8 One-Season TV Shows That Didn’t Leave Us Hanging
Whenever a show gets canceled after one season, TV viewers (and especially passionate fans) often protest the ending out of sadness and anger as loose ends are rarely getting the time they deserve to be tied up. (We’re looking at you, The Society.)
There are a handful of shows, though, that did well with their one-and-done seasons and left viewers on good terms — some have even become cult favorites! Shows like Freaks and Geeks, Bunheads, and My So-Called Life had an uproar after the cancellation, but looking back, a lot of people are content with the finale of these short-lived programs.
Scroll down for the one-season shows left us feeling quite satisfied… for the most part.
The Get Down (Netflix)
Condolence flowers, drag queens, arrests, college acceptances, and words of affirmation – the final episode of The Get Down had everything that the show did right. There was music, drama, twists, and heart. Ezekiel (Justice Smith) gets into Yale and Mylene (Herizen Guardiola) is shipping off to Hollywood to live her dream of becoming a star. Although everyone rooted for these two throughout the season, it felt like a win to still know that, individually, they were going to succeed in the end. Their relationship could progress after they worked on themselves and achieved their own dreams that truly had been there all along regardless of their love for each other and their community.
The Good Guys (Fox)
A buddy comedy for the ages, The Good Guys was a sitcom about two cops doing what they do best in the most outrageous, but wholesome, situations. Having one season did not deter it from an ending that you could still laugh at or find positivity and warmth in. The show did that quite well all along, because as the buddy cop trope goes, the give-and-take, banter, and appreciation for each partner is always there, regardless of office talk, department promotions, and nerve-wracking cases. Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks had such a rapport with one another that their characters conducting investigations all the way to the last episode still kept your attention the most, regardless of the fact the show didn’t return for more.
Freaks and Geeks (NBC)
Although many find that the finale of 1999’s Freaks and Geeks left off on quite a cliffhanger, it actually seems to tie up a big part of Lindsey Weir’s (Linda Cardellini) character arc. Lindsey had gone into the school year looking to expand what she knew about a different group of people and experience a different side of high school social life. The show ends with her taking off in a Grateful Dead van with a girl who, from Episode 1, didn’t quite care about this squeaky-clean newbie trying to tarnish her image by joining a more “dangerous” group of people. It’s quite full circle, though, to see Lindsey not only immerse herself in a different side of high school life, but to become part of it so wholly that she feels comfortable enough to take off in a van to follow the Grateful Dead on tour.
Grandfathered (Fox)
Despite the comedy lasting only a single season, leads John Stamos and Josh Peck have still remained close friends. Now both fathers themselves, their children are friends as well. Therefore, no matter your thoughts on the show and its short-lived time on air, something good came out of it and that is a true friendship between two guys and their families. The finale of Grandfathered really stuck with a lot of the show’s fans. Sara (Paget Brewster) and Jimmy (Stamos) kiss for what felt like the first time in forever, truly, because the last time that they had kissed was 27 years prior (in the world of the show). Seeing that relationship finally come to terms alongside that of Gerald (Peck), who was finally softening in his own relationship with the mother of his son, was so wonderful for people to see. While we don’t get to see either of these relationships progress any further, fans were left on a note that felt complete and loving with characters they had drawn close to throughout the length of the sitcom.
10 Things I Hate About You (2009-2010)
Heath Ledger and Julia Stiles rose to prominence as Patrick Verona and Kat Stratford, stars of the 1999 film 10 Things I Hate About You, the teen rom-com that also featured the likes of Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Allison Janney. With a stacked cast like that, it was no surprise that the movie quickly became a cultural phenomenon, and later, a TV series. Freeform (then ABC Family) picked up the movie for a television spin-off that, unfortunately, only lasted one season. The same characters were played by new actors, Patrick by Ethan Peck and Kat by Lindsey Shaw (except for Larry Miller, who reprised his role as Dr. Stratford), in a plot that was simply an extension of the movie. It was a funny, whimsical, sarcastic sitcom that still has a cult following, but unfortunately lost momentum as it only came to be a decade after the original film.
Bunheads (Freeform)
With elaborate dance sequences, full circle friendships, and triumph, Michelle’s (Sutton Foster) growth peaks in the finale of the dance drama. The young woman grew a tough enough skin that even a rejection during a big ballet audition doesn’t faze her (too much). Her dance sisters and friends bring light into her life post-defeat, and it warms her enough to not quit dancing, reopen her studio, and restart her career as a successful dance teacher and mentor. While we don’t get to see that triumph, we know it’s there, making the finale all the more heartwarming.
Take Two (ABC)
Take Two, from Andrew W. Marlowe and Terri Edda Miller, those behind the critically-acclaimed series Castle, was no match for the fandom yearning for more Nathan Fillion. That being said, it did a really good job at looping new viewers in thanks to its talented, lovable cast. Rachel Bilson and Eddie Cibrian starred in the dramedy that was equal parts funny, suspenseful, charming, and mysterious. While the perfect blend of crime cases and will-they-won’t-they wasn’t enough to keep the show going past one season, the final episode, where the leads finally push both their professional and personal relationships to the next level, was gratifying, to say the least.
My So-Called Life (ABC)
It was 25 years ago that the young, spy and talented Claire Danes and Jared Leto graced television screens for a singular season of this hit teen drama. The entire show was the pinnacle of youthful angst, the peak of young love, and the epitome of what being a teenager felt like. The finale of the show was no exception and actually featured one of the most poignant teenage messages in television history that many people find still resonates with them to this day. Jordan Catalano wrote a letter to Angela that, while meaningful from top to bottom, ended with this: “If you want to burn this letter go ahead, do it. You could burn the whole world down. You could tell me to go to hell. I’d go if you wanted me to. I’d send you a letter from there.” After those perfectly teenage words, what more could another season have done?
Conversation2 Comments
Please read the TV Insider Community Guidelines.
Register or sign in to join the conversation.
-
R
I would have 2 additions to this list: Limitless and Wonderfalls. Both could have continued, but their excellent first seasons would likely have been watered down quickly. But both shows ended their first seasons wrapping up all or most of the story lines successfully.
-
C
Jordan didn’t write the letter, Brian did. It was a reflection of Brian’s actual feelings for Angela. Angela figures out Brian wrote the letter in the last few minutes of the show. She only forgave Jordan because of Brian’s words. It’s the hugest cliffhanger and no fan of the show was happy with that ending.
Watchlist Easy access to only the shows you care about — all in one simple place
Alerts Only important notifications — when a show is returning, when it becomes available to stream, and more.
Special Offers Exclusive products we release related to your favorite shows and streaming services