50 Beloved Canceled and Completed Shows That Won’t Come Back After 2020
For TV fanatics, few things are more heartbreaking than discovering that your favorite show hasn't been renewed for an additional season.
Sometimes, you're lucky enough to get a series finale, and your show of choice does get a planned-out and beautifully executed finish. You get to find out where the story goes, and what happens to all of the characters you know and love. Or maybe they completely botch things, right at the finish line. Other times, we're not so fortunate, and it concludes on a season-ending cliffhanger that never gets resolved. You mean all of that buildup goes absolutely nowhere?
Either way, we're always left wanting more. If you're curious to find out which shows finished or were canceled, and won't be coming back beyond 2020, click through these slides to find out.
(Supernatural via The CW)
1. 13 Reasons Why
13 Reasons Why has been a controversial and heart-wrenching teen drama from the very start, with each season tackling a variety of social issues in very bold ways. The fourth and final season debuted on Netflix in June, following protagonist Clay Jensen and his struggles with his mental health following the traumas of the previous three seasons.
(13 Reasons Why via Netflix)
2. The 100
The 100, a CW series based on the novels by the same name, is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi show about the first group of people to return to earth after nuclear war ravages the planet. After seven seasons (and an apt 100 episodes) the show will be ending this year. Its final, 16-episode season is currently airing.
(The 100 via The CW)
3. Almost Family
While we were captivated by every minute of the drama unfolding on Fox's Almost Family, it seems the show simply wasn't destined to make it past a single season. The show centered around three young women—including two long-time friends, plus a retired Olympic athlete—who discover they're half-sisters fathered by the same fertility doctor. Unfortunately, the last episode aired in February, and none of us will get to know precisely what happens next in the story.
(Almost Family via Fox)
4. Altered Carbon
Altered Carbon was an incredible cyberpunk series based on a novel of the same name. In its world, people's consciousnesses can be transferred between bodies, allowing people to effectively live forever as long as the disks storing their minds are intact. Despite critical acclaim, it was unfortunately canceled by Netflix after only two seasons.
(Altered Carbon via Netflix)
5. Arrow
Superhero fans had to say goodbye to Arrow on the CW earlier this year. After eight seasons of the show, it aired its final episode back in January, but only after its epic Crisis on Infinite Earths crossover with Supergirl, Batwoman, The Flash, and Legends of Tomorrow. While it won't be coming back, at least this one went out with a bang—and paved the way for a potential Green Arrow series in the future.
(Arrow via The CW)
6. Away
If you've just fallen in love with Netflix's sci-fi space drama Away, we have some bad news for you. The series, led by Hilary Swank, followed a crew of astronauts on a three-year mission to Mars. It was about the difficulty of being away from those you love, as well as humanity's ability to thrive and succeed in the direst of conditions. It premiered on Sep. 4 and was canceled just a month later after a single season.
(Away via Netflix)
7. The Baker and the Beauty
The Baker and the Beauty was exactly the type of romance story we'd been waiting for, and we're heartbroken to see that it won't be continuing into a second season after its untimely cancelation. It featured a working-class baker named Daniel who enters an unlikely romance with world-famous supermodel Noa Hamilton, and it was ridiculously sweet. It concluded in April, and this is one we'd love to see picked up by another network.
(The Baker and the Beauty via ABC)
8. BH90210
BH90210 was definitely an interesting spin on the Beverly Hills, 90210 formula, but that wasn't enough to keep it afloat for more than a single season. The show saw the return of the cast from the classic '90s series, only this time playing versions of themselves in a fictionalized version of their real lives, revolving around yet another in-show reboot of the original. It concluded in September of last year, and we're a little sad to know we won't see where it was all headed.
(BH90210 via Fox)
9. Bless This Mess
After two seasons on ABC, it appears that Bless This Mess won't be returning for a third. The show featured Lake Bell and Dax Shepard as a couple who leave New York to move into an inherited Nebraska farm, only to find that it's in shambles—and already inhabited by a strange old man. As they rebuilt the home, they also managed to find peace with, and even come to like the residents of the town. It ended in May, and it's a shame we won't get to see the story develop even further.
