TV Shows That Ended On A Cliffhanger And Never Came Back

When a TV show is canceled, especially if it ends mid-story, viewers are often left with unanswered questions. Some shows get a final episode to wrap things up, but others are simply stopped by the network before the story or characters can reach a proper conclusion. This happens in all kinds of genres, from sci-fi to comedies, usually because of falling viewership or problems with production. Here are some of the most famous examples of shows that ended without giving audiences the closure they deserved.

‘ALF’ (1986–1990)

The fourth season of the hit sitcom ended with ALF trying to meet up with other Melmacians. However, instead of a happy reunion, he was caught by the Alien Task Force. This surprising turn from the show’s usual humor was meant to set up a fifth season, but one never happened. While a TV movie came out later, the series is still remembered for its shocking and unfinished final moments.

‘My Name Is Earl’ (2005–2009)

The comedy series followed Earl Hickey as he tried to make amends for his past mistakes by completing a detailed list of wrongs to right. The fourth season ended on a cliffhanger – revealing a surprise about who Earl’s son’s father was – and promised more to come. However, NBC cancelled the show soon after, leaving viewers without answers about Earl’s journey or the complicated family issues that had just been introduced.

‘Angel’ (1999–2004)

The TV show ‘Angel,’ a spin-off of ‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer,’ ended after five seasons with a huge battle threatening Los Angeles. The main characters faced overwhelming odds as the Senior Partners unleashed a massive army of demons and dragons. The episode ended with Angel ordering an attack, but it wasn’t shown whether they survived. Although the story continued in comic books, the television series never showed the outcome of the battle.

‘GLOW’ (2017–2019)

This Netflix series, set in the vibrant world of 1980s women’s professional wrestling, initially received a renewal for a fourth and final season, but that decision was later changed. The third season concluded with the characters going their separate ways – Ruth turned down a job, and the wrestling organization’s future was uncertain. Filming for the final episodes had started when the COVID-19 pandemic caused the show to be canceled, leaving the characters’ stories unfinished.

‘The OA’ (2016–2019)

The show, a mind-bending supernatural drama, concluded its second season with a shocking twist: the characters realized they were actually actors on a TV set. The main character even seemed to get hurt during this surreal moment. This cliffhanger was meant to launch a five-season storyline planned by the show’s creators, Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij. Sadly, despite fans working hard to save it, Netflix cancelled the show, leaving the central mystery unresolved.

‘Santa Clarita Diet’ (2017–2019)

The third season of the horror-comedy ended on a cliffhanger: Joel Hammond was bitten by a strange, spider-like creature and appeared to become undead. His wife, Sheila, bit him back, hoping to save him after the creature entered his brain. This suggested a major change for the show, as Joel would have struggled with the same cravings Sheila had. Unfortunately, the series was cancelled soon after, so we never found out what happened with the Hammond family’s new situation.

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

At the end of season four, Lois and Clark were shocked to find a baby at their home with a note suggesting it was their child. This unexpected development was meant to be the main storyline for a fifth season that was in the early stages of planning. However, the network cancelled the show because of declining viewership before the writers could reveal anything about the baby’s background or how it got there. The series is now well-known as a prime example of a superhero show ending with an unresolved family mystery.

‘Moesha’ (1996–2001)

The final episode of this popular sitcom ended with several unresolved storylines. For example, Moesha discovered she was pregnant, and Myles was kidnapped as part of a conflict involving his father. These dramatic events were intended to lead into a seventh season, but the show was ultimately cancelled. As a result, fans never found out who was pregnant or if Myles was rescued.

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

Man, the season two finale of that show really threw me for a loop! John Connor jumps ahead to a future where, get this, nobody knows who he is. It was like he erased himself from history! He left his mom, Sarah, stuck in the past and landed in a timeline where a whole different crew was leading the fight against the machines. It was a seriously gutsy move, clearly setting things up for a big season three. But then Fox just… cancelled it! So now we’re left wondering what John’s even doing in that new future and what ever happened to Sarah. Total cliffhanger, and we’ll never know, which is a real shame.

‘Pushing Daisies’ (2007–2009)

Bryan Fuller’s charming show about a pie-maker with the power to resurrect the dead was cut short when it was cancelled. The last episode tried to tie up a few loose ends with a quick voiceover, but the main romantic storyline between Ned and Chuck wasn’t resolved. Several supporting characters’ stories and the impact of Ned’s abilities were also left unfinished. Ultimately, the show’s distinct look and storytelling ended without a satisfying conclusion to its overall mysteries.

