21 Beloved Series That Were Canceled for a Good Reason

It’s hard to say goodbye to loved ones. We’re talking, of course, about our favorite TV shows that were canceled before their time. We want to blame greedy advertisers and short-sighted networks and fickle viewers because we don’t want to admit that all the generosity, commitment and patience in the world couldn’t have saved them. Often, what makes TV great — top-quality talent, jaw-dropping settings, a story that seems to speak solely to you — also makes it hilariously unprofitable in the long term.

For example, “Let’s be honest here: Firefly was too expensive for network television,” Redditor Animeking1108 recently pointed out to r/Television. “At the time, streaming didn’t exist, and Fox didn’t have an HBO-level cable network. So, the only way they could bring it back was in movie form with Serenity.”

They then asked, “What show cancellation actually has a reasonable explanation that fans aren’t willing to admit?” and Reddit grappled with the ironic limitations of prestige television.