(Bless This Mess via ABC)
10. Blindspot
Back in 2015, Blindspot began its life as an NBC series about a woman with no recollection of her identity and a body covered in tattoos, which happen to hold clues to unsolved crimes. Over the seasons, she's found, and then lost, then regained a number of personas and identities, and we're very curious to find out where she'll land when all is said and done. Blindspot's fifth and final season began airing in May.
(Blindspot via NBC)
11. BoJack Horseman
BoJack Horseman ended its six-season run on Netflix in January, and there's a reason the show is so beloved and has such a cult following. On the surface, it might just look like a show about anthropomorphized animals getting up to wacky hijinks in Hollywood (and it's absolutely that), but it's also very much about mental health, how we connect to others and humanity itself. If you're only looking for laughs, this one will definitely take you by surprise.
(BoJack Horseman via Netflix)
12. Carol's Second Act
If you loved Carol's Second Act, we're very sorry to announce that it was canceled and has ended after a single season. The CBS show starred Patricia Heaton as a retired teacher who decides to go after her lifelong dream of becoming a doctor, starting with an internship at a hospital. Ironically, the show was refused a second act of its own.
(Carol's Second Act via CBS)
13. Criminal Minds
It's hard to believe that Criminal Minds won't be coming back because it feels like it's been around forever. The CBS procedural crime drama spent a whopping 15 seasons detailing the work of an FBI Behavioral Analysis unit before it finally ended back in February. At least fans have a big backlog to visit if they're missing the show.
(Criminal Minds via CBS)
14. Dark
German sci-fi thriller Dark was one of the most talked-about shows of the last few years due to its intricately detailed story involving time travel and multiple generations working to get to the bottom of an incredible mystery. Unlike some of the others on this list, at least this series got to go out on its own terms. It concluded its story after three seasons this June.
(Dark via Netflix)
15. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance
Fans of the 1982 Jim Henson film The Dark Crystal instantly adored The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance when it premiered on Netflix in August of 2019, but unfortunately, the beautifully puppeteered show won't be making a return. In September of this year, it was canceled after just one season.
(The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance via Netflix)
16. Emergence
Emergence on ABC definitely deserved more than the single season it received before it was unceremoniously canceled. The mystery series revolved around a bizarre accident and a strange girl with no memory and unique powers. The first season's finale in January posed just as many new questions and riddles as it answered, and unfortunately, the story will have to end there.
(Emergence via ABC)
17. Fresh Off the Boat
After six hilarious seasons, ABC's Fresh Off the Boat's final episode aired back in January. The show detailed a fictionalized version of the childhood of chef Eddie Huang, who grew up in Florida in the '90s. The series dealt a lot with culture and how Eddie balanced the values of his Asian American family with what he absorbed outside of the home—something we still haven't seen a lot of on American TV.
(Fresh Off the Boat via ABC)
18. Fuller House
Fans of ABC's classic Full House had their dreams come true when they learned that the show was getting a Netflix sequel in the form of Fuller House, and we can't believe it's already had five seasons. The fifth was its last and came out on the streaming service in June, allowing us to say goodbye once again to the original returning cast, as well as the newcomers we came to know and love over the years.
(Fuller House via Netflix)
19. Future Man
After three seasons on Hulu, Future Man's final episodes were released in April. The show starred Hunger Games actor Josh Hutcherson as a janitor called Josh Futturman who, after beating his favorite video game, gets recruited by its characters to help him fight in the war he successfully overcame within the game.
