With the variety of shows available on TV and streaming platforms, the best ones can slip under the radar. And while multiple seasons can often serve as an indicator of the show's popularity, sometimes it is the rare one-season wonders, which were canceled before their time, that deserve the viewers' attention the most.
The most important indicator that determines whether a show gets prolonged for another season is ratings, which are affected by various factors that often have nothing to do with the quality of the show — scheduling issues, more established competition, or even a disagreement on-set. However, like many movies that became classic after their initial disappointing critical and box office performance, some TV shows often gain popularity after they've been canceled, be it with their release on DVD or an impressive fan base formed online. And while it may seem risky to invest time and get attached to a show that has only one season, these now-cult series simply can't be missed.
Constantine (2014-2015)
The 2005 Keanu Reeves' depiction of this chain-smoking mystic detective became iconic among the fans, even though the movie was criticized for its deviation from the original Hellblazer comics. In 2014, NBC decided to launch a new, more authentic version of John Constantine — blond, English, snarky and dressed in the distinctive trench coat — and put him back on the supernatural crime-solving path.
Scheduled for Friday nights after immensely popular Grimm, Constantine couldn't match its ratings and was canceled before properly taking off. However, the show gained a loyal fan base. Matt Ryan's sarcastic, rude, but inevitably good-hearted Constantine quickly became a fan favorite — so much so that he continued in the role as part of the Arrowverse. HBO Max is reportedly working on a reboot of Constantine, and even though the cast won't include Matt Ryan, many fans are looking forward to seeing this horror-focused take on the story.
Dracula (2013-2014)
Daniel Knauff's 2013 adaptation of Bram Stokers' classics features Tudors' Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the Count and reimagines the story with a few significant twists. In the series, Dracula comes to London posing as Alexander Grayson, an American entrepreneur who intends to free the world from its addiction to gas and oil and, quite literally, bring light to the Victorian era. Instead of being sworn enemies, Dracula and Van Helsing (Thomas Kretschmann) join forces, united by a common agenda of dismantling the secret Order of the Dragon. However, their plans got interrupted by the appearance of Mina Murray (Jessica De Gouw), who bears a striking resemblance to Dracula's wife, killed by that very same order.
The show's emotional and very human take on the story, excellent cast, and added character depth quickly gained it a growing fan base. However, like Constantine after it, Dracula fell victim to the challenging Friday night slot. NBC canceled it after the show failed to compete with Grimm's ratings, but the 10 episodes that exist are well worth the viewers' time.
Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013)
Launched as a spin-off to ABC's popular Once Upon a Time, the show adds a new twist to Lewis Carroll's classic tale. Set in the same universe as its parent series, the show tells the story of Alice (Sophie Lowe), who finds herself locked in an asylum after returning from Wonderland and is devastated by the death of her genie fiance Cyrus (Peter Gadiot). However, once Knave of Hearts (Michael Socha), who became regular on the parent series, brings news of her true love being alive, Alice breaks out of the asylum and returns to Wonderland to face the Red Queen and her allies.
With a headstrong heroine, humorous side characters, humanized villains, and heartwarming themes of true love and sacrifice, the series became popular with many fans of the fantasy genre. However, the show became yet another victim of unfortunate scheduling that set it against CBS' top-rated The Big Bang Theory and was canceled after its first season, but the stories told in it are worth a watch.
Freaks and Geeks (1999 - 2000)
This now-iconic show has a similar premise to many high school dramedies that came after it — teenagers, in this case, divided into groups of 'cool' outcasts and nerds, are trying to navigate the challenging world of adolescence, young romance, and unforgiving peers. But unlike other shows, Freaks and Geeks wins over the audience with its sincerity, authenticity, and honesty. It shows the painful, awkward reality of being a teenager in the most heartfelt and endearing way possible. Add to it the show's quirky humor, fleshed-out characters, and an excellent cast that features young James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, and Linda Cardellini, and it's no surprise that the show became a modern classic.
Like many others, Freaks and Geeks got hit by the unfortunate combination of scheduling issues and poor ratings due to the strong competition. It was aired on Saturday evenings — when its core audience was unlikely to be home — followed an erratic schedule with weeks-long breaks, and ran against a popular game show, Who Wants To Be A Millionaire, as well as NBC's top-performingFrasier and Friends. The creators of the show, however, were aware of its potential cancellation and gave it a satisfying, even if a bit rushed, conclusion. Altogether, it's a show not to be missed.
Firefly (2002-2003)
Joss Whedon's sci-fi/western follows the misadventures of a raggedy group of smugglers under the command of captain Mel Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) aboard a firefly-type spaceship called Serenity. Firefly's unique setting, engaging stories and the most unlikely scenarios, quotable lines and distinct humor, diverse and fleshed-out characters, as well as an excellent cast, all make the show the iconic classic it is now.
Firefly was set up for failure by Fox from the start. The studio gave it an infamous Friday night 'death' slot, released the episodes in the wrong order, and ran advertising that didn't match the show's premise. So when the ratings inevitably didn't meet the studio's expectations, the show was hastily canceled. However, due to its massive popularity on DVD, Firefly was briefly resurrected with the 2005 movie Serenity, which neatly wrapped up the stories of most of the beloved characters and gave audiences closure. This show, with a fiercely loyal fan base (known as 'Browncoats' or 'Firebronies') that, even almost 20 years later, keeps getting new members and hoping for its return, is a must-watch for any sci-fi lover.