Life is not fair. When it comes to TV shows that is. Some mediocre ones get to carry on for years on end, while some true gems get cancelled way before their time. I’d love to say that it’s a mystery why, but the truth is painfully simple. Ratings. Be it doomed-to-fail time slots, well-performing competition or “creative differences” (whatever that means), but for one reason or another these shows are not worth the investment. So they get taken off the air.
Only to come back with a bang on DVDs or, as a modern equivalent, gain a fierce fan base online. So these one-season wonders get a second chance to shine and win our hearts.
But then we have another serious issue to consider—emotional attachment. I mean, if the show is really that good, wouldn’t I be devastated when it’s over just after one season? Way before I get to savour the story, get to know its promising characters, and explore all the twists.
With that logic, however, I’d miss out on some amazing shows, would never discover their worlds, never get to meet their heroes and villains, never get to share those emotional or hilarious moments… So I prefer to think about those as investments in my experiences and memories. Not to go too cliche with the whole “Don’t be sad that it’s over, be happy that it happened” philosophy, but yeah, that.
So here’s my list of top five TV shows that lasted only one season but most certainly deserve your time and are worth the heartbreak after.
5. Dracula (2013-2014)
IMDB: 7.3, Rotten Tomatoes: 53%
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned in all of my years, miss Murray, is that when it comes to dreams, one may falter, but the only way to fail is to abandon them.”
There’ve been so many takes on Bram Stoker’s immortal (ha, you see what I did there?) character. From iconic Bela Lugosi’s portrayal to Francis Ford Coppola’s modern classic to some pretty bloody and dark-humoured animated versions of Castelvania.
In 2013, Daniel Knauff decided to bring out the sensual side of the oldest vampire. And what better way to do this than to ensure he’s played by no other than Tudors’ Jonathan Rhys Meyers. I mean, common. In the series, Dracula comes to London posing as Alexander Grayson, an American entrepreneur/inventor who intends to, quite literally, bring light to the Victorian era. His real agenda, however, is to dismantle the Order of the Dragon. There’s, of course, a complication in the form of charming Mina, who seems to be a reincarnation of his dead wife, who was killed by that very same order. There’s revenge, unlikely alliances, passion, betrayal, and even a fresh LGBTQ angle. Oh, and did I mention that Jonathan Rhys Meyers is running around half-naked for half of the episodes? Yeah.
Why it deserves your time:
The cast. Meyers aside, the show boasts an array of brilliant actors. From Haunting of Bly Manor’s Oliver Jackson-Cohen as Harker to Arrow’s Jessica De Gouw as Mina to Merlin’s Katie McGrath as Lucy.
A fresh take on the old tale. While the characters might seem familiar, this Dracula series brings in several new twists (like the changed relationship with Van Helsing), new enemies, Dracula’s added motives (desire to free the world from its addiction to gas and oil), a touching backstory, and, of course, his lost and found love.
What to watch if you loved it:
Castelvania (there’s a very similar theme of lost love and revenge there), Dracula (a brilliant 2020 BBC mini-series from Mark Gatiss and Steven Moffat), Sleepy Hollow, Emerald City (another one-season wonder with a fresh take on the classic tale and Oliver Jackson-Cohen on the cast to boot).
4. Constantine (2014-2015)
IMDB: 7.5, Rotten Tomatoes: 72%
“My name is John Constantine. I am the one who steps on the shadows, all trench coat and arrogance. I'll drive your demons away, kick 'em in the bullocks, and spit on them when they're down, leaving only a nod and a wink, and a wisecrack. I walk my path alone because let's be honest, who would be crazy enough to walk it with me?”
I’ve always considered myself more of a Marvel buff. But DC universe most certainly has some characters that are so unique and colourful that they stay with you long after you enjoyed their stories. Joker is one of them. And, for me, Constantine is another. The 2005 Keanu Reeves’ depiction of the character became iconic among the fans...even though the movie itself didn’t perform so well. In 2014, NBC decided to drag the character out of his permanent existential crisis and onto the small screen.