(Future Man via Hulu)
20. GLOW
Now this was a disappointing one. GLOW, a fictionalized version of the real-life women's pro wrestling circuit called the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, was renewed for a fourth season in September of 2019, only for Netflix to change their minds this year when filming for the season had to cease in March. We won't be getting anything beyond the third season, and fans are very upset
(GLOW via Netflix)
21. God Friended Me
God Friended Me had a fascinating premise that we'd have loved to see beyond the two seasons the show got before being canceled in April. The show focused on a man named Miles who gets a Facebook friend request from an account claiming to be God. Over time, "God" sends him friend suggestions for people who'll need his help, and over time, he befriends and assists these people, all the while looking for the real face behind the mysterious Facebook profile. Though the series provided a somewhat open-ended answer, it would have been fantastic to find out more.
(God Friended Me via CBS)
22. The Good Place
The Good Place, NBC's fantasy comedy about the afterlife, was an instant hit when it started airing back in 2016, and with all of its shocking twists and turns, the show managed to maintain its quality throughout its four-season run. Starring Kristen Bell, William Jackson Harper, Jameela Jamil, D'Arcy Carden, Manny Jacinto and Ted Danson, the popular series concluded back in January.
(The Good Place via NBC)
23. High Fidelity
Hulu's High Fidelity, based on the novel of the same name, was a breath of fresh air when it premiered on Valentine's Day of this year. Starring Zoë Kravitz, the rom-com followed the (often disappointing) relationships of a music-loving record store owner. In August, Hulu canceled the series after a single season.
(High Fidelity via Hulu)
24. Homeland
Showtime's incredible spy thriller Homeland had an incredible eight seasons before the series finale finally aired in April of this year. The series centered around Claire Danes as Carrie Mathison, a CIA officer with bipolar disorder. In the first season, she suspected that a returned U.S. Marine Sargeant was planning a secret attack against his own country, and since then, the plot only thickened with each subsequent episode.
(Homeland via Showtime)
25. Hawaii Five-0
CBS's Hawaii Five-0 was destined for a long run. It was a reboot of the slightly differently named Hawaii Five-O, which ran on CBS for a whopping 12 seasons. It seems there's plenty of story to mine from a police procedural drama set in Hawaii, because the modern retelling also got 10 years of its own. After 240 episodes, the show ended with its final episode in April.
(Hawaii Five-0 via CBS)
26. How to Get Away With Murder
ABC's Shondaland legal thriller How to Get Away With Murder got consistently twistier and turnier with every subsequent episode of its six-season run, and that's precisely what fans loved about it. The show began with law professor Annalise Keating and a number of her students who quickly get wrapped up in a murder conspiracy, and things get even wilder from there. The last episode aired in May, finally wrapping up all of the loose threads that had been bared along the years.
(How to Get Away With Murder via ABC)
27. Insatiable
Insatiable was controversial from the start, with giant petitions aiming to end the show for fat-shaming, so we aren't all too surprised it was canceled after just two seasons. Netflix's dramatic dark comedy starred Debby Ryan as Patty Bladell, a girl who was relentlessly bullied in high school for being overweight, only to lose much of her weight after being hospitalized and having her jaw wired shut. Now being viewed by her classmates as "skinny," she sought revenge on the ones who had wronged her.
(Insatiable via Netflix)
28. Katy Keene
After Riverdale became one of the most talked-about series on TV, The CW returned to the source material to see what other classic characters they could bring to the small screen. Unfortunately, Archie Comics' Katy Keene didn't inspire audiences in the same way, and the series was canceled in May. Starring Lucy Hale as the titular character, it was a musical, comedy and drama all in one, following the life of four musicians with a dream of making it big on Broadway. At least fans can check out the comics if they want to learn more.
(Katy Keene via NBC)
29. Kids Say the Darndest Things
While the original Kids Say the Darndest Things was a classic series running for three seasons, its reboot of the same name only managed to last for one. Starring Tiffany Haddish, the show was all about posing lofty life questions to kids, who then gave their own naive and hilarious answers to the biggest mysteries of the universe. This run's final episode aired in January.
