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TV series come and go, it’s their nature. But some are canceled too soon (I’m side-eyeing Netflix right now) and others are just too good to truly let go. This week, I want to hear your thoughts on the following question:
Which TV series would you renew for one more season (and why)?
There’s no limit to what you can discuss here. Maybe you want a canceled-too-soon series to come back to wrap up its story, maybe you just want one more season with your favorite characters, or maybe you want a classic series to return so you can find out where beloved characters are today.
In my case, I’ve thought long and hard about this. I could’ve easily named my favorite TV series of all time, “Hannibal”…except that ended kind of perfectly. Or maybe some of my other favorites, such as “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” and “Angel”…except all the vampires got middle-aged. “The West Wing” makes sense until you realize today’s Washington, DC bears even less relationship to historical reality than the fictional TV series did. Which brings me to my two — sorry, I couldn’t decide — picks:
1. “Mad Men”. I can’t help but wonder what would happen if the series jumped to the ’80s, and continued Don Draper and Peggy Olson’s stories from there. Who are these two as dinosaurs of their industry and how do they confront their own extinction?
2. “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”.“DS9” evolved into the most intellectually exciting Star Trek series of all time, as far as I’m concerned. But when it ended, it left so many questions unanswered. Twenty-five years later, I find it absurd — especially in the era of endless reboots and spin-offs in the series — that none have remotely been offered. Give me some more Capt. Benjamin Sisko!
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Our Flag Means Death - sadly cancelled. I'd like more Poldark, but we need to wait a few more years until the cast have aged a bit to match the novels. For sheer enjoyment, more Torchwood - so ridiculous and OTT, yet so much fun!
Reservation Dogs. Great cast. Great writing. Funny and also tugs at the heart strings...The Wire. Deadwood. The Sopranos albeit impossible without James Gandolfini rest in peace. Arrested Development same reasons as Reservation Dogs- great cast, writing, humor maybe not so much the heart strings but a great ride.
I haven't seen "RESERVATION DOGS" yet, but I'm excited to. Not at all surprised it's already been canceled despite the love and accolades. It's kind of a miracle it existed in the first place.
Well worth the watch. It might have only been conceived of as a three-season series to begin with as it plays out that way. Would not be difficult to continue where it leaves off however. A miracle indeed.
Selfishly I would say Constantine and Swamp Thing. The fact that I worked on both has NOTHING to do with it. In a less selfish vein, Deadwood (the TV movie wrap-up was not that satisfying) and Manhunter.
CONSTANTINE replaced my TV series on NBC, as it seemed the better bet at that point. I both hate it for that reason and am wholly grateful to it for helping to kill a series (and experience) I hated so much.
MINDHUNTER for sure. They left us tantalizingly hanging with the BTK killer. Also, they left us hanging with increasing creepiness of Tench's serial-killer-in-the-making kid.
Peaky Blinders, I could watch that right up to the present day, the dynamics of family, influenced by the times and wars and life experiences and by the magical gypsy world they are from.
Yes!! And there’s an amazing new series that Stephen Knight did that’s not here in the US yet called This Town that I’m looking forward to. Have you seen it?
There is a seemingly endless list in my mind of animated television programs that ended long before they should have due to factors beyond their control. Traditional network and cable channels have often treated them as an unwanted boil on their financial backs, and streaming services treat them with the capriciousness, stupidity and quick mood changes of human adolescence. So I could give you numerous examples of this type of show that ended before their creative prime did (except in the cases where the creators intended it to only run for a short time, which I understand and respect).
I'll name two other Bryan Fuller series, which I loved: Wonderfully and Pushing Daisies. I'd love to check in on the characters all these years later and see what's changed and what hasn't. Pushing Daisies knew it was getting cancelled so had a quick fast forward in the last couple minutes of the final episode, but would love to see how the characters in both series grew and changed and all the continual weirdness around them that persists in new ways.
Sugar. This series camouflages as familiar noir genre, but is altogether something new. The series ending left it open but it depends on Colin Farrell in the lead role, so I don’t have much hope.
Also Cumberbatch’s Sherlock, which again relies on an in