Some shows deserve better than what they get, deserving more seasons and more time to wrap their storylines. A number of NBC shows have been canceled way too early, and we’re looking at the five that deserved better.
NBC is one of those networks that either gives full support for a series and sees shows reach record-breaking moments, or it cancels shows way too soon. During recent years, we’ve seen more of the latter than the former, and it’s led to some disappointing decisions for fans of the shows.
This year alone saw a number of shock cancellations, with Grosse Pointe Garden Society being the most recent as it failed to score the support of Peacock after NBC decided it wasn’t going ahead with more seasons. It joins the ranks of these five NBC shows canceled too soon.
Timeless
Whenever I think of NBC shows canceled too soon, my first thought is always Timeless. This time travel drama from Eric Kripke had everything, from excellent storytelling to historical facts that you may never have known.
Over the course of two seasons, we watched an unlikely team join together to protect history from the butterfly effect. They went after one man who was trying to stop Rittenhouse out of revenge, only to realize that maybe he wasn’t the bad guy all along.
At least, Timeless got a wrap-up movie, but it wasn’t enough. The problem with the series was the cost of it. Maybe if it was on a streaming network, it could have done better.
Freaks and Geeks
Next up is a show from 1999, and it’s one that fans would still love to return to our screens today. There are a lot of shows that focus on the lives of teenagers, but you just know that they’re 20-somethings who have forgotten what it was like to be a high schooler. Freaks and Geeks broke the mold, offering one of the most realistic portrayals of high school ever.
The characters were also relatable at the same time. And let’s not forget that it housed some of the now biggest stars in the world of comedy, such as Seth Rogen and Jason Segel. This series did not have the time to grow and expand in the way it deserved.
To make matters worse for this series, it ended up failing to find its audience because of its erratic scheduling. NBC did it no favors, and now that the episodes are available to stream and watch as a binge, it’s clear that NBC did the wrong thing by canceling it.
Hannibal
When it comes to horror on broadcast, there are usually visual elements that need to be skipped over. Bryan Fuller decided not to follow some of those rules with Hannibal, making it the most visually daring show of its time, and that’s why it quickly drew in a cult audience.
On top of that, the acting was superb, drawing you into the storylines. You were forced to watch for any sign of deceit, as there was always a tell that you knew meant the story was going to go in a particular way, but you really needed to watch closely. It was intellectually stimulating at the same time, which is what we need more of on TV.
Sadly, NBC didn’t agree, as the series was canceled after three seasons. There are always calls to bring it back, and there have been attempts at other Silence of the Lambs show connections, but nothing has been as good as Hannibal. It’s possible that streaming would have been a better home for it, but that wasn’t so big at the time it was released.
Found
One of the most recent shows that deserved longer was Found, and we have to add this to our list now that the series has failed to find a new home and is no longer being shopped around. The series brought some twisty storytelling, but while being entertaining, it was also realistic and meaningful.
The series focused on a woman who had made the most of her trauma, bringing together a team of people who could help find missing people who are otherwise forgotten about by the authorities. However, she has a secret. She’s locked her kidnapper in her basement.
Over the course of two seasons, we got to see how trauma can shape people, but how it’s possible to move past that trauma. There was a look at a real problem in the world when it comes to missing people, and how it can take private firms to do the dirty work and figure out the clues to get the kidnapper and victim. Sadly, the viewership wasn’t enough for NBC to give the show a much-needed third season.
Awake
Sometimes, you just need a series that is completely wild and leaves you thinking to figure things out. Awake starring Jason Isaacs did that, and it’s one of those NBC shows that is often forgotten about. And yet, it’s a show that deserved longer to help us really understand what was going on.
Isaacs played a detective who started living in two different realities after a car accident that also involved his wife and son. In one world, his son survived, and in the other, his wife did. Should he figure out which world is the right one? Well, he doesn’t want to do that, as that means losing one of his loved ones, so he chooses both.
Of course, as a crime drama, it had the detective element in both of these universes, which often created crossover and mind-bending moments. One thing I will say is that the confusing finale suited the rest of the series, but I would like some answers!
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