(Kids Say the Darndest Things via ABC)
30. Lucifer
Now Lucifer is a slightly complicated one. The show is based on the DC Comics version of the devil, created by Neil Gaiman in his iconic The Sandman comic series. It originated at Fox, but was canceled there after three seasons. Luckily for fans, however, it was picked up by Netflix for a fourth season, who also renewed the show for its fifth and final season. That season is scheduled to air later this year—but Tom Ellis, who plays the titular character, did renew his contract, which means it's not impossible that Lucifer will return.
(Lucifer via Netflix)
31. The Magicians
Based on Lev Grossman's book of the same name, The Magicians on Syfy has one very passionate fanbase who was heartbroken to hear that the series would be canceled after five seasons. It follows Quentin Coldwater, who attends a magic university to become a magician, only to learn that the world from his favorite childhood books is real and full of dangerous magic that threatens everything he knows and loves. Its final episode aired in April and unfortunately, the show won't get a sixth season to fully wrap things up.
(The Magicians via Syfy)
32. Man With a Plan
While CBS' Man With a Plan had a good few seasons, the sitcom was canceled after the final episode of its fourth season aired in June of this year. The show starred Matt LeBlanc as an old-school dad, whose life changes substantially when his wife returns to the workforce, causing him to get to know the real joys and pains of fatherhood as he assumes more responsibility with his kids.
(Man With a Plan via CBS)
33. Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
As sad as many fans are to see Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. go, many are just as excited to see how the whole thing will wrap up after seven seasons, and how the story will play into everything else happening in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. After dying in the Marvel films, agent Phil Coulson was brought back to life in the series, and he and his team have been through pretty much everything imaginable since then. Its seventh season is currently airing, with the finale set to air this summer.
(Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. via ABC)
34. Modern Family
ABC's Modern Family is another one of those shows that's been in our lives for so long we're not sure what we'll do without it. After 11 seasons with the extended Pritchett and Dunphy families, it's almost like they were part of our families. At the end of the show, the family was as big as ever. Its two-part finale aired in April.
(Modern Family via ABC)
35. NOS4A2
There really was nothing on TV quite like AMC's supernatural horror series NOS4A2. The show was about an artist with special abilities that allowed her to track an immortal being called Charlie Manx, who ate children's souls, making every episode a frightening thrill. After two seasons, the show was canceled in August.
(NOS4A2 via AMC)
36. October Faction
October Faction was based on the popular comic book series of the same name, but that couldn't make Netflix decide to keep it around for more than a single season. The show followed couple Fred and Deloris, who happen to hunt monsters and all things paranormal as part of a secret organization. After releasing all of its episodes back in January, the series will not be returning for more.
(October Faction via Netflix)
37. Outmatched
It seems that an interesting premise wasn't enough to keep Fox sitcom Outmatched on the air for more than a single season, with the last episode airing back in March. The series revolved around two regular parents, played by Jason Biggs and Maggie Lawson, who do their best to raise four kids—three of whom are certified geniuses.
(Outmatched via Fox)
38. Party of Five
The original Party of Five that dominated Fox in the '90s was beloved by many, but unfortunately, it seems that passion didn't follow the show's 2020 reboot. It was canceled after a single season back in April. This time around, the show revolved around the five children of the Acosta family who must struggle with the loss of their parents after they're deported to Mexico.
(Party of Five via Freeform)
39. Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj
Since the award-winning talk show Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj was canceled, we're not quite sure where we'll turn to stay up-to-date on current events. In the show, host Hasan Minhaj covered cultural and political events in detailed and informative but digestible and entertaining segments. After six seasons, it was canceled in August of this year.
(Patriot Act With Hasan Minhaj via Netflix)
40. Penny Dreadful: City of Angels
The dark fantasy series Penny Dreadful was such a beloved show that we were sure that its spin-off, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels was built to last. Set about 50 years after the original series, it followed a cast of characters from Hollywood's Golden Age dealing with Santa Muerte, a deity from Mexican folklore. Unfortunately, it was canceled in August after just one season.
