10 TV Cancellations From 2024 That I Definitely Won’t Be Over Anytime Soon

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As a devoted fan of the small screen, I find myself constantly on the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting the next great series to captivate me. However, with every new promising show that graces our screens, it seems an equal number are cruelly snatched away, leaving us heartbroken and yearning for more.

In this era where there’s no shortage of shows to choose from on TV, the 2024 schedule has been quite a rollercoaster. Some series endings and cancellations were expected, like when The Conners announced their final season, but many other shows got the axe unexpectedly, leaving everyone – including fans – in shock.

From among the many TV show cancellations that were announced in 2024, a select few left an especially deep impact, and it is those we’re delving into today. I hope this discussion will help me cope with the sorrow of not knowing how these incomplete narratives would have concluded.

Chucky – Syfy/USA

Without a doubt, one of the most unforeseeable horror series on television in recent times is Don Mancini’s Chucky, which transported the sinister and bloodthirsty doll into the realm of small-screen entertainment, providing an array of new victims and bizarre circumstances for the doll to sink his plastic fangs into. Each season managed to pay tribute to various periods in the Child’s Play franchise, but the third season took things to a whole new level, making it even more disheartening when NBCUniversal decided to pull the plug on the doll, symbolically speaking, in August 2024. Mancini has hinted that Chucky’s tale is far from finished, though we remain uncertain which streaming service will bear witness to his future torment.

The Brothers Sun – Netflix

In January, the multi-genre series “The Brothers Sun,” created by Brad Falchuk and Byron Wu, premiered on Netflix. Audience members immediately praised the blend of action, humor, and drama delivered by cast members like Michelle Yeoh, Justin Chien, Sam Song Li, and others. However, despite a promising start, Netflix surprisingly listed it among its one-season cancellations only two months afterward, even though it had attracted millions of initial viewers.

Death And Other Details – Hulu

The always great Mandy Patinkin paired quite nicely with Violett Beane in Hulu’s murder-mystery Death and Other Details, created by Chicago P.D. producer Mike Weiss and The 100 writer/producer Heidi Cole Adams. And though its initial popularity waned due to viewer complaints about plotting and characters, more than enough positives were present to balance the arguable missteps, and the new mystery introduced in the first season finale seemed promising. Unfortunately, the audience turnover was apparently too noteworthy for Hulu execs to wave away, and the series’ new-murder cliffhanger became its official ending when Hulu canceled it eleven days after the finale debuted.

NCIS: Hawai’i – CBS

Regarding the popular TV series NCIS: Hawai’i, contrary to the usual practice of having numerous NCIS shows running in a single season, CBS made a surprising and disheartening decision to cancel the show before it completed its third season. The justification seemed to be due to expensive filming in Hawaii and limited prime-time slots available for Fall 2024. Fans have tried to secure the series a new broadcast platform, but their efforts have not been successful yet, making it seem unlikely that we’ll get another chance to watch Vanessa Lachey portray Jane Tennant on our screens again.

Dead Boy Detectives – Netflix

Starting from 2021, the series Dead Boy Detectives, which were co-created by Neil Gaiman and Matt Wagner, initially debuted as a pilot on (formerly) HBO Max. Later in early 2023, Netflix picked it up but didn’t air it until April 2024. Despite the delay, fans found it worthwhile and praised George Rexstrew and Jayden Revri’s portrayals of Edwin and Charles respectively. However, the supernatural excitement was short-lived as Netflix canceled Dead Boy Detectives in August. So far, efforts to find a new home for the show have been unsuccessful.

The Acolyte – Disney+

In a departure from traditional Star Wars storytelling, live-action Star Wars intentionally steered clear of the familiar with The Acolyte, produced by Leslye Headland who is known for Russian Doll. This series is set in an era that precedes the Skywalker Saga chronologically. Character traits, plot developments, and casting choices were all subjected to harsh criticism, yet it garnered a significant amount of genuine positive acclaim. Regrettably, Disney+ decided to terminate The Acolyte after just one season, ending its sci-fi journey prematurely.

The Other Black Girl – Hulu

In simple terms, Author Zakiya Dalila Harris’s 2021 novel titled The Other Black Girl was adapted into a Hulu series by Rashida Jones, showcasing an exceptional exploration of office mysteries, subtle racial slights, and wild conspiracy theories. The genre-blending series featured impressive acting from Sinclair Daniel and Ashleigh Murray as the somewhat competitive coworkers Nella and Hazel-May. Despite ending with a promising setup for a second season, the series was unfortunately canceled in May 2024, just eight months after its premiere in September 2023.

Our Flag Means Death – Max

David Jenkins, the mastermind behind it, brilliantly crafted an outrageously amusing streaming comedy concept titled “Our Flag Means Death“. This series unfolds the story of an unconventional pirate gang led by Rhys Darby’s character, Stede Bonnet. The show boasts a fantastic ensemble cast consisting of Taika Waititi, Rory Kinnear, Ewan Bremner, Leslie Jones, and numerous others. Fans of the show, who adored its unique humor and emphasis on LGBTQ+ themes, were disappointed that plotlines left unexplored in the unlikely event of a third season wouldn’t be further developed.

So Help Me Todd – CBS

Despite the numerous intense dramas that have emerged in recent years, CBS’s comforting legal drama “So Help Me Todd” stood out, featuring Marcia Gay Harden and Skylar Austin as one of television’s most compelling mother-son duos in recent memory. Viewers adored it, and the audience size was significantly larger than if the show had been on a different network. Sadly, CBS’s crowded schedule this year necessitated cutbacks, leading to the cancellation of “So Help Me Todd“, and even creator Scott Prendergast’s new show hasn’t managed to ease the disappointment.

Among my favorite comedic TV pairs from recent times is undeniably Chris Estrada’s character Julio Lopez alongside Frankie Quiñones as Julio’s cousin Luis, in Hulu’s show “This Fool”. For two seasons, their acting collaboration introduced a unique portrayal of the struggling man-child to our screens and emphasized the significance of post-prison rehabilitation. Regrettably, the news of its cancellation, announced in February 2024, came after a long period of silence following the release of Season 2 in July 2023, which was still heartbreaking to hear.

Battlestar Galactica Reboot – Peacock

Unlike other projects, NBCU’s Battlestar Galactica reboot was unique because it was never created or shown to viewers. Instead, the reboot was only in the development phase as early as 2019, with Sam Esmail, the creator of Mr. Robot, leading the project. There were occasional updates provided over the years, but in July 2024, the studio ceased development on the project, aiming to sell it to other studios. However, no one has purchased it so far.

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2024-12-13 00:39