Seven TV Shows That Deserved Better

Hundreds of new shows have been premiering every single year since the creation of the television. Shows that push the boundaries, change the game, and cause people to question what TV is and what it can be. With the emergence of streaming services, the limit of television has only retreated further into the horizon. Yet, with more stories to be told, there’s a greater chance for more gems to go undiscovered. Or worse, never get the chance to grow into their full potential.

TV shows get cancelled for a large number of reasons: low ratings, poor marketing, budget cuts, etc. While most premature endings are warranted (not every tv show is going to be amazing), there are some shows that were simply gone too soon. These are shows with unbelievable potential, amazing characters, mind-blowing concepts, and dedicated fanbases. While there are so many more than what’s listed below (yes, I’m aware that Firefly isn’t on this list), these are seven shows that I believe deserved better:

Crashing (2016) 

This off-beat, ensemble-led comedy centered around an amalgamation of 20-somethings who’d set up residence in an unused hospital. Written by and starring Phoebe Waller-Bridge (Fleabag), the show ran for one season on the UK’s Channel 4 in 2016 and was later bought by Netflix. Crashing is a bundle of fun that I find myself returning to time and time again. Each character has a unique and insanely human story that makes the series timeless, even after all these years. 

American Vand

al (2017-2018)

In a satirical twist to the monumentally popular true-crime genre, American Vandal follows two high schoolers as they investigate the crime that holds their small town at a stand still. The mockumentary genre has never been as funny and gripping as it is in American Vandal. Though short lived, this series remains a true diamond in the rough with its unexpected twists and turns.  

The Society (2019)

Since its cancellation in mid-2020, Netflix’s The Society has been a key player in the talks of undeservedly cancelled shows. The show begins when the teen residents of a small town return from a camping trip only to find all the town’s adults have disappeared. This modern day Lord of the Flies retelling explored power, greed, adulthood, and humanity. Cancelled due to Covid-19 restrictions, The Society leaves audiences on a number of unfulfilled cliffhangers.

Selfie (2014)

Self-obsessed social media influencer Eliza Dooley, played by Karen Gillan, enlists the help of an introverted coworker in order to learn how to live offline, in this modern take on My Fair Lady. This wholesome and heartwarming series was unfortunately cancelled by ABC mid-season due to low viewership caused partly by poor marketing. To this day, Selfie remains one of the greats and was truly ahead of its time.

Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency (2016-2017)

Everything is connected in Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency. Based on the novel of the same name by English writer Douglas Adams, the series follows an eccentric detective who solves crimes using interconnectedness. Yes, it’s just as weird as it sounds, and ten times more entertaining. Cancelled after 2 seasons by BBC America, Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency was a trip that ended far too soon.

Sense8 (2015-2018)

Eight strangers with the uncanny ability to see into each other’s lives and communicate telepathically, suddenly find themselves at the center of a war. Created by The Wachowskis (The Matrix), this awe-inspiring series broke numerous barriers on what television could do. Cancelled after 2 seasons — then brought back for a rushed finale after fan uproar — Sense8 will forever be a paramount of television. 

Still Star-Crossed (2017)

Picking up where Shakespeare’s iconic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet, left off, Still Star-Crossed continues to follow the scandals and schemes of the feuding Montagues and Capulets. From the mind of Shonda Rhimes (Grey’s Anatomy), Still Star-Crossed served, in part, as a precursor to the unbelievably popular Bridgerton. This diverse and sexy period drama was just a few years too early.