10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (2025)

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (1)

By Mary Kassel

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10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (5)

When a beloved TV show is canceled after just one season, it's a disappointing outcome. While every TV series risks cancelation no matter what, it always comes as a shock when a genuinely good show is struck down before it has the chance to establish itself. From overlooked crime TV shows that only lasted one season to short-lived comedies, no TV genre is safe from the dreaded cancelation after just one outing. For many of these series, as time has progressed, critical and audience reception has further proved they should've gone on for longer.

All of these TV shows were canceled too soon for a variety of reasons, but most of the reasoning comes down to numbers. Whether they were too expensive to produce or didn't garner enough viewership, the networks and streamers behind these shows determined that the risk of production wasn't worth the reward. However, this doesn't take away from the fact that these shows leave behind a dedicated fanbase that will maintain interest in the series long after they're gone. Whether they were recently canceled or are many years old, these shows deserve to be remembered.

10 Firefly (2002–2003)

This space Western was well ahead of its time

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (6)

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9.5/10

Firefly

Sci-Fi

Drama

Adventure

Set in the year 2517, Firefly follows the crew of the Serenity, a smuggling ship operating on the fringes of Alliance space. Captain Malcolm "Mal" Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) is a veteran of a civil war, bitter about having fought for the losing side and now making his living as an outlaw smuggler out among the distant colonies forgotten and ignored by the Alliance. However, after taking on paying passengers, Mal finds himself caught up in a conspiracy likely to bring the whole Alliance military down on him and his crew.

Where to Watch

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*Availability in US

Release Date
September 20, 2002
Cast
Ron Glass, Morena Baccarin, Alan Tudyk, Adam Baldwin, Summer Glau, Gina Torres, Nathan Fillion, Sean Maher, Jewel Staite

Seasons
1
Writers
Joss Whedon
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu, Dis
Directors
Joss Whedon
Showrunner
Joss Whedon

After the success of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Joss Whedon went on to create Firefly, the neo-Western sci-fi TV series that has one of the most enduring fanbases for a show with only one season. Starring Nathan Fillion as Mal, the captain of a spaceship full of people looking to live outside the grasp of the totalitarian government that rules over the cosmos, Firefly used its premise to explore very real social issues. The fact that it was set so far into the future didn't stop the characters from being relatable and compulsively watchable.

Today, the combination of sci-fi and Western elements has become commonplace, making Firefly well ahead of its time.

Unfortunately, Fox aired the Firefly episodes out of order, dooming the show from the start, as audiences were unable to become invested in the series without the proper exposition and character building. Today, the combination of sci-fi and Western elements has become commonplace, making Firefly well ahead of its time. Though there are undeniably dated issues with Firefly, the bones of the series are fantastic, and it's likely that fans will never stop calling for a reboot.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Firefly (2002–2003)

77%

96%

9 Watchmen (2019)

This comic book series pushed boundaries within the genre

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (8)

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7/10

Watchmen

TV-MA

Crime

Drama

Mystery

Superhero

Set in an alternate history where superheroes emerged in the 20th century, the series explores themes of racial tension and political intrigue. Following the events in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a detective named Angela Abar uncovers a conspiracy involving masked vigilantes, the legacy of the original Watchmen, and a cult-like organization aiming to seize power. The narrative intertwines past and present, revealing deep-seated secrets and societal issues.

Release Date
October 20, 2019

Network
HBO
Cast
Regina King, Don Johnson, Tim Blake Nelson, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Andrew Howard, Jacob Ming-Trent, Tom Mison, Sara Vickers, Dylan Schombing, Louis Gossett Jr., Jeremy Irons, Jean Smart, Hong Chau

Creator(s)
Damon Lindelof

Seasons
1

Writers
Nick Cuse, Carly Wray

Directors
David Semel, Fred Toye

Though critics praised HBO's Watchmen, audiences weren't as enthusiastic about this take on the beloved DC comic book series. This divisive response was sparked because Watchmen is so different from the original comic books, as it was framed as a sequel that used the world of the story while incorporating new characters and issues. Regina King led the cast as Angela Abar, the protagonist of the series who uncovers the conspiracies and corruption at work within the police force.