(Penny Dreadful: City of Angels via Showtime)
41. The Purge
When we first heard that The Purge film franchise would be getting a TV series on USA Network, we were very curious to see how the story would play out. The show was canceled after just two seasons, which gives us a good idea. The show appeared to follow disconnected characters on a night of lawlessness in each new episode, with their relations to each other unveiling as each season progressed. The final episode of the second season aired in December of 2019.
(The Purge via USA Network)
42. The Ranch
Netflix's incredibly popular sitcom The Ranch was another show that bit the dust this year. The series starred Ashton Kutcher, a failed former football star who decides to stay in Colorado to help his dad (played by Sam Elliott) on his cattle ranch. After four seasons, the final group of episodes aired in January.
(The Ranch via Netflix)
43. Schitt's Creek
It's not every day that a Canadian TV series becomes a huge hit here in the states, but CBC's Schitt's Creek was a special exception. The hilarious sitcom told the story of the wealthy Rose family, who lose everything after they're swindled by their business manager and whose last resort is to go live in the show's titular town, which was purchased as a joke. Over the show's six seasons, the family learned to be real people, love each other and get by without the luxuries they were used to, and it was a magical thing to see. The finale aired in April.
(Schitt's Creek via CBC)
44. Schooled
We're not surprised that the success of ABC's The Goldbergs inspired the network to create a spinoff, but it seems that Schooled simply couldn't live up to the magic of the original series. The show starred AJ Michalka's character, Lainey Lewis, but jumped ahead a decade to take place in the '90s. It was canceled after just two seasons, with the final episode airing in May.
(Schooled via ABC)
45. Single Parents
Single Parents was another ABC sitcom that simply couldn't make it past two seasons. The show starred Taran Killam and Leighton Meester as single parents working to balance their lives as moms and dads and as individuals, and was full of both heart and humor. After the second season wrapped up in May, however, the show was canceled.
(Single Parents via ABC)
46. She-Ra and the Princesses of Power
Netflix's She-Ra and the Princesses of Power is one of the lucky shows that got exactly the kind of ending it deserved. The animated series followed Adora, an orphan from the planet Etheria who obtains a magical sword that turns her into the mighty She-Ra, allowing her to fight the evil ruler Hordak. The show was celebrated for its great writing, strong characters and LGBT representation. It's fifth and final season aired in May.
(She-Ra and the Princesses of Power via Netflix)
47. Spinning Out
Fans of the Netflix drama series Spinning Out may be disappointed to discover that the show was canceled after a single season. It starred Kaya Scoledario as Kat Baker, a competitive solo ice skater who suffers an injury that threatens to end her career and forces her to try out being a pair skater, all while dealing with her new partner and keeping a family secret under wraps. All of its episodes started streaming in January, and it won't be back.
(Spinning Out via Netflix)
48. Star Wars: The Clone Wars
Star Wars: The Clone Wars has a long and storied history, initially running for five seasons on Cartoon Network before being canceled and then picked up for a season by Netflix, and then going away for six more years until its seventh season aired on Disney+ in February. Unfortunately, that seventh season is also said to be its last—but at least the story continues on in Star Wars: Rebels.
(Star Wars: The Clone Wars via Disney+)
49. Supernatural
Supernatural is another one of those shows we thought we could count on hanging around forever. Unfortunately for us, it had to end sometime. The CW's dark fantasy series, featuring brothers Sam and Dean as they faced off against every paranormal force imaginable, was a staple for 15 incredible seasons. The final episodes are set to air later this year, and we seriously can't see where the story will drop them.
(Supernatural via The CW)
50. The Venture Bros.
The Venture Bros. was one of Adult Swim's most loved animated series, and its cancelation shocked many fans. Starting all the way back in 2003, it followed the Venture family, including teen boys Hank and Dean, their mad scientist father Dr. Thaddeus Venture, and their bodyguard, the burly Brock Samson. Its seventh season aired back in October of 2018, and fans were expecting more before it was unceremoniously canceled in September of this year. Still, despite its end, its creators are looking for a way to reveal an official conclusion for the show.