Their raggedy, trench coat-y Constantine is still a wise-ass, still a chain smoker (even if without strong lung cancer references), and is still trying to avert the impending doom while atoning for his past sins. On top of that, he throws in some impressive dark magic in the mix. All in all, what’s not to love.
Why it deserves your time:
The ‘Monster of the Week’ structure. Even though the bigger evil looms in the background, there’s a new baddie every episode, which keeps things exciting. After all, that was a success recipe for many shows (Buffy and Supernatural included), until they strayed from their ways.
The main character. Underneath his sarcastic tone and rude attitude, there’s a broken man, trying his best to do good. John Constantine grows on you. And that’s not to mention his snarky remarks that you can straight off print out and put on your wall.
The character carries on after the show is cancelled. Which somewhat softens the blow. Constantine returns in the City of Demons, as well as makes an appearance in Arrow and Legends of Tomorrow. On top of that, Constantine’s showrunner Daniel Cerone was kind enough to release a script of the unaired 14th episode via Twitter, so the fans can savour the story for just a bit longer.
What to watch if you loved it:
Constantine: City of Demons (both the movie and the animated series), Constantine (the movie, 2005), Evil (2019, a good deal of exorcism and the same ‘Monster of the Week’ structure).
3. Once Upon a Time in Wonderland (2013)
IMDB: 7.0, Rotten Tomatoes: 63%
“I'd prefer to take my chances with the homicidal maniac with the snake stick. Thank you though.”
Just like with Dracula, there have been many re-tales of this Lewis Carroll’s masterpiece. From now-classic Disney one to an imaginative Tim Burton’s take to one of my personal favourites—a whirlwind of a mini-series from 2009, Alice, with Kathy Bates, Tim Curry, and Andrew Lee Potts. If you haven’t already, I really recommend you give it a watch.
And then, in 2013, ABC decided to launch a spin-off of the popular Once Upon a Time series to bridge the gap between the seasons and, in general, tell a favourite story with a new twist. The action takes place in the same universe (all but in Victorian England/Wonderland) and uses the same Disney references as the parent series. It tells the story of Alice, who was placed in an asylum after her return from Wonderland and the apparent death of her love and fiance Cyrus, a genie, with whom she travelled the worlds (yes, plural). You can see how that story didn’t really fly with the doctors. She’s then rescued by the Knave of Hearts and goes back to Wonderland to look for not surprisingly alive Cyrus and battle the Queen of Hearts who allied with Jafar. Because why not.
Why it deserves your time:
The Knave of Hearts (a.k.a. Will). He’s funny, charming, undoubtedly flawed but with a good heart, and is doing the best he can. The character then becomes a regular in the parent series, so you don’t have to say goodbye.
It has a smart ‘flashback’ structure. Instead of following a linear story, the show keeps throwing you back, telling the story of Alice meeting Cyrus and the unexpected backstories of other characters. The showrunners could have made a whole separate show out of those flashbacks, but they decided to use it as a plot device instead, adding depth to the series.
It’s good for your soul. Yes, it’s cheesy. I mean, your teeth might hurt from all the sweetness. But you know what? Sometimes you need that in your life (I know I do). A sweet fairy tale about true love, with some chases, sword fighting, snarky characters, villains with touching backstories, and unexpected twists.
What to watch if you loved it:
Once Upon a Time (Knave and some other characters make an appearance there), Alice (mini-series, 2009), Tin Man (a different take on the Wizard of Oz, with Zooey Deschanel in the mix).
2. Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)
IMDB: 8.7, Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
“I had a friend who used to smoke. Know what he's doing now? He's dead. You think smoking looks cool, let's go dig him up and see how cool he looks now.”
There’s plenty of teen dramedies out there. We get it, American high school is hard. The problem is most of them bring in drama, over-the-top emotions or queued jokes. Freaks and Geeks doesn’t have any of those. It doesn’t try to convince you it’s funny with pre-recorded laughter. It just is. Quietly and authentically.
