Sometimes a great show doesn’t get the full run it deserves. Check out these 8 shows that only got one season but are definitely worth your time!
Ever wonder what happened to your favorite show after it went off the air far before its time? These are some “1-season wonders,” that were canceled too soon, but their legacy almost precedes the original series themselves. Tune in to some cult classics and legendary shows that fans begged to have returned to the screen, only for us to stream their singular seasons years later and wonder what might have been.
Freaks and Geeks (1999)
Because what kind of list of shows that were canceled well before their time would this be if we didn’t include this cult classic? The show launched the careers of Judd Apatow regulars like Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogan, and James Franco. It highlights the all-too-real irony and misery of adolescence. Set in 1980, students at McKinley High are divided by subculture. Lindsay and her squad are the “freaks” and Sam and his band of nerds are the “geeks.”
While the story itself is timeless, fans flock to this show for its aesthetic appeal as the 80s/90s throwback and the chance to see the early work of actors who went on to have numerous high-profile credits to their names. Freaks and Geeks remains a beloved name in the industry and its cancellation only speaks to it having been ahead of its time.
Where to watch: Hulu & Prime Video
Everything Sucks (2018)
This story is incredibly relatable for anyone who has gone through or is going through what can be an extremely awkward and painful time in a young person’s life. Through its biting taste of reality through its subject matter, it is truly a breakthrough show in the teen drama category. Everything Sucks tells it like it is in a way that has rarely been done before. Especially with younger actors, it is common for a show to hint at inappropriate subject matter and shy away from touchy subjects such as sexuality and relationships. But what Everything Sucks really got right was the way it uncovers the shame and discomfort that comes with growing up. The writing is every bit as funny as the beats are hard-hitting.
Where to watch: Netflix
Lunatics (2019)
If you don’t yet know Chris Lilley, consider this an introduction to a top-notch comedian from Australian television. In this Netflix series, Chris Lilley portrays six distinct characters ranging in age, gender, and occupation. In a mockumentary style, Lilley captures carefully interwoven vignettes into the lives of characters who share nothing in common but the fact that they are, well, lunatics. This hilarious and cunning television demands more time than it was granted, but Chris Lilley’s work continues to delight and entertain audiences worldwide…just not on Netflix.
Where to watch: Netflix
Firefly (2002)
Introducing the space western, Firefly, like a typical western but with the trappings of a distant and advanced future. Following the spacecraft, Serenity, Firefly describes the predicament of nine different people looking into a future of darkness, and seeing completely different things from vastly divergent perspectives. Firefly includes a strong backbone that has led to an entire world in its cult fanbase, inspiring webcomics, podcasts, and cameo homages in other series.
Where to watch: Hulu
The Red Band Society (2014)
This heart-wrenching teen drama surrounds the lives of children and teenagers in the pediatric ward of a hospital, as they deal with the everyday trials of youth while coping with illness and injury. While not straying too far from the tropes of the teen drama genre the Red Band Society explores a darker take on adolescence by posing the constant threat of life cut short as an engine.
Where to watch: You can rent on Prime Video.
My So-Called Life (1994)
Another cult classic, the performance by Clare Danes as Angela and the commentary she offers as the narrator provides an introspective and often cynical outlook that offered viewers a refreshingly honest teenage perspective. With Jared Leto as her mostly silent but smoldering love interest and Wilson Cruz portraying her best bud and one of the first openly gay teens on TV, Angela navigates the tumultuous roller coaster of adolescent life.
Where to watch: Hulu
The Society (2019)
The Society features a group of teenagers in a Lord of the Flies scenario in which they are left to their own devices after the disappearance of all of the adults in their town. They must fend for themselves and learn how to operate as a unit, but in practice the turbulent social dynamics put the teenagers constantly at odds, leading to violent and tragic endings. Though the true ending is debated amongst fans who desperately wanted a second season, The Society got a lot right in its revamping of the teen drama years after they were most popular.
Where to watch: Netflix
Zach Stone is Gonna Be Famous (2013)
Bo Burham’s stellar interpretation of the mockumentary sitcom features cocky and unremarkable teen, Zach Stone, who is determined to make his mark on the world, and that starts on television. Zach is completely clueless as to how the world actually works, but his charm and determination seem to make him a good candidate for some kind of fame, even if comes with a good deal of mockery. Burnham’s clever satire makes the audience root for Zach, despite our knowledge that he is scheming and disaster is near.
Where to watch: Netflix
