What's worse, a show that runs for far too long and loses sight of its spirit and purpose? Or an incredible show that never even got the chance to flourish?
We at The Portalist have gotten our hearts broken time and time again by the cancelation of our favorite sci-fi and fantasy shows, so we may be biased.
However, just because a show didn't get the time it deserved doesn't mean we can't celebrate the short time it got. From space westerns to wizard detectives, here are nine promising SFF shows that were canceled too soon.
Firefly
This 2002 sci-fi western is set in the year 2517 after a divisive civil war. The renegade crew of the spaceship Serenity navigates the galaxy, fighting to survive warring factions and the authorities hunting them down.
This beloved show—now a cult classic—only ran for one 14-episode season. However, it did later get brought back with a movie, Serenity.
Warrior Nun
Orphaned 19-year-old Ava (Alba Baptista) wakes up in the morgue to find that she now has special powers. She has been chosen as the Halo Bearer for a secret set of nun thats dedicate themselves to hunting demons.
Premiering on Netflix in 2020, this show only ran for 18 episodes across two seasons, despite desperate attempts from its audience to get it renewed.
Paper Girls
In 1988, four young teen girls are out on their paper route when they get tangled up in a conflict between time travelers. Accidentally traveling to 2019, they encounter their adult selves, who must work with them in order to save the world.
Based on the comic book series of the same name, this sci-fi show unfortunately only ran for one season of eight episodes.
The Dresden Files
Based on the book series of the same name by Jim Butcher, this urban fantasy show follows Chicago wizard Harry Dresden (Paul Blackthorne). A paranormal private investigator, he cracks the bizarre cases the regular authorities can't handle.
Sadly, this Syfy series only ran for one 12-episode season.
I Am Not Okay With This
Life as a teenager is hard enough, but it's even harder for Sydney Novak (Sophia Lillis), who must also navigate a difficult family life and her burgeoning sexuality. On top of that, she's also discovered new psychokinetic powers that flare up in moments of intense emotion…
Perhaps the show I mourn the most on this list, I Am Not Okay With This only aired a single season of seven episodes, canceled due to the pandemic.
Lovecraft Country
Serving as a continuation of Matt Ruff's novel of the same name, a young Black man journeys across segregated America in the 1950s, looking for his father. Along the way, he discovers the dark secrets lurking within the town H.P. Lovecraft allegedly based his tales upon.
After one 10-episode season, the show was canceled despite being a critical success.
Kaos
On Mount Olympus, Zeus (Jeff Goldblum) spirals into a destructive paranoia. Meanwhile, three mortals connected through propechy are fated to reshape humankind.
This promising series was canceled after one season of eight episodes due to high production costs.
Shadow and Bone
Despite being based on two wildly popular book series (one sharing the same name), this series was canceled after two seasons for high production costs.
Orphan Alina Starkov (Jessie Mei Li) finds herself at the center of dark forces when she unexpectedly unleashes an incredible power. The fate of her war-torn world may rely entirely upon her.
Pushing Daisies
Pastry chef Ned (Lee Pace) has the extraordinary ability to bring people back to life with one touch. However, a second touch sends them back to death forever.
He uses this remarkable ability to solve murder mysteries with his revived first love, a grumpy PI, and a lovelorn waitress.
This incredibly popular series only had 22 episodes across two seasons. However, the passion for this series has led to a revival, which is set to premiere in 2027!
