Kaylee Loo
As we enter the new year with new TV shows to love, we also grieve the loss of beloved, cancelled shows that may never get their true ending.
For as long as there have been TV shows, there have been cancellations. There can be many reasons why TV shows are cancelled: low viewership numbers, studio funding cuts, creative differences, creators losing interest…the list goes on.
At the end of last year, RottenTomatoes compiled a list of TV shows cancelled by networks in 2022, which found a total of 116 shows being cut before they could truly complete their tenure. The lifetime of Netflix Original Programming alone, which started in 2013, counted 89 cancellations.
It’s painful, to grow so deeply in love and have to let go unexpectedly. But understanding the grief is a step closer to easing the loss. Let us go through the five stages of grief together.
Step 1: Denial
First comes the disbelief. Sure, you never thought the show would make ‘best TV shows of all time’ lists, but everyone who watched it enjoyed it and gave it solid reviews! Was this a mistake by the studio? What went wrong?
Unless there is a definitive confirmation by production companies and studios, any show could be in danger, even shows with high acclaim such as Westworld.
Even with this, nowadays shows are at risk of being cancelled despite their season being confirmed. For example, HBOMax’s newly implemented cost-cutting measures have retroactively cancelled shows, despite promising they would return. The latest of this occurrence is Netflix’s Inside Job, which will not have a season 2, even though it was initially renewed in June 2022.
Step 2: Anger
Once it sinks in that the show you love will never have a proper resolution, the instinct is rage. You will want to blame as many people as possible: studios, harsh critics, and friends who didn’t watch it, even though it’s number one on your recommendations each time they ask.
While the impulse is to take out your frustrations on social media, and tagging networks on your rant about how the show should be given another chance, it likely won’t reverse this decision. But taking out this fury can be cathartic and helpful in your grieving process.
Step 3: Bargaining
Frantically, you find that there might already be a change.org petition, “bring this show back!” campaign to sign. It could work – some shows have been picked up the very next day to continue with other streaming outlets and networks, such as Brooklyn 99. With enough pestering, Netflix greenlit a Sense 8 movie and it was given a chance to tie up loose strings.
With so many networks, your cancelled show could find another home somewhere. But the reality is, being picked up elsewhere tends to be an anomaly rather than the norm.
Step 4: Depression
Then comes the feeling of emptiness. What’s the point in watching any new shows? Your mind is still reeling from the fact that the ‘will-they-won’t-they’ romance you loved will never see fruition, and a story-beat-set-up and/or cliffhanger in the season finale will not be explored.
Take care of yourself in this trying time. There is a comfort to be found in interacting with the communities that are sharing this grief with you through fanfiction and fan edits. Take time to wallow and maybe even allow yourself to binge through the show once again.
Step 5: Acceptance
Sometimes, revisiting a cancelled show can be nice, but eventually, we will have to let go and embrace a new show to love (and inevitably repeat this cycle all too soon).
Even though there may never truly be closure, since you never got to say goodbye to your favourite characters, there is still a community to be found within the show you love.
If all else fails, there are always new shows to check out. After all, the golden age of television won’t be stopping anytime soon.
https://twitter.com/GabeDiani/status/1612347239170732032
Featured image courtesy of Adrian Swancar on Unsplash. Image license found here. No changes were made to this image.
Kayley Loo
Kayley loves explaining odd, niche things you might've not known about or heard of before. She is also a host on RemoteWatch podcast, where she talks about all things TV and FIlm. She is currently based in London.