Why was the show cancelled?! In most cases, it comes down to low ratings, poor reviews, contract disputes—all are peddled as reasons for a cancellation, and most of the time, the decision is correct. But every so often there are TV shows that get cancelled undeservingly. We’re talking about well-made and well-liked TV series that, for one reason or another, got the boot anyway. Here are some of the best geeky TV shows that got cancelled and still deserve to be revived because they were just that good!
7. Community
Did Community have a satisfactory ending? Sure, we aren’t claiming otherwise. But was Community cancelled on the way there? Yep, it was—not just once, but twice! After the fifth season of the show, NBC brought the axe down because of the series’ dwindling ratings. Then, when the “six seasons and a movie” meme of the show took off, Yahoo! Screen came in and ordered another season, saving the series. But Yahoo! failed with their screen service and ended up cancelling Community again. That’s where we currently sit. We think the show should be revived as a movie, rather than yet another series. A movie would finally give the ending the series deserved, plus fulfilling the “six seasons and a movie” prophecy.
6. Daredevil
Marvel’s willpower ultimately killed Netflix’s Daredevil series. The powers at Marvel Studios had little control over Netflix’s productions and didn’t like that the shows were all set in the same universe. So, Marvel made sure contracts with Netflix failed renewal in order to get the rights to their own characters back. Daredevil was the best series of the Netflix Marvel series, and its third season ended with such promise. Unfortunately, end it did. All of the performances were great—particularly those of Charlie Cox, Deborah Ann Woll, and Vincent D’Onofrio—but what makes matters worse is how the series had yet reached full potential. The good news is that Charlie Cox’s Daredevil will reportedly return in Spider-Man: No Way Home. But how committed will Marvel Studios be to giving the character a season four? That remains to be seen.
5. Firefly
Joss Whedon’s vision of a Western-influenced space opera that centered on characters aboard a spaceship named “Serenity” was bold and gripping. Sadly, the production behind Firefly had become a complete mess by the time it aired on Fox. Due to in-fighting between the development team and Fox network executives—not to mention its episodes inexplicably being aired out of order—the show was cancelled after only 11 episodes. The series’ cast was one of its greatest assets, with Nathan Fillion, Morena Baccarin, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, and Gina Torres all starring in the short-lived production. It was given an endcap in the form of a feature-length film called Serenity, which was well-received by critics and reunited the original stars of the show. But fans still believe it could have a bright future if it returned on another network. (After the recent allegations made against Whedon, it would likely be without his involvement.)
4. Freaks and Geeks
One of the biggest mysteries about Freaks and Geeks is why it was even cancelled during its original run. The ratings weren’t phenomenal, but they were passable. So what gives? The series followed a group of friends and how their individual lives played out as they went through high school. It explored the pain and madness of becoming an adult, sans the responsibility. The cast was one of the best-assembled in TV history, with pre-famous stars in Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, James Franco, Busy Phillipps, Jason Segel, Martin Starr, and John Francis Daley. To bring the show back 20 years after it ended would be troublesome; however, it would be fascinating to see where all the characters had gone in their lives after all this time.
3. High Fidelity
The TV series based on Nick Hornby’s book and led by Zoe Kravitz did very well with critics, though it struggled with ratings on Hulu and was eventually cancelled after one season. The refreshing take on the book saw Kravitz’s character Robyn dealing with the breakup of her long-term relationship and using her vinyl store (and its contents) to portray her feelings throughout the show. It was well-acted and featured some fun guest stars, so it was destined to be renewed by Hulu—which only made High Fidelity’s cancellation more of a shock to the TV world when it had just gotten going. The series could effortlessly be brought back by another network and pick up where it left off; however, at present, that seems unlikely.
2. I’m Not Okay With This
I’m Not Okay With This followed the original comic book, bringing it to life on the small screen. Sadly, it was a casualty of the pandemic. The series was initially renewed for a second season—until it was canned after Netflix started making cuts. It shows the discovery of its leading character, Syd, getting superpowers and trying to ascertain why she’s so socially awkward. Her personality and abilities push the mystery of the show forward as we learn more about her family. It had a young leading cast with great potential, with Sophia Lillis leading the series as Syd. Bringing the series back shouldn’t be too much of a problem for another network—or even Netflix itself—but there doesn’t seem to be a willingness to do so. That leaves I’m Not Okay With This to linger on its first season cliffhanger.
1. The Silver Surfer
Many classic 90s cartoons got cancelled before they could draw to a natural close; however, Saban’s The Silver Surfer was the best of them. It was axed after a legal dispute between Saban and Marvel, with the second season still in production when it was brought to a halt. The story follows Norrin Raad and his time spent serving Galactus as The Silver Surfer. The first season of the show was fantastic, showing the depths of space and the Marvel world to a whole generation of children, all before it came to an end on a cliffhanger. Bringing the series back now is borderline impossible as Marvel controls the character and they have little interest in reviving a show from 25 years ago. However, it would be cool if they finished the second season, if only as a gesture to diehard fans. Read next: The best 90s Marvel cartoon series