‘Hannibal’ (2013–2015)

The third season ended dramatically with Will Graham and Hannibal Lecter falling off a cliff after a violent fight with the Great Red Dragon. Although a short scene after the credits hinted that not everyone died, it was unclear what happened to Will and Hannibal. The show’s creator, Bryan Fuller, hoped to continue the story, but no television network or streaming service decided to pick it up. The final image of them falling into the ocean is now considered the definitive end to their complicated connection.

‘Las Vegas’ (2003–2008)

The fifth season of the casino drama ended on a suspenseful note, with several characters facing danger and a new baby’s arrival. The season finale left viewers with a cliffhanger and the promise of more to come, but unfortunately, the show wasn’t picked up for another season due to a writers’ strike and changes at the network. This meant fans never got to see how the storylines involving the casino’s staff and owners would be resolved.

‘The Last Man on Earth’ (2015–2018)

The show’s fourth and final season left viewers on a cliffhanger: a huge group of masked, silent people unexpectedly appeared from an underground bunker, surrounding the main characters. Although the show’s creator, Will Forte, explained how the story was meant to end, the series was cancelled before that ending could be filmed. The final scene shows the survivors facing an overwhelming and mysterious threat.

‘Revolution’ (2012–2014)

The show’s second season took place in a world without electricity and concluded with a dangerous development: the nanotech becoming self-aware and turning against humanity. The main characters set off for a town called Bliss as the nanotech started secretly controlling events worldwide. However, this shift towards a more traditional sci-fi battle wasn’t continued on the show. Although a digital comic eventually offered some answers, viewers were left without a resolution to the global conflict.

‘Kyle XY’ (2006–2009)

The sci-fi series concluded its third season by revealing that Kyle had a brother named Cassidy, who led a secretive group. The season finale ended with a tense showdown, leaving Kyle’s fate and the well-being of his family uncertain. Shortly after, the network, ABC Family, cancelled the show as it was changing its focus. As a result, the questions surrounding Kyle’s background and the limits of his powers were never fully answered, leaving the story unresolved.

‘Surface’ (2005–2006)

This sci-fi series centered around the sudden emergence of a new and dangerous species of sea creature worldwide. The first season culminated in a devastating tsunami that reshaped the world, with the characters finding shelter in a bell tower. This dramatic event was intended to set the stage for a second season exploring life in a flooded world, but NBC ultimately cancelled the show, leaving the fate of humanity against these creatures unknown.

‘Invasion’ (2005–2006)

Okay, so there was this really cool show set after a hurricane in Florida. It wasn’t about the storm, though – it was about aliens! These weren’t your typical invaders; they were water-based life forms slowly taking over people. The first season built this incredible, creeping dread, and the finale left us on a huge cliffhanger with a main character seriously hurt and the horrifying realization that this ‘hybrid’ takeover was happening everywhere. The plan was for season two to go completely wild, showing the full-scale replacement of humanity. It was going to be amazing! Sadly, the network cancelled it despite all the good reviews, which basically meant the aliens won. Talk about a frustrating ending – our heroes were left completely defeated, and the conspiracy succeeded. I was really invested in that show, and it’s a shame we didn’t get to see how it all played out.

‘FlashForward’ (2009–2010)

The show’s central idea was that everyone on Earth briefly lost consciousness and saw a glimpse of their life six months ahead. The first season concluded right as these visions were meant to happen, triggering another worldwide blackout. As the new visions started, characters found themselves in dangerous or surprising circumstances. Unfortunately, the network decided not to renew the show, so the reason for the blackouts and what happened to the characters remain a mystery.

‘Dark Angel’ (2000–2002)

James Cameron’s cyberpunk series centered on Max, a genetically engineered super-soldier, in a Seattle recovering from a catastrophic event. The season finale featured Max and other genetically modified individuals fighting against the police and military at Terminal City. They claimed their safe haven by raising a flag, signaling their readiness for a full-scale war with the government – a revolution that, unfortunately, never happened because the show was cancelled.

‘Carnivàle’ (2003–2005)

This HBO series told a grand story of good versus evil, set during the harsh Dust Bowl era. The second season culminated in a huge battle where the main villain, Brother Justin, appeared to be beaten, but his evil power transferred to his sister. The hero, Ben Hawkins, fell into a coma, and the larger conflict between good and evil remained unresolved. Unfortunately, the show was canceled because it was too expensive to produce, leaving the intricate story unfinished.

