Top 10 TV Shows That Need One More Season

It’s a shame when a show with a predetermined story is suddenly cut short. “Rome,” a historical drama centered around the civilization transitioning into becoming an empire, suffered this exact fate. While the plan was to have five seasons, it was ultimately cut down to two, apparently due to high costs. This led to all of the ideas for the final three seasons being condensed into one, resulting in a rushed ending. While there were plans for a movie, they ended up falling through, which effectively killed their chance to tie up any loose ends. If the creators had been renewed one more time, then they could have spaced the stories out a bit and allowed those plot points to be fleshed out.

Shows about teenagers usually focus on the more dramatic aspects of high school. “My So-Called Life” broke that mold, and portrayed a darker, yet more realistic experience. While it was popular amongst teenagers, it still had low ratings and was swiftly canceled, causing things to end on a cliffhanger. After a large fan campaign online, the studio was ready to bring it back. The creator ultimately decided to decline, as cast members had apparently expressed being ready to move on. However, in a 2014 interview, she revealed that she did have more storylines planned – including the resolution to a dramatic love triangle. While we understand why she ended things, we can’t help but want to see these characters get the happy endings they deserve.

Even heavily acclaimed series can come to a sudden end. “Hannibal”-- centered around an FBI agent working with horror icon Hannibal Lecter– offered a new perspective on the villain. It was widely beloved, with the actors receiving several awards and nominations for their work. And yet, despite the popularity, it was canceled after a few years. Fans were crushed, as they had become invested in both the plot and the characters. Not all hope is lost yet, though– both the developer and the cast have expressed interest in reigniting it, either with another season or a film. While nothing has come to fruition yet, the fans are holding out hope that it will get a proper resolution.

Calling off a program is one thing, but having “My Name Is Earl” end with a “to be continued…” was adding insult to injury. While it was popular amongst viewers, it unfortunately wasn’t enough to keep it from getting the ax. Other networks offered to revive it, but the showrunner, Greg Garcia, declined due to artistic differences. It ended up never coming back, to the dismay of fans. What made the cancellation even worse was when Garcia revealed in an online Q&A that the ending had been planned, and that he had never expected it to end the way it had. Knowing that, we would love to bring it back for a few more episodes, just to see Earl’s character arc finally be completed.

The writers strike in 2007 served an important purpose in the entertainment industry. It also served as the deathbed for several popular TV shows and movies, including “Pushing Daisies.” The dark comedy, all about a regular man with the ability to raise people from the dead, was met with several production issues. The first season was cut short, with only nine of the episodes even being made. The second season didn’t fare any better, and it was eventually given the chop. Despite all of this, “Pushing Daisies” was well-loved, and the creator, Bryan Fuller, has expressed wanting to bring it back as a comic series or even a musical. No matter what the medium is, we would love to see it given one more chance.

“Mindhunter” was one of Netflix’s more beloved originals, with famed director David Fincher at the helm. With his direction, the 1970s crime show was able to come to life, and was heralded as a breath of fresh air in the genre. Despite its popularity, it was put on hold due to Fincher wanting to focus on other projects. At first, fans were fine with this, as they assumed it would return in a year or so. However, as the years went by, hopes for its continuation began to dwindle. As of 2023, Fincher has confirmed that “Mindhunter” will not be returning. It’s a shame, as there were so many other serial killers it could have explored had it continued.

“GLOW,” a series revolving around the lives of female wrestlers in the 1980s, was highly beloved by audiences. It went on without a hitch for three seasons and was even renewed for a fourth – which would have been the final installment. Filming suddenly had to be stopped due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and by October 2020, the studio hadn’t figured out the best way to safely continue. Forced between a rock and a hard place, they ultimately decided to end it. Viewers were disappointed, especially knowing that everything was so close to being resolved. While the cancellation was understandable at the time, the finale could be made now – and it would likely be just as popular as it was at its peak.

Low viewership has caused many amazing series to meet an untimely end, even if they were well-made. “Santa Clarita Diet,” a comedic take on a woman becoming a zombie, became a fan favorite right off the bat due to its quirky humor and unique premise. As it continued to grow, so did its budget. Unfortunately, the studio felt that it had passed the point where they could reasonably invest in it, and they chose to pull the plug. That meant that it ended with the protagonist being forced to turn her husband into a zombie. It was a move that would have completely altered the plot going forward, and fans were understandably bitter that they would never know what happened.

“Freaks and Geeks” was facing heavy opposition from the start. From the production team and creators clashing to NBC refusing to promote the website, it seemed as though the network was rooting against it the whole time. It quickly became beloved due to its less glamorous depiction of high school in the 1980s. Despite the positive feedback, it didn’t get renewed, meaning it ended with Lindsay leaving her life behind to follow The Grateful Dead. Fans have been dying to know what happened afterwards, and if she ended up regretting the decision. Another season would have been all that was needed to answer these questions and find out what happened to the rest of the characters.

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

The Writers Had the Final Season Planned Out When the Plug Was Suddenly Pulled

The Sitcom Kept Being Moved to Different Time Slots, Effectively Killing It in Its Peak

Despite the Writers Strike, Low Ratings & a Followup Miniseries, Fans Wanted “Heroes” To Stick the Landing

This Post-Apocalyptic Show Only Needed One More Season– And It Was Already Planned

When it comes to TV shows ending before their time, there is no greater example than “Firefly.” While it had tons of potential, there were issues behind the scenes. Multiple episodes were broadcast out of order, which negatively affected the plot. Additionally, the final three episodes weren’t aired for months. As if they were able to foresee how the network would treat the program, fans formed a coalition to attempt to save it. They were also the ones trying to convince other studios to pick it up once it was canceled. While they were unsuccessful, that spirit still hasn’t died. They are still itching to find out what happens next, and while 2005’s “Serenity” did answer some questions, they can’t help but want more.