Controversial Decisions to End Long-Running Series Abruptly

Many popular TV shows have been cancelled before they could finish their stories, leaving fans disappointed and plotlines hanging. Networks often make these decisions based on money or viewership numbers, rather than letting shows end the way their creators planned. This list highlights some of the most notable examples of shows that were cut short.

‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)

This thought-provoking HBO science fiction series delved into the question of what separates artificial intelligence from human thought. Despite plans for a fifth and final season, the show was unexpectedly cancelled after four seasons, leaving viewers on a major cliffhanger. The finale saw a key character entering a virtual world to put humanity to the ultimate test, but the show’s cancellation meant the complex storyline never reached its planned conclusion.

‘GLOW’ (2017–2019)

Netflix had initially planned a fourth and final season of this wrestling comedy to conclude the stories of the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. However, due to the production shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, they changed their minds. The show’s third season left the characters at a turning point, facing career challenges and personal struggles. This sudden cancellation meant the cast and viewers didn’t get a satisfying conclusion to the series and its unique characters.

‘My Name Is Earl’ (2005–2009)

This sitcom followed Earl Hickey as he tried to make amends for his past wrongs, hoping to improve his luck. After four seasons, the show ended on a cliffhanger, hinting at a big reveal about who a child’s father was. However, NBC cancelled the series before the writers could finish the story. Though the creator later shared the planned ending, the show remains incomplete.

‘Santa Clarita Diet’ (2017–2019)

Drew Barrymore and Timothy Olyphant led the cast of this funny and scary show about a real estate agent who becomes a zombie. The latest season ended with a major cliffhanger – one of the main characters was taken over by something sinister. Unfortunately, Netflix decided to cancel the show soon after the new season launched, largely because of its unusual and expensive production costs. This left viewers with many unanswered questions about what would happen to the Hammond family and the zombie outbreak.

‘The OA’ (2016–2019)

Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij designed this thought-provoking drama to unfold over five seasons. However, Netflix cancelled it after only two, despite a dedicated fanbase and positive reviews. The season two finale featured a surprising, self-aware twist that fundamentally changed the show’s story. This cancellation unfortunately leaves a complex and fascinating television mystery forever unresolved.

‘Ray Donovan’ (2013–2020)

Showtime unexpectedly cancelled its intense crime drama after seven seasons, leaving the writers and producers in the dark. The final episode focused on the main character confronting his troubled history and the struggles within his family. This abrupt cancellation caused significant backlash, as the show’s creator had already started planning an eighth and final season. To satisfy disappointed fans, a follow-up movie was later made to wrap up the story.

‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)

Bryan Fuller created a beautiful and captivating TV show based on the novels by Thomas Harris, focusing on the complex connection between Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter. Despite receiving excellent reviews, the show was cancelled by NBC after three seasons because not enough people were watching. The final episode showed Will and Hannibal falling off a cliff together, seemingly to their deaths. Although the show’s creator would like to bring it back, it currently ends with that unsettling and final scene.

‘The Last Man on Earth’ (2015–2018)

This funny show took place after a deadly virus wiped out much of the world, and followed a group trying to start society over. The fourth season ended with a big mystery: the survivors were surrounded by a new group of people wearing gas masks. Unfortunately, the network cancelled the show before the writers could reveal who these people were or how they managed to survive. This left a major plot point unresolved and changed everything, but viewers never got any answers.

‘Deadwood’ (2004–2006)

David Milch’s western drama is often hailed as one of the best-written shows ever made. Unfortunately, disagreements between the creator and HBO prevented a fourth season, leaving the show with an unresolved ending. Important storylines and power dynamics within the show’s setting were left unfinished, and it wasn’t until many years later that a television movie finally brought the story to a close.

‘Angel’ (1999–2004)

‘Angel,’ the series that spun off from ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ was cancelled by The WB during its fifth season. The final episode ended with Angel and his team facing a massive battle against demons and a dragon. Just as the fight began, the show cut to black, leaving viewers to wonder what happened to the characters. While this uncertain ending reflected the show’s focus on constant struggle, many fans were disappointed they didn’t get a clear resolution.

‘Penny Dreadful’ (2014–2016)

This spooky horror series combined famous characters like Frankenstein and Dracula in Victorian London. The show ended unexpectedly after the third season, with the words “The End” appearing on screen without any warning that it was the finale. Fans were disappointed by the quick death of the lead character and felt some storylines were left unfinished. While the creator maintained this was the intended ending, the abrupt conclusion sparked a lot of debate.

‘Farscape’ (1999–2003)

I was absolutely devastated when the Sci-Fi Channel cancelled that space opera right after they finished filming the season four finale! The last scene was just brutal – our two heroes were completely shattered into crystals by some weapon. It was clearly meant to set up another season, and I, along with so many others, was really looking forward to it. The cancellation felt like a complete shock. Thankfully, fans organized a campaign and eventually got a miniseries made to give the story some closure, but it never quite felt the same as if the original series had continued.

