These Are The Best Single Season Shows That Were Cancelled

1 / 12

'Firefly'

Firefly ran from 2002-2003, but its cancellation wasn't the result of ratings. Instead, the Joss Whedon-created sci-fi show faced conflict behind the scenes and, rather bizarrely, an out-of-order airing schedule for episodes. With a cast that features Nathan Fillion, Morena Baccarin, and Alan Tudyk, Firefly gained a loyal fanbase known as "Browncoats". While it was never revived as a series, the cast did return for a follow-up movie called Serenity in 2005.

2 / 12

'The Secret Circle'

The Secret Circle hoped to be able to capitalize on the popularity of another one of L.J. Smith's CW book adaptations, The Vampire Diaries. However, the 2011-2012 fantasy drama starring Phoebe Tonkin, Britt Robertson, and Shelley Hennig ultimately didn't perform as well as expected. Low ratings coupled with the show's budget being considered too high led to The Secret Circle's cancellation.

3 / 12

'Battlestar Galactica'

Battlestar Galactica has spawned several television shows and movies over the years, but believe it or not, the original 1978 show was cancelled! Lorne Greene, Dirk Benedict, and more led the cast of the sci-fi series, which introduced fans to the battle between humans and Cylons.

4 / 12

'Pan Am'

Pan Am may have starred Christina Ricci and Margot Robbie, but that wasn't enough to keep the period drama on air! The show about a group of stewardesses during the '60s only lasted from 2011-2012, despite attempts to continue the show because of its higher international ratings.

5 / 12

'Freaks and Geeks'

Freaks and Geeks has gone on to become a cult favourite since its cancellation at the beginning of the century. The cast of the Paul Feig-created high school dramedy included Linda Cardellini, James Franco, and Jason Segel. However, the show only ran from 1999-2000 after offers to produce a lower budget second season were declined.

6 / 12

'Dracula'

Dracula was based on Bram Stoker's famous vampire novel by the same name, reinterpreting the story for television. The period horror drama that starred Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Katie McGrath, and Jessica De Gouw premiered in 2013. The series had a small but dedicated fan following but failed to live up to expectations when it came to ratings, and was cancelled in 2014.

7 / 12

'Hellcats'

Hellcats debuted in 2010 on the CW and was a dramedy that focused on the world of college cheerleading. With an ensemble cast led by pop stars Ashley Tisdale and Aly Michalka, the series certainly had its fans. However, low ratings ended up causing the network to cancel Hellcats in 2011.

8 / 12

'Pitch'

Pitch featured Kylie Bunbury as a young pitcher who finds herself with the opportunity of a lifetime— the chance to play in the MLB. While the 2016 sports drama explored what it would be like for a young woman to take on that role, it never got to fully develop its story. That's because Pitch ended up getting cancelled as a result of low viewership numbers.

9 / 12

'Teenage Bounty Hunters'

Teenage Bounty Hunters dropped on Netflix in 2020, starring Maddie Phillips and Anjelica Bette Fellini as twins who secretly moonlight as bounty hunters to earn some cash. Unfortunately the show didn't have much of a chance to gain an audience, getting cancelled just a couple of months after it dropped on the streaming platform. However, it continues to have a passionate fanbase.

10 / 12

'Whiskey Cavalier'

Whiskey Cavalier premiered in 2019, starring Scott Foley and Lauren Cohan as two operatives who team up to take on crimes across the world. The action drama was only on air for two months and ended on a cliffhanger, leaving fans of the series frustrated. According to the network, the show's high budget and low ratings did not make a second season viable.

While there are many shows that run for several seasons, there are also some series that sadly never go beyond their first. Even though they may have had potential, the decision to axe these shows after their initial run often means fans are forever left hanging, wondering what could have been.

These Are The Best Single Season Shows That Were Cancelled

From older, cult favourite series to more recent cancellations, we have put together a list of some shows that deserved more than one season. Click through the slides to see if your favourite cancelled show made the cut!