I guess that’s the best word to describe this show. Authentic. It’s funny, heartfelt, honest. It portrays situations as they may actually happen, with no filter. Yes, bullies really might pick on a kid with a mental disability. And yes, a girl trying to stand up to them just might accidentally use the ‘R’ word and end up doing more harm than good. The show touches on some tough topics like sexuality, disability, bullying, the sense of belonging, but manages to do so organically, without fuss or cringey moments. It shows the painful, awkward reality of being a teenager in the most heartfelt and endearing way possible. And also, it’s plain hilarious. The characters are vivid and flashed-out. And the actors playing them are doing a spectacular job.
Why it deserves your time:
The cast. The show boasts a fantastic cast of soon-to-be stars like James Franco, Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, and others. It’s precious to see them all in one frame, so young and way before anybody even knew their names.
The humour. From Ken’s butt jokes to Harold’s “they died” consequences of any undesirable behaviour to geek wisdom, this show is a strong contender for ‘The Most Quotable Show Ever’ prize.
The sincerity. This show doesn’t play pretend. It’s funny, yes, but it’s also honest. The problems can be portrayed in a whimsical light, but that doesn’t make them any less true. It will make you laugh, it will make you tear up. And it will most certainly make you wonder why the heck they didn’t launch a second season.
What to watch if you loved it:
The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stranger Things (take the homicidal monsters from parallel universe and superpowers out of the equation and you get yourself some very similar teen-trouble vibes), Daria (it’s more sarcastic than sweet, but definitely deserves a watch).
1. Firefly (2002-2003)
IMDB: 9/10, Rotten Tomatoes: 77%
Wash: Psychic, though? That sounds like something out of science fiction.
Zoë: We live in a spaceship, dear.
You know that you’ve got yourself an amazing show when you go on a hunt for a quote and “accidentally” end up re-watching the whole thing. Because Firefly is that good. Starting from a brilliant cast to print-out-and-hang-on-the-wall quotes (definitely hasn’t happened to me, no, sir) to hilarious one-of-a-kind stories to very diverse and so-real characters. I can go on. Seriously, I will go on, if not stopped.
When I’m trying to tell people about this show, I usually end up with something like, “They are smugglers… in space… and it’s also like a western… and there’s captain Mal, he’s brilliant… and this gun-obsessed guy with “Vera”... and a kind of a space escort, but classy… and a kick-ass pilot, who’s married to Mal’s second-in-command, she’s badass... and the most adorable mechanic… and then there’s that girl with superpowers and her brother… and a priest… and if your hand touches metal, I swear by my pretty floral bonnet, I will end you… oh, look, I accidentally started the first episode… well, I guess we just have to watch it now.”
So yes. You get the idea, right?
Why it deserves your time:
It never gets boring. I mean, the setting alone—it’s a western, with pirates, set in the future, in space. And if that wasn’t enough, you get a bizarre mix of characters that smuggle all kinds of stuff (live cattle included) under the radar—and the nose—of the Alliance. Each time you get a new story/case along with some bigger plot arks and character development. It most certainly keeps you on your toes.
It’s hilarious. It was close to impossible to settle on only one quote from this show. Mal, Wash, Zoe, Jayne… I stopped drinking tea while they are talking due to the repeated snorting accidents. There are plenty of compilations out there, so I’ll leave this one here.
It has the best cast that perfectly matches the characters. It’s hard to imagine anyone but Nathan Fillion (way before he was Castle) as Mal, Chuck’s Adam Baldwin as Jayne, Gina Torres (way before she was running a top-lawyer firm in Suits) as Zoë, a Knight’s Tale Alan Tudyk as Wash, Dollhouse’s Summer Glau as River, and, well, the same is true for the rest of the cast. On top of that, the show was created by the one-and-only Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the Avengers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D, the Cabin in the Woods) and he brought his absolute best game.
What to watch if you loved it:
Serenity (the Firefly’s movie sequel), The Expanse, Dark Matter, Castle (it might not be sci-fi, but Natan Fillion is still hilarious as the lead character).
While those early-cancelled one-season shows certainly leave you hungry for more, I often wonder: would it have been better if they managed to stay on the air and tell their stories or would they have suffered from the fate of many series out there and deteriorate over time? Perhaps, it’s better that they ended up shining brightly for a short moment rather than slowly fading away? Maybe the answer will come to me over another Firefly binge.
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