‘Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman’ (1993–1997)

The show was a romantic superhero story that primarily followed the relationship between its two main characters. The fourth season concluded with a strange cliffhanger: the couple discovered a baby, wrapped in a Superman cape, in their home. Unfortunately, the network cancelled the show before they could reveal who the baby was or where it came from, leaving viewers puzzled and unsatisfied.

‘ALF’ (1986–1990)

The comedy series about a funny alien living with a typical family had a surprisingly sad ending. The final episode showed the main character being taken by a government agency while trying to return home. Although there were plans for another season or a movie to explain what happened next, the show was canceled, leaving fans with the alien still held captive by the government.

‘Moesha’ (1996–2001)

The sitcom was cancelled by UPN after six seasons, leaving several major plot points hanging. The final episode ended with Moesha’s brother being kidnapped and a positive pregnancy test being found, but the show never explained who was pregnant or what happened to the kidnapped brother. Many fans were disappointed that a show focused on family ended on such an unsettling and unresolved note.

‘Southland’ (2009–2013)

This popular police drama realistically portrayed the challenges faced by officers in Los Angeles. The season five finale featured a shocking scene where a key character was shot by colleagues during a mental health crisis. The episode ended with him bleeding in the street, leaving viewers unsure if he would live. Unfortunately, the show was canceled, so the story never explored the consequences of this heartbreaking event.

‘Heroes’ (2006–2010)

Tim Kring’s superhero show, ‘Heroes,’ became a huge hit initially, but its popularity waned over four seasons. NBC canceled it after the final episode, where Claire Bennet revealed the existence of people with superpowers. The writers had planned a new storyline called ‘Brave New World’ and introduced a new villain to launch it, but the show wasn’t renewed. A later attempt to revive the series with a limited run largely disregarded the original storyline and setup.

‘Kyle XY’ (2006–2009)

The show was a sci-fi drama aimed at teens, focusing on a boy born without a belly button who also possessed special powers. Unfortunately, it was cancelled before its story could be fully told. The final episode introduced a surprising twist – the main character had a brother – which dramatically altered the show’s established story. Fans never got to see how this new family connection would play out.

‘Girlfriends’ (2000–2008)

This popular sitcom, which followed the lives of a tight-knit group of female friends, aired for many years on UPN and The CW. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled during the 2007 writers’ strike, and a final episode was never filmed. This left fans wondering what happened to the characters after eight seasons, and it’s often considered one of the most frustrating unfinished stories in sitcom history.

‘Rome’ (2005–2007)

HBO’s lavish historical series was initially planned to last five seasons, aiming to tell the complete story of the Roman Empire. However, the network cancelled it after just two seasons because it was too costly to produce. This forced the writers to quickly condense a vast period of history into a handful of episodes to wrap things up. Many historians and viewers felt the final episodes were hurried and didn’t match the show’s usual careful approach to storytelling.

‘Sense8’ (2015–2018)

The Wachowskis developed a sci-fi series following eight people linked by a shared psychic ability. Despite its international appeal, Netflix ended the show after two seasons because it was expensive to produce. The season finale left viewers on a cliffhanger – a key character was taken, and the group decided to fight back against those pursuing them. Fans were so upset by the cancellation that Netflix agreed to create a two-hour finale to conclude the story.

‘Shadowhunters’ (2016–2019)

Freeform unexpectedly cancelled the fantasy series based on ‘The Mortal Instruments’ books during its third season. This forced the creators to quickly rework the remaining episodes into a two-part finale, trying to wrap things up as best they could. Unfortunately, they had to leave many storylines from the books unfinished or quickly resolved. The cancellation came as a big surprise to the show’s dedicated and passionate fans.

‘Anne with an E’ (2017–2019)

I was so disappointed when ‘Anne with an E’ got cancelled! It was a really powerful take on the classic story, and it had just gotten to the part where Anne was starting college and they were introducing some important new storylines about Indigenous culture. It felt like the writers had so much more to say, but unfortunately, Netflix and the Canadian broadcaster, CBC, couldn’t agree, and the show was cut short after three seasons. Fans really rallied to try and save it – #SaveAnneWithAnE was trending all over the world – but it wasn’t enough. It’s a shame we didn’t get to see those stories fully developed.

‘Dark Matter’ (2015–2017)

Despite good viewership, the Syfy channel ended the space opera after only three seasons. The final episode showed a huge alien fleet attacking the galaxy. The show’s creator had planned a five-season arc with a complete storyline, so the cancellation left the characters in a desperate situation with no resolution.

‘Ash vs Evil Dead’ (2015–2018)

Bruce Campbell returned as Ash in this horror-comedy series, which lasted three seasons. The show concluded with Ash defeating a huge demon and then waking up in a ruined, post-apocalyptic world – a setup inspired by “Mad Max” and planned as the basis for a fourth season. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled, so fans never got to see Ash battle deadites in this new wasteland setting.

