Not Only 'Firefly': 8 High-Quality TV Series That Were Killed off Way Too Soon

One of the most famous and painful examples of a show being canceled too early is Firefly, a sci-fi western and cult classic that was canceled after just one season.

However, this is far from the only tragedy in television history.

1. '1899', 2022

IMDb Score: 7.3/10

In the late 19th century, the Kerberos steamship departs London for New York with two thousand passengers on board. Among them is Dr. Maura, searching for her brother who had sailed to America some time ago.

Midway through the voyage, the Kerberos encounters the ghost ship Prometheus, which had disappeared four months earlier. The crew finds only a silent boy holding a black pyramid on board.

1899 is a mystery series created by Baran bo Odar and Jantje Friese, who became famous for the German series Dark. Despite its popularity, Netflix decided not to renew the mystery thriller.

2. 'Tokyo Vice', 2022-2024

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Japan, 1990s. Jake Adelstein, a young American journalist, moves to Tokyo and becomes the first foreigner to work for a local newspaper. He quickly finds himself at the epicenter of the Japanese capital's criminal underworld.

Tokyo Vice has everything viewers love about HBO projects: a solid crime plot, a gripping atmosphere, and a measured pace.

Fans of Tokyo Vice believe the series was canceled prematurely, but the creators say they covered everything they planned in two seasons.

3. 'Mindhunter', 2017-2019

IMDb Score: 8.6/10

This Netflix series was created by the legendary director David Fincher, whose movies include Seven, Zodiac, and Gone Girl, and who is widely regarded as one of the greatest thriller directors of our time.

In 2017, Fincher reinvented the genre once again with a maniac thriller driven by dialogue. Despite its minimal action, the original series captivated viewers.

Unfortunately, this wasn't enough to convince the streaming service to greenlight a third season. However, Fincher seems to be holding out hope for another season.

4. 'Vinyl', 2016

IMDb Score: 7.7/10

It's the 1970s. Talented record label executive Richie Finestra is trying to save his company from collapse amid changing music trends.

Besides the pressure from investors and the search for breakthrough hits, Richie is struggling with various addictions, and staying afloat is becoming increasingly difficult.

Vinyl was a hit among music lovers nostalgic for music from half a century ago. However, to everyone's surprise, HBO executives decided not to renew the show.

5. 'Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency', 2016-2017

IMDb Score: 8.1/10

Todd is a naive young man who struggles to make ends meet – he spends all his earnings on his sister's medical treatment. Todd's life changes dramatically when the eccentric detective Dirk Gently crosses his path.

The detective takes on the most complex cases and solves them with his own unrivaled style and Todd reluctantly becomes his partner.

The result is a strange and captivating series that can surprise even the most discerning viewer. The first season received good ratings, but unfortunately, the second season was less successful, and the show was axed.

6. 'Hannibal', 2013-2015

IMDb Score: 8.5/10

This is an adaptation of Thomas Harris' famous book series, created by showrunner Bryan Fuller. The thriller was notable for its time because of its brutality, offering a gallery of sophisticated murders.

However, the series' main draw was the psychological duel between Hugh Dancy's and Mads Mikkelsen's characters, who became one of the most memorable duos of the 2010s.

Despite its popularity, Hannibal was canceled after its third season. However, fans still hope that Fuller will direct another season one day.

7. 'GLOW', 2017-2019

IMDb Score: 8.0/10

GLOW is one of many nostalgic series that Netflix has released, but it's interesting due to its unique premise. Unlike similar retro-style adaptations, the plot of GLOW is built entirely around women's wrestling.

GLOW was the first show on this topic, and the creators managed to strike a delicate balance between drama and comedy. The matches themselves were even more engaging than those in the last ten years of WWE.

GLOW turned out to be one of Netflix's best projects, but it only lasted three seasons.

8. 'I Am Not Okay with This', 2020

IMDb Score: 7.5/10

Sydney is a high school student who feels like an outsider. The situation worsens when she develops romantic feelings for her best friend, Dina.

Dina, in turn, begins dating a popular football player, leaving Sydney alone. Feeling betrayed by everyone, Sydney discovers that adolescence has brought her not only physical changes, but also mysterious superpowers.

Although the series was well-received by viewers, it was canceled after the first season, which ended on a cliffhanger.