14 hours ago
Underrated Canceled TV Shows
For every show that feels like it majorly overstayed its welcome, cough — Grey's Anatomy — there always seems to be another show that studios prematurely axe at exactly the same time.
Hundreds of television shows fail to catch the attention of general audiences year after year and ultimately get cancelled after a slew of poor ratings and lack of fanfare. However, some of these shows are genuine hidden treasures and don't deserve to be buried by the algorithms of popular streamers.
In our current cultural landscape that is so obsessed with nostalgia and reboots, I've ranked 10 shows that I believe deserve their turn on Hollywood's reboot ride. Some you probably haven't heard of (or, more likely, watched) some of them. However, I highly recommend taking a day to binge.
House of Anubis (2011 to 2013)
Many Gen Z'ers will understand why this show is on the list, but for those who don't, just know that House of Anubis was Nickelodeon's best venture into the mystery genre. Some would argue it's Are You Afraid of the Dark? or that one scary episode of SpongeBob SquarePants where he gets stranded in that town and can't leave, but it's really this show. The perfect blend of mystery, British accents, and impeccable uniforms. It is a must-watch and due for a reboot!
High Fidelity (2020)
A reboot within a reboot — what's not to love? High Fidelity is the 2020 reboot of John Cusack's 2000 film of the same name, and it was the best TV show I watched that year, and I watched a lot during lockdown. It also has a Black female lead, played by Zoë Kravitz, who gave an absolutely amazing performance. So, to me, I think Hulu TV execs need to give it a second, I mean third, chance!
Fear Itself (2008)
A victim of underwhelming ratings that deserved better. Fear Itself is a masterful anthology horror series that had some really unique episodes and deserved to have multiple seasons. It didn't even get to air all of its episodes that summer on NBC. I'd give an arm and a leg for this one to come back from the dead.
Harper's Island (2009)
Another underrated gem that CBS canceled. The greatest whodunnit television series of all time, and there was definitely some plot left to continue the show for at least two more seasons. We, the fans, were robbed, and we want our show back!
1899 (2022)
From the creators of the groundbreaking, jaw-dropping thriller, Dark, there's another mind-bending, altogether bonkers show whose time was cut too short. It's a good sci-fi with an international cast and should have been given more room to breathe.
I Am Not Okay With This (2020)
It ended with a frustrating cliffhanger, and fans never got an answer, so yeah, this one needs to be uncanceled immediately. And while I know they're older and grown adults adults, I want the OG cast!
Rome (2005-2007)
Great show. High production costs. So, of course, it ended up canceled instead of landing on lists like Game of Thrones and Breaking Bad. But Rome absolutely deserves to be in that tier, if not above it. HBO needs to cease with the GOT spinoffs and bring back this historical masterpiece.
The Wilds (2020)
A feminine take on Lord of the Flies and an even better (dare I say) version of Yellowjackets. Of course, it only had one season; if it kept going, it would have been too powerful. But jokes aside, this show was good and the actors equally as much — a fun watch and would make for a great multi-season show.
Generation (2021)
A funny, teen show that, in my opinion, had the best depiction of the average Gen Z'er. It didn't last long, but my memories of laughing out loud from this show did. Just absolute fun, and that's what we all need now more than ever. Let's hope HBO Max is listening...
And Grand Army (2020)
The greatest teen drama show of the past decade. Grand Army may have lacked high ratings, but it made up for it with its rich, authentic storytelling. A very diverse cast, all of whom deserved better, and frankly so did the show's marketing.
Which recently canceled show would you dig back up from the grave? Share all your thoughts in the comments!