Top 10 Greatest TV Shows That NEVER Got Finished

With so many epic movies set in Ancient Rome, HBO, the BBC and RAI had a different take. “Rome” portrays the politics and civilian life of the mighty Republic, placing historical figures in fictionalized high drama. The production values were still nothing less than spectacular. The series was an instant sensation in the aesthetic vein of “Deadwood”. Alas, not even that beloved Western survived past three seasons. Despite strong reviews and viewership, the highly expensive “Rome” was canceled before the second season even aired. A lot of talk about a conclusive film eventually died off. Though historical records tell what was next for the Roman Republic’s politics, the character arcs are again lost to history.

A story developed by Bruce Lee took 48 years to get told in the first place. Cinemax eventually realized “Ah Sahm” as “Warrior”, which dramatizes the Chinese immigrant experience in California during the 1870s. With focus on San Francisco’s Tong Wars, the lavish period piece boasts morally ambiguous crime drama, political intrigue, and mind-blowing martial arts. It was a scale of prestige TV that was declining at the time. The cult following was still so strong that after Cinemax ceased original productions in 2020, the streamer Max gave “Warrior” a third season. After that, however, it was officially canceled just as the many conflicts reached fever pitch. “Warrior” may have gone down fighting, but don’t count on closure within the next 48 years.

Twisting your stomach with horror and laughter, “Santa Clarita Diet” follows a suburban family’s response to the matriarch becoming an undead flesh-eater. For three seasons, the gory farce built a rich mystery around biting social satire and weirdly lovable characters. Many even saw Sheila Hammond as Drew Barrymore’s triumphant comeback. But just when it seemed audiences couldn’t get their fill of “Santa Clarita Diet”, Netflix decided to trim the fat. The acclaimed comedy just didn’t draw a big enough audience to survive the streamer’s massive production slate. Audiences were left with Sheila being forced to zombify her husband just as they were figuring out her supernatural case. We’ll never know if the Hammonds got out of their nasty predicament.

Ex-lowlife Earl Hickey’s mission to right his wrongs became one of the biggest shows on NBC. Fans didn’t really worry about the fourth season continuing “My Name Is Earl”’s tradition of cliffhanger finales. After Earl learns he’s really the biological father of his first stepson, his ex-wife’s husband discovers he’s not the father of their child. But the text “To Be Continued” would ironically be the beloved sitcom’s final shot. Actor Ethan Suplee eventually revealed that the show’s cancellation was over disputes between the network and the studio. Creator Greg Garcia had earlier explained plans to end the series with Earl influencing others to start their own karma lists. It’s nice to imagine, but NBC may never earn fans’ forgiveness.

Netflix took the belt with a fictionalized dramedy about the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. “GLOW” was a hilarious, compelling, and genuinely empowering play on the ‘80s and women’s sports politics. It quickly became one of the most acclaimed and popular comedies on its platform. With the wrestlers preparing to take full control of their brand, fans were hyped for the series’ conclusion with Season 4. Instead, Netflix reversed their renewal due to COVID-19-related production issues. It was one of the most shocking cancellations in the streamer’s history. The belief was that delaying Season 4’s release to at least 2022 would be too cost-ineffective. But years later, many are still desperate to know how “GLOW”’s last round would have gone down.

Five seasons were planned for Netflix’s “The OA”, and there's no doubt that it would have gone far. The long-missing Prairie Johnson coming home, her sight miraculously restored, began a mystery that extended beyond death and the universe. The degree of deep plotting and themes is indescribable, with artistic and emotional storytelling measuring up. “The OA” was so ambitious that it took over two years to release a second season. With a hiatus that long for such a bold show, Netflix killed it for good. Where could they have gone from Prairie traveling to a parallel universe where her life is a TV production? Despite fan petitions’ best efforts, the vision for the next three seasons is itself a mystery.

A mild-mannered pie-maker brings a strange gift to murder investigations. He can resurrect the dead, including his childhood crush, but at the cost of another life. “Pushing Daisies” makes the most of its quirky premise with whimsical style and light-dark humor. The big heart in this modern fairytale really kept fans coming back for two seasons. Unfortunately, it was a niche fanbase. ABC canceled the series over low ratings, a writer’s strike, and creative differences with the network. This sparked historic fan backlash that stretched for years. Brad Fuller’s efforts to resolve the story with a revival, movie, comics run or Broadway musical all failed. There may be no raising “Pushing Daisies” from the dead, but its cult following hasn’t wilted.

You wouldn’t think NBC could capture the depth of Thomas Harris’s brilliant depravity. But “Hannibal” was elevated, gory noir to give the darkest cable drama the chills. Only Mads Mikkelsen could evenly match Anthony Hopkins as the iconic cannibal serial killer Dr. Hannibal Lecter. And Hugh Dancy evenly matched him as gifted yet disturbed criminal profiler Will Graham. These two philosophize over richly stylized investigations of the most macabre cases imaginable. The uncompromising thrills and mind-twisting power plays only escalated across three seasons. As ratings declined, however, Graham and Lector’s fate after falling off of a cliff was left unknown. While the books and movies could give fans some idea, “Hannibal” was just too heavy for network TV to swallow.

The “Westworld” film duology got a big upgrade for its second TV adaptation. HBO’s groundbreaking epic blended Western action-adventure with the futuristic politics in theme park androids mounting a revolution. As the shocking plot twists and character arcs progressed, the genres bent further. Each season was a blockbuster event that took at least two years to produce. This inevitably took a toll on the show’s ratings and production worth. After “Westworld” was renewed for a fifth and final season, Warner Bros. didn’t just reverse the decision amidst a merger with Discovery, Inc. It removed the whole show from HBO’s streaming platforms. Fans can revisit their fond memories easily enough, but may never know the outcome of man and machine’s last stand.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

The Apocalypse Getting More Crowded for Season 5 Was the Last Scene on This Cult Comedy

Four Seasons of the Exotic Procedural Ended with Longworth Left for Dead

This Beloved Fantasy Promised a Battle of Prophets for Season 3 When the Magic Ended

The Gritty Cop Drama Was Canceled Again on the Lead Gunned Down at Season 5

A Baby Joined the Adventure When This Man of Steel Classic Crashed Down at Season 4

Fictionalizing the FBI’s development of modern criminal profiling, Netflix’s “Mindhunter” is a uniquely talky thriller. But the terrific writing, directing and acting make it an intense plunge into the minds of killers. No less engrossing is how profilers deal with that and more personal demons. The drama won high praise and a loyal fanbase, but limited viewership. It went on indefinite hiatus following a second season that took nearly two years to make. It would be over three years before David Fincher formally confirmed his show’s cancellation. The cases of our fictional antiheroes and real killers like BTK went cold. “Mindhunter” fell victim to shifts in Fincher’s creative focus and Netflix’s market. Still, fans can’t get over the harrowing saga or its abandonment.