Tv Show Ends With a Cliffhanger to Be Discontinued

With shows like The Time Traveler's Wife unceremoniously canceled after one season, many have taken to critique the renewal process for television. People understand that television is a tough business driven by ratings, but they still get angry when networks stifle the creative vision of the people working on the multitude of programs which litter cable and streaming.

While some shows are able to wrap up a program in a nice bow despite a premature cancelation, others are not allowed such a luxury and end up leaving viewers wanting with unresolved cliffhangers. Not every one of these programs is worth remembering, but there are some which Redditors believe should have been given a proper conclusion.

The Last Man On Earth (2015-2018)

A post-apocalyptic comedy helmed by Will Forte, The Last Man On Earth saw the SNL alum play Phil Tandy Miller, the titular last man on Earth, as he bums around with fellow survivors of a virus that wiped out most human life. They eventually make their way to Mexico, where they discover even more survivors from the virus living underground in what RyFromTheChi called "a wild cliff hanger."

Though The Last Man On Earth wasn't an especially popular show during its run, the program had a dedicated fanbase, thanks to those who were invested in the wacky adventures of the main characters. Had the show gone on, they would have likely been treated to some awkward comedy involving integration between the two groups.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (2008-2009)

Taking place after the events of the highly-rated Terminator 2: Judgment Day, The Sarah Connor Chronicles finds the Connor family aided by a reprogrammed terminator named Cameron as they attempt to go on the offensive against Skynet in the year 2007. They eventually stumble upon the precursor to Skynet and learn that reshaping the future could cost their lives.

While The Sarah Connor Chronicles drew some criticism for its deviation from the Terminator source material and being restricted by a TV budget, Redditor Brite_4cats felt the show had the "perfect season two ending with a giant cliff hanger." If the show did have its untimely cancelation, the series might have told some truly daring stories involving John Connor's jump into the future.

Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993-1997)

One of several TV shows centered on Superman, Lois & Clark was unique in that it put much of its focus on the relationship between the titular characters over Superman's action heroics. It's because of this that the show is "rarely mentioned," according to Amadeus3000.

While the show's rom-com oriented stories meant that the stakes were lower on Lois & Clark than on a show such as The X-Files, the series boasted an intriguing cliffhanger that saw the couple given a baby by a mysterious figure who seems to know Clark's identity. As noted by writer and producer Brad Buckner (via Krypton Site), the child's origins would have been explored had the show been renewed for a fifth season.

FlashForward (2009-2010)

Created by Brannon Braga and David S. Goyer, FlashForward boasted an "excellent concept that got canned after season 1" via Deathdar1577. The show was centered around a team of FBI investigators as they attempted to determine what caused a 137-second worldwide blackout that left people with visions of their lives six months in the future.

What had people invested in FlashForward was the twists and turns that came from trying to shape the outcome of the future. It all culminated in another flash forward event that gave the protagonists a glimpse into the year 2030, followed by the explosion of the FBI headquarters.

My Name Is Earl (2005-2009)

Built around the premise of a small-time crook trying to make up for his past mistakes after winning the lottery, My Name Is Earl was the closest Jason Lee ever came to being a household name. He imbued the series with a dry wit that contrasted nicely with the comedic shenanigans of his brother and ex-wife.

Because of the show's popularity during its first three seasons, many have complained about My Name Is Earl's strange cancelation, especially because the show ended on a question of who Earl Jr.'s father was. Even after a decade off the air, Redditor Happilyplayingdirty was still left angrily wondering, "My name is Earl........whos baby is it?"

Awake (2012)

A heady police procedural littered with surrealist elements, Awake focused on detective Michael Britten as he recovers from a serious car accident and finds himself switching between two realities whenever he goes to sleep. In order to determine which is real, he starts going to therapy sessions in both worlds.

Despite the acclaim that Awake garnered, the complex storyline failed to grab audiences. This didn't stop the show from ending on what letphilsing called a jaw-dropping cliffhanger with "the main character in the midst of dream," suggesting that none of the show's events ever happened.

I Am Not Okay With This (2020)

I Am Not Okay With This was a Netflix show which explored the trials and tribulations of a high school girl named Sydney who discovers she has telekinetic powers. As the series progressed, she began to believe she was not the only person with powers, hence why curtis080609 "really enjoyed I Am Not Okay With This."

While much of the first season was a slow burn focusing on Sydney trying to hide her powers and maintain a normal relationship with her peers, the finale offered up an exciting status quo for the second season. After Sydney ended up murdering her best friend's boyfriend to hide her powers, she met a stranger who claimed the world should be afraid of them. Unfortunately, viewers may not know who the stranger was as the show never got the chance to explore it.

Terra Nova (2011)

Set on prehistoric Earth, Terra Nova focused on the conflict between a human colony attempting to rebuild civilization and a group of insurgents working for corporate tycoons who looked to exploit the resources of the past. "Twas an over-the-top show," as ShakataGaNai put it, but one that offered excitement considering the rich possibilities the premise held.

While the show largely wrapped the main conflict in a nifty bow by destroying the gateway between the future and past, the final episode teased a mystery involving the remains of an 18th century ship. The show was unfortunately canceled before it could play around with any more time travel plots.

Angel (1999-2004)

The spinoff to the popular Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel was a groundbreaking vampire TV show that saw its titular protagonist start up a detective agency in LA to help the helpless. Eventually, he becomes CEO of Wolfram & Hart, a law firm that has constantly been at odds with Angel, with the show ending on a cliffhanger with Angel and his friends ready to fight the forces of the senior parts.

While fans of Angel were disheartened at the time of its cancelation and how anti-climactic its ending was, retrospective reviews have been kind to the finale, with many noting its thematic significance to Angel's mission. MuNansen writes, "as far as cliffhangers go, it was a pretty satisfying one to end on," though that hasn't stopped fans from wondering how the show would have continued.

Hannibal (2013-2015)

A show dedicated to the relationship between serial killer Hannibal Lecter and FBI special investigator Will Graham, Hannibal was a gruesome critical darling during its three-season run on NBC. It gave viewers a new insight into Hannibal Lecter's motivations as a killer and saw the cannibalistic doctor attempt to turn his reluctant friend into a monster.

With the show's third season, viewers were finally treated to Graham becoming like Lecter, resulting in the character throwing himself and Lecter off a cliff. The end set up a mystery of whether the two survived, with Loverlove19 claiming, "Hannibal. I'll never get over it," seven years after the show's demise.

Next: 10 Short-Lived Comedy Series Of The 2010s That Deserved Longer Runs, According To IMDb

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Source: https://screenrant.com/tv-shows-ended-cliffhanger-deserved-wrap-up-reddit/

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