Watchmen was a political and modern take on the comic series, grappling with the history of the Tulsa race riots and looking at the story through a critical contemporary lens. Despite its success and popularity, Watchmen concluded after just one season and is now regarded as a miniseries. Though it wasn't technically canceled, Watchmen could have potentially continued, but the creator, Damon Lindelof, opted not to create a second season because the full story had already been told.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Watchmen (2019)

96%

57%

8 Freaks And Geeks (1999–2000)

A coming-of-age TV show that transcends generational divides

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (16)

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8.5/10

Freaks and Geeks

Drama

Judd Apatow's Freaks and Geeks is a comedy-drama series centered around several now-popular stars in their first-ever appearances as outcast teenagers dealing with the "hilarious unfairness of teen life." The friend groups are split into "freaks" and "geeks," each with their own quirks that resonate with teens today as they try to find their place in the socially complex world of high school.

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*Availability in US

Release Date
September 25, 1999
Network
NBC
Cast
James Franco, Busy Philipps, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, John Francis Daley

Seasons
1

Writers
Paul Feig
Streaming Service(s)
Hulu, Paramount Plus
Directors
Paul Feig, Judd Apatow

Showrunner
Paul Feig

Many of today's biggest stars got their start in Judd Apatow and Paul Feig's Freaks and Geeks, the 1999 phenomenon that has been praised for accurately depicting the nuances and struggles of teenage life in the early 1980s. Starring James Franco, Seth Rogen, and Jason Segel, among many others, Freaks and Geeks was a hilarious and poignant show that instantly connected with viewers, both young and old. Though it ended after one season, the legacy and longevity of Freaks and Geeks have kept it very much alive.

At first, Freaks and Geeks was considered a cult classic, but with time, its availability on streaming services has made its popularity grow.

Its commitment to realism and the universality of the American teenage years is what has made Freaks and Geeks such an enduring classic, but this is also what made producers skeptical of it to begin with. At first, Freaks and Geeks was considered a cult classic, but with time, its availability on streaming services has made its popularity grow. Even as generations change and the high school experience evolves, there are certain parts of adolescence that will always be relatable.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes AUdience Score

Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000)

100%

96%

7 My So-Called Life (1994–1995)

Few depictions of teenage life have ever been so honest

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (19)

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10/10

My So-Called Life

TV-14

Drama

Comedy

Romance

My So-Called Life is a TV drama series that aired in 1994-1995, centered on teenager Angela Chase, played by Claire Danes, as she navigates the complexities of high school life, friendships, and family relationships. The show explores themes of identity, peer pressure, and adolescence, featuring a strong ensemble cast including Jared Leto as Jordan Catalano and Bess Armstrong as Angela's mother, Patty Chase.

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Release Date
August 25, 1994
Cast
Claire Danes, Bess Armstrong, Wilson Cruz, Devon Gummersall, A.J. Langer, Jared Leto, Devon Odessa, Lisa Wilhoit

Creator(s)
Winnie Holzman

Seasons
1

One best teen romance TV shows ever made and one of the most honest depictions of adolescence of the 1990s, My So-Called Life made a big impact. A young Claire Danes and Jared Leto play the angst-filled love interests Angela and Jordan, but it's Danes who takes center stage in My So-Called Life. Her frank discussions about her emerging sexuality and issues facing modern teens were unlike anything audiences and critics had seen up to that point, as My So-Called Life was unafraid of taking on serious topics.

The 2020s have seen more graphic and unfiltered depictions of teen life than ever before. Despite this, many of these projects are missing the elements that made My So-Called Life so truthful. Like these modern TV shows, My So-Called Life is packed with drama. However, none of the plot points are sensationalized, and the writing never feels disingenuous. Its abrupt cancelation was a great disappointment, but this is often the fate of works of art that push back against the cultural norm.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

My So-Called Life (1994–1995)

94%

91%

6 Kaos (2024)

Greek myths take on new life in this modern retelling

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (24)

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82

9.4/10

Kaos

Comedy

Drama

Fantasy

Kaos is a dark comedy series starring Jeff Goldblum as Zeus. Zeus is enjoying being the King of the Gods, until he starts to self-destruct after thinking a wrinkle on his forhead is a sign of an ancient prophecy. His situation becomes even worse when Prometheus develops a plan to take Zeus down once and for all.

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Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date
August 29, 2024
Cast
Jeff Goldblum, David Thewlis, Janet McTeer, Cliff Curtis, Nabhaan Rizwan, killian scott, Aurora Perrineau, Misia Butler, Leila Farzad, Rakie Ayola, Stanley Townsend, Billie Piper, Suzy Eddie Izzard.