‘Soap’ (1977–1981)

As a total soap opera fanatic, I remember being absolutely floored by the season four finale of this hilarious parody! It left so many characters in seriously dangerous situations. The biggest shocker? Jessica Tate, facing a firing squad in some made-up South American country as the credits rolled! Of course, there were the usual kidnappings and messy love triangles – that was the show’s whole thing, poking fun at those dramatic tropes. Sadly, despite being popular for a while, it got cancelled, and we never found out what happened to Jessica or resolved any of those cliffhangers. It was a real shame, honestly.

‘Mork & Mindy’ (1978–1982)

The fourth season of ‘Mork & Mindy’ ended with a thrilling story: Mork and Mindy were pursued through time by an alien enemy. They ultimately escaped by using a time machine, but it left them stranded in the prehistoric past. Although some viewers may have seen the episodes out of order, this was how the season was meant to finish. Sadly, the show wasn’t picked up for another season, leaving Mork and Mindy lost in time, with no clear path back to their lives in Boulder, Colorado.

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

The seventh season of the show ended with the time-traveling team being arrested for messing with time. The final scene showed the heroes, including a new character named Booster Gold who had turned against them, being taken away in handcuffs. This cliffhanger was meant to start a storyline about escaping from prison in the next season. However, the network cancelled the show soon after, leaving the heroes stuck in prison and the story unresolved.

‘Westworld’ (2016–2022)

The fourth season of this intricate sci-fi show ended with all intelligent life on Earth disappearing, and the main character, Dolores, went back into the virtual world known as the Sublime. There, she intended to run one last simulation to see if anyone – human or host – deserved to be saved. This was meant to lead into a fifth and final season that would have returned the story to the original theme park. However, HBO cancelled the show because it was too expensive to produce and wasn’t attracting enough viewers, so we never found out the results of Dolores’s experiment.

‘Project Blue Book’ (2019–2020)

The show’s second season, inspired by actual UFO investigations, concluded with Captain Quinn seemingly lost in an underwater blast. Dr. Hynek, believing Quinn was either abducted or secretly moved, desperately searched for him. The finale hinted at how the Cold War would impact UFO reports and lead to increased government cover-ups. Unfortunately, the History Channel cancelled the series, leaving the main characters separated and the show’s central mysteries unanswered.

‘The Glades’ (2010–2013)

I was completely hooked on this detective show about Jim Longworth, solving crimes out in the Florida Everglades! I couldn’t believe what happened at the end of season four – it was awful! He got shot on his wedding day, right in his new home, and they just left us hanging as he lay there bleeding. It was such a shocking cliffhanger, and honestly, I was devastated when A&E cancelled the show right after. It’s still one of the most frustrating cancellations I can think of – we never got to find out who shot him or if he even survived!

‘The Event’ (2010–2011)

This thrilling series revolved around aliens held by the U.S. government since 1944. The first season culminated in a major event: the aliens’ home planet appeared in Earth’s orbit. This dramatic development set the stage for a second season exploring the political and environmental consequences of having two planets in the same location. Unfortunately, NBC cancelled the show, leaving the future of both civilizations uncertain.

‘V’ (2009–2011)

This show is a remake of a classic 1980s series about a group fighting back against aliens who pretended to be friendly. The first season ended with the aliens managing to mind-control the entire human race, and many of the heroes were either killed or captured. It looked like the resistance had completely lost, with the alien ships taking over the skies. Unfortunately, the network cancelled the show, leaving viewers with the grim conclusion that humanity was doomed to live under alien rule, with no rescue in sight.

‘Marvel’s Agent Carter’ (2015–2016)

The series followed Peggy Carter’s adventures in the early days of the Strategic Scientific Reserve. The second season ended on a suspenseful note with the shooting of Chief Jack Thompson and the theft of a secret file about Peggy’s life. This was meant to connect Peggy’s story to the wider Marvel Universe in a future season, but the show was cancelled by ABC. As a result, we never found out who shot Thompson or what was in the stolen file, leaving those plot points unfinished.

‘Siberia’ (2013)

This show presented itself as a fake documentary, following reality TV contestants abandoned in the Siberian wilderness where they encountered supernatural dangers. The season concluded with the last contestants finding a secret, advanced facility and realizing the whole thing was a much bigger and more perilous game than they thought. The final episode ended with them facing immediate threats from both people and mysterious creatures. Unfortunately, the show wasn’t picked up for another season, so the real purpose of the experiment and what happened to the characters remains a mystery.

Let us know in the comments which of these cancellations bothered you the most.

2026-02-05 05:18