‘Colony’ (2016–2018)

The sci-fi series, starring Josh Holloway and Sarah Wayne Callies, followed a couple struggling to survive after an alien invasion. USA Network cancelled the show after three seasons, ending on a cliffhanger. The final episode revealed a war between alien factions, separated the main characters, and hinted at the full scope of the alien threat, leaving viewers unsure of humanity’s fate.

‘The Borgias’ (2011–2013)

Showtime cancelled the historical drama series starring Jeremy Irons before it could finish its planned fourth season. The show’s creator had written a two-hour movie to conclude the story of the Borgia family, but the network decided not to make it. As a result, the series ended with the Borgias still in power, failing to show their actual historical fate, and leaving the story unfinished.

‘Pushing Daisies’ (2007–2009)

Bryan Fuller’s imaginative show about a pie maker with the power to resurrect the dead was highly praised by critics. However, ABC cancelled it during its second season, leaving several storylines unfinished. The writers were only given a brief montage at the end of the last episode to quickly tie up loose ends, which didn’t offer a proper resolution to the show’s complex mysteries.

‘The 4400’ (2004–2007)

The sci-fi show revolved around the return of 4400 people who had been abducted at different points in time. The fourth season culminated in widespread chaos in Seattle when a virus granted people superpowers. Unfortunately, the USA Network cancelled the series because of a writers’ strike and financial concerns, leaving a major storyline unresolved.

‘Las Vegas’ (2003–2008)

This exciting drama followed a team monitoring the action at a casino and aired on NBC for five seasons. It was unexpectedly cancelled, leaving viewers with a major cliffhanger: the casino owner had lost everything, and a character who was pregnant faced a serious health emergency. The show’s creators never got to finish the story, so we never found out who survived or who ultimately owned the Montecito casino. It’s remembered as one of the most sudden and frustrating endings for a show of its kind.

‘Soap’ (1977–1981)

This show was a well-known parody of soap operas, famous for its unbelievable plot twists and dramatic cliffhangers. It was unexpectedly cancelled after just four seasons, leaving viewers shocked with a final scene where Jessica Tate faced a firing squad during a South American revolution. Other characters were also left in dangerous and unresolved situations. The episode ended with the narrator posing the question, “What will happen next?” – a question that was never answered for the audience.

‘DC’s Legends of Tomorrow’ (2016–2022)

After seven seasons, The CW cancelled the show about the time-traveling superhero team. The final episode featured a new character, Booster Gold, and ended with the team being arrested for breaking time-related laws. The creators had hoped for another season to resolve this cliffhanger, but the cancellation left the heroes in jail and the story unfinished.

‘Batwoman’ (2019–2022)

The CW canceled the superhero series after three seasons, right when a major new villain was being introduced. The final episode hinted at the arrival of a terrifying comic book character who would cause trouble in Gotham. Although the show managed to continue after a change in lead actresses, it couldn’t withstand the network’s recent sale and changes in management. This meant fans won’t get to see how the newly formed “Bat Team” would fare in the long run.

‘The Glades’ (2010–2013)

A&E unexpectedly cancelled a popular crime drama after four seasons, leaving viewers with a major cliffhanger. The show’s main character was shot in the chest on his wedding day, right as his bride was waiting for him. The creator had planned for him to recover and pursue the person who shot him in a future season, but instead, the series ended with him fatally wounded.

‘Stargate Universe’ (2009–2011)

Stargate Universe, the third show in the Stargate series, was noticeably more serious and realistic than the earlier ones. Unfortunately, Syfy cancelled it after just two seasons, which meant the writers had to quickly wrap up the story. They put the crew into suspended animation for a long space voyage, leaving one character awake to fix the ship as it floated aimlessly. This created a frustrating cliffhanger, leaving the crew’s ultimate fate unknown.

‘Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles’ (2008–2009)

The series skipped the events of the later films and instead showed Sarah and John Connor battling Skynet. The season finale sent John Connor to a future where he was a complete stranger. Unfortunately, the show was cancelled by Fox because it was expensive to produce and viewership was dropping. This meant a surprising plot twist – effectively wiping John Connor’s history – was never explored further.

‘Good Girls’ (2018–2021)

Despite being popular on streaming services, NBC cancelled the crime show after four seasons. The final episode revealed the main character taking over a criminal organization, while her husband relocated to Nevada. The show’s creators had intended a fifth season to delve into her new life as a crime boss, but the cancellation unfortunately ended that storyline prematurely.

‘Scorpion’ (2014–2018)

This fast-paced crime drama, featuring a team of brilliant minds, aired on CBS for four seasons. The series ended when the team fractured due to personal disagreements, ultimately splitting into opposing groups. The show’s cancellation left the characters, who had previously functioned like a family, divided and at odds with each other – a somber ending for a show that typically celebrated collaboration.

Share your thoughts on which cancellation frustrated you the most in the comments.

2026-01-27 06:19