Creator(s)
Charlie Covell

Seasons
1

Writers
Charlie Covell, Georgia Christou
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix

Directors
Georgi Banks-Davies, Runyararo Mapfumo

It's not uncommon for Netflix to be quick to cancel its new original series before it gets a chance to cultivate a following, and this is what happened with Kaos. Starring Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, this updated take on classic Greek mythology had many exciting new ideas about the history and legacy of these stories. Though there's a clear demand for Greek myth retellings and the story's structure was compelling, Kaos was cut short.

Using three humans who are pulled into the fates of Olympus as the audience's window into this universe was a relatable way to engage with viewers.

It's possible that because of the success of Percy Jackson and other popular animated TV shows, Netflix producers felt the niche of Greek mythology was already filled on television. However, Kaos brought something new to the table and gave viewers a more mature and comedic insight into this world of gods and monsters. Using three humans who are pulled into the fates of Olympus as the audience's window into this universe was a relatable way to engage with viewers.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

Kaos (2024)

76%

83%

5 I Am Not Okay With This (2020)

A supernatural teen TV show with many exciting twists

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (26)

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I Am Not Okay with This

Comedy

I Am Not Okay With This is a Netflix series centering on the complicated life of Sydney Novak, played by IT star Sophia Lillis. Sydney is a teenager who is juggling life as a high schooler, family issues, and her sexuality. To top things off, she's also starting to develop mysterious superpowers.

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Release Date
February 26, 2020

Network
Netflix
Cast
Sophia Lillis, Sofia Bryant

Seasons
1

Writers
Jonathan Entwistle
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix

Directors
Shawn Levy

Showrunner
Shawn Levy

Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Charles Forsman, I Am Not Okay With This was a timely take on coming-of-age and the superhero genre that should've lasted much longer. Sophia Lillis plays Sydney, a young woman struggling with her sexuality, her father's death, and the sudden development of telekinesis. Though adding a supernatural element to a teen TV show can be challenging, I Am Not Okay With This pulls it off with ease.

Related

10 Netflix Original TV Shows That Didn't Deserve To Be Canceled

While Netflix is famed for its variety of incredible TV shows and movies, it's also notorious for canceling beloved TV shows before their time.

6

I Am Not Okay With This is a canceled TV show that ended on a cliffhanger, leaving audiences wondering about what comes next in Sydney's journey. However, some of the major emotional beats do get resolved through I Am Not Okay With This season 1, providing some closure. The cancelation of I Am Not Okay With This was partly attributed to the pandemic, but this hasn't changed the fact that there's a loyal fanbase still rooting for a future revival of I Am Not Okay With This.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

I Am Not Okay With This (2020)

86%

85%

4 The Society (2019)

A survival show that takes on essential questions about social rules

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (29)

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The Society

Drama

One day in West Ham, Connecticut, the students of the local high school return from a field trip to find the rest of the town's population gone. With a dense forest surrounding the town and no way to contact the outside world via phone or internet, the teenagers must formulate their own rules to maintain their own society and survival.

Where to Watch

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Release Date
May 10, 2019

Network
Netflix
Cast
Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Jacques Colimon, Olivia DeJonge, Kristine Froseth, Jose Julian, Toby Wallace, Rachel Keller

Seasons
1

Writers
Christopher Keyser, Qui Nguyen
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix

Directors
Marc Webb

Instantly drawing comparisons to classic survival tales like Lord of the Flies, The Society explores the possibility of an isolated town being run solely by teens and children after the adults disappear. Full of unexpected twists and shocking violence, The Society keeps the audience on their toes and never takes the easy way out. Kathryn Newton stars as Allie, the younger sister of the de facto leader of the town, but she soon finds herself grappling with more responsibility than she wants.

While it doesn't matter how the kids became isolated and the adults disappeared, this was one of the most pressing questions of the series.

Unfortunately, there were plans for The Society season 2, but they were cut short by the pandemic, leaving viewers wondering what ultimately becomes of Allie and the town. While it doesn't matter how the kids became isolated and the adults disappeared, this was one of the most pressing questions of the series. Though it's more serious than other coming-of-age stories, The Society provides nuanced commentary on community building and what it means to provide for others.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Society (2019)

86%

81%

3 High Fidelity (2020)

This TV show successfully updates and pays tribute to the original movie

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (31)

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High Fidelity

Where to Watch

  • stream
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Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date
February 14, 2020
Cast
Zoë Kravitz, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Jake Lacy, Kingsley Ben-Adir

Seasons
1

Zoë Kravitz is at her best in High Fidelity, the 2020 reimagining of the hit 2000 movie starring John Cusack. Though the original film is a fan favorite, the most recent TV show smooths out some of the issues and makes Rob into a more nuanced and empathetic character. Though she's far from perfect, the audience can see themselves inside Rob and understand that her mistakes are part of what makes her so compelling to watch.

