5 shows canceled in 2025 Netflix should have saved

Queen Latifah and Stephen Bishop in The Equalizer season 5
Queen Latifah and Stephen Bishop in The Equalizer season 5 | CBS

Besides a show coming to an end, the other worst thing fans hate to see happen is their favorite show getting cut short before it can truly finish its story, especially when it still has so much potential left. This year, we've seen a good number of broadcast shows meet an untimely end. Some were due to low viewership, while others were caught in the crossfire of shifting strategies. But a few cancellations hit harder than others.

While we know cancellations are part of the business, some of these shows deserved better, and more importantly, they deserve a second life. That’s where Netflix comes in. The streamer has a history of rescuing beloved series and giving them new seasons, or at the very least, a proper ending. Here are five canceled broadcast shows from 2025 that Netflix should have considered saving.

The Equalizer season 5
The Equalizer season 5 Production Still | CBS

The Equalizer (2021-2025)

Look, I know The Equalizer ended on a satisfying note, but this show could've easily gone on for several more seasons. It's a crime drama, and those have the flexibility to keep delivering gripping new cases and evolving character stories that maintain audience interest over time. Unfortunately, CBS made the decision to drop the series after five seasons in May 2025. However, Netflix could be the perfect home to continue The Equalizer’s legacy. I know this is wishful thinking, but it's not impossible.

Queen Latifah takes on the role of Robyn McCall, a former CIA operative who applies her specialized skills and sharp intellect to defend the vulnerable and combat crime in New York City.

Poppa's House
Damon Wayans Sr. as Poppa and Damon Wayans Jr. as Junior in Poppa's House | CBS

Poppa's House (2024-2025)

Far too often, comedy sitcoms get paid dust. Joining the list is Poppa's House, which CBS canceled after only one season back in April 2025. Damon Wayans Sr. stars as Poppa, a well-known talk radio host navigating the challenges of a new co-host at work while still parenting his adult son. His son, played by Wayans’s real-life son Damon Wayans Jr., is chasing his dream of becoming a filmmaker while trying his best to balance his duties as a husband and father.

In the past, Netflix picked up the comedy sitcom Arrested Development, giving it new life and a wider audience. So, it wouldn't have been surprising if Netflix had decided to give Poppa’s House a second chance to thrive and reach more viewers.

Lopez vs. Lopez season 1
LOPEZ VS. LOPEZ -- "Pilot" Episode 101 -- Pictured: (l-r) Mayan Lopez as Mayan, George Lopez as George -- | Casey Durkin/NBC

Lopez vs. Lopez (2022-2025)

Another sitcom that Netflix should've saved is Lopez vs. Lopez. NBC announced its cancellation in early May, and fans were left disappointed as the show still had plenty to offer. Unlike Poppa's House, Lopez vs. Lopez actually made it past the one-season mark, ultimately getting a series total of three seasons. Still, the show had plenty of potential to carry on for many more seasons, and Netflix could’ve been the ideal platform to give it new life, reaching a broader audience and allowing the storylines and characters to grow even deeper.

George Lopez plays a fictionalized version of himself. After his moving company goes bankrupt, George finds himself having to move in with his estranged daughter and her family, where he must navigate the ups and downs of rebuilding their relationship while adjusting to life under the same roof.

FBI: Most Wanted season 6
Pictured (L-R): Edwin Hodge as Special Agent Ray Cannon, Roxy Sternberg as Special Agent Sheryll Barnes, Dylan McDermott as Supervisory Special Agent Remy Scott, and Donna Glaesener as Officer Turner in FBI: Most Wanted season 6 | CBS

FBI: Most Wanted (2020-2025)

Out of the two FBI spinoffs that were canceled in March 2025, the cancellation of FBI: Most Wanted hurt the most. It was about to reach its seventh season and had built a dedicated fanbase invested in the team’s relentless pursuit of high-profile criminals and the complex dynamics within the unit. How could such a well-loved show be cut short when there was still so much story left to tell?

Sadly, the decision came down to financial considerations and network priorities. Despite its strong following and exciting storylines, FBI: Most Wanted wasn’t meeting the economic benchmarks CBS needed. In other words, the network decided to cancel the show because it wasn’t financially worth continuing from their point of view.

FBI: Most Wanted revolves around a specialized FBI team responsible for locating and taking down the agency’s most wanted criminals.

Found season 2
FOUND -- "Missing While a Family" Episode 221 -- Pictured: (l-r) Shanola Hampton as Gabi Mosely, Brett Dalton as Detective Mark Trent -- | Matt Miller/NBC

Found (2023-2025)

Not all hope is lost for Found. NBC might've dropped the procedural drama after two seasons back in May, but it's reportedly being shopped around by Warner Bros. Television to other platforms and networks. There's a chance streaming services like Netflix could be interested in picking it up, giving the show a chance to continue its story. However, it's worth noting that nothing has been confirmed yet. Even if Netflix doesn't end up acquiring the series, we're keeping our fingers crossed that another platform will step in to give Found the opportunity it deserves to grow and reach new audiences.

Once a kidnapping victim herself, Gabi Mosely now runs a crisis management firm dedicated to finding missing persons whose cases have been overlooked by law enforcement and the media.