Sadly, the show was canceled because of low ratings, according to Entertainment Weekly.
12.Terra Nova
Another great sci-fi show is Terra Nova, which is about a family from the future (I'm talking 2149 AD) that travels back 85 million years in time. They are led to joining a colony of soldiers called Terra Nova, and have a chance at saving the world. Although the show's writers already outlined a potential draft for Season 2, Fox dropped the show due to budget issues.
13.Normal People
Normal People is a miniseries based on Sally Rooney's novel of the same name. It is, quite honestly, a work of art. It follows the love story of Marianne and Connell, who have a bit of a "right person, wrong time" romance spanning several years. Plus, Paul Mescal and Daisy Edgar Jones are the perfect actors for the show.
14.From Scratch
Based on a Tembi Locke's memoir, From Scratch tells the love story between an artist and a chef in Italy. I won't give away too much, but you'll probably ugly cry a lot while watching the show. Since it was based on the standalone memoir, there was no Season 2 planned, but perhaps that's a project for the distant future.
15.The Society
This sci-fi show had a great cast and even greater potential, but was sadly cancelled due to COVID-19. It follows the story of a group of teenagers, who must learn to live by themselves after everyone in their town vanishes. It takes the first few episodes to get into it, but once you're in it, you won't be able to stop watching.
16.High Fidelity
High Fidelity is a remake of the movie of the same name, with a few things changed around. For starters, Zoe Kravitz stars as the character originally played by John Cusack, the setting is no longer in Chicago but in Brooklyn, and the decade is no longer in the 2000s, but now in the 2020s. With all of these changes, the show is a fresh twist on the movie, making for a compelling watch. Evidently, Hulu had other opinions because they ended up axing the show without citing a reason.
17.Maniac
This miniseries stars Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, who play two strangers that meet during a mystifying pharmaceutical trial. The acting is amazing, the visuals are cool, and the story itself is downright fascinating. Definitely worthy of a watch, if you ask me.
18.The Grinder
This sitcom was canceled due to low ratings, but I think it deserved — at the very least — another season. Not only is the show witty and funny enough to make you laugh out loud, but it's just a great, lighthearted series to lift your spirits when you're down.
19.The Get Down
Imagine South Bronx in the late 1970s. Hip-hop is on the rise, and the music world is about to change forever. That's the essence of The Get Down, which magically captures the beginnings of New York City hip-hop. Although the show is fictional, it does incorporate real aspects of Bronx and hip-hop history, which is also part of what makes it amazing. Sadly, the show was cancelled after the original showrunner left production, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
What do you think? Let me know in the comments!