Kravitz isn't the only reason to watch High Fidelity, as the cast includes a fantastic ensemble featuring Da'Vine Joy Randolph and Thomas Doherty. While the initial story that follows the movie's beats had concluded by the end of season 1, there were still many more exciting avenues that High Fidelity could've gone down. Full of nostalgia and a deep love of both music and the history of New York City, High Fidelity is a great show to return to today.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

High Fidelity (2020)

86%

78%

2 The Get Down (2016–2017)

Baz Luhrmann's gorgeously imagined period TV show burned brightly

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (35)

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The Get Down

Musical

In the South Bronx neighborhood of New York City in the 1970s, the rise of disco and hip-hop music is chronicled through the eyes of a group of teenagers and music hopefuls as they move into young adulthood.

Where to Watch

  • stream
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Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date
August 12, 2016

Network
Netflix
Cast
Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, Skylan Brooks, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Jimmy Smits

Seasons
1 (2 parts)
Writers
Stephen Adly Guirgis, Baz Luhrmann
Streaming Service(s)
Netflix
Directors
Baz Luhrmann

Though it was split into two parts, The Get Down only had one season before Netflix pulled the plug on the expensive project. Baz Luhrmann co-created the series with Stephen Adly Guirgis and The Get Down has all the flair and visual spectacles that Luhrmann has come to be known for. However, there's also a touching emotional story at the heart of The Get Down, making its value go much deeper than its aesthetics.

The Get Down only got stronger as the episodes progressed, demonstrating what the series might have become with time.

However, when a show has as large a budget as The Get Down, it can be difficult to sustain production, and this is what happened with the original series. The musical numbers and immersive set design were consistently praised across parts one and two, as well as the leading performance of Justice Smith, whose star has only continued to grow since the show was canceled. The Get Down only got stronger as the episodes progressed, demonstrating what the series might have become with time.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

The Get Down (2016–2017)

81%

88%

1 My Lady Jane (2024)

A historical fantasy that demonstrated how funny romance and intrigue can be

10 Best TV Shows With Only One Season (37)

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9.6/10

My Lady Jane

Comedy

Romance

My Lady Jane is a Prime Video original series created by Gemma Burgess. The story is a "what if" style story of English royal history where King Henry VIII's son Edward, Lady Jane Grey, and her husband Guildford all survive their real-life deaths. In the retelling of history, Jane Grey takes center stage, becoming queen and immediately finding herself facing nefarious villains.

Where to Watch

  • stream
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Not available

Not available

*Availability in US

Release Date
June 27, 2024
Cast
Emily Bader, Edward Bluemel, Jordan Peters, Anna Chancellor, Dominic Cooper, Jim Broadbent, Will Keen, Rob Brydon, Kate O'Flynn, Máiréad Tyers, Robyn Betteridge

Creator(s)
Gemma Burgess

Seasons
1

Writers
Jodi Meadows, Brodi Ashton, Cynthia Hand
Streaming Service(s)
Prime Video

Directors
Jamie Babbit, Stefan Schwartz

Showrunner
Gemma Burgess, Meredith Glynn

Despite the outpouring of support for My Lady Jane after its cancelation was announced, it's unlikely that the petitions and outrage will change the fact that Amazon Prime has firmly canceled the TV show. Based on the historical fantasy novel of the same name, My Lady Jane was one of the most original TV shows of the past year and one of the best fantasy TV shows of 2024. Combining romance, humor, and a cast with stellar chemistry, My Lady Jane could've gone on for many more seasons.

Related

8 My Lady Jane Storylines That Will Never Be Addressed After The Show's Cancelation

Amazon Prime Video''s anachronistic historical comedy My Lady Jane was canceled after one season, leaving many storylines open-ended and incomplete.

Emily Bader and Edward Bluemel led the cast as Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley, and their enemies-to-lovers romance was one of the most swoon-worthy on television. Though it's set in the distant past, My Lady Jane has a distinctly modern and feminist tone, allowing Jane to assert her agency and fight for what she thinks is right. While it's tragic that another season isn't on the way, there's some comfort in knowing the first season will always be out there.

Title

Rotten Tomatoes Critic Score

Rotten Tomatoes Audience Score

My Lady Jane (2024)

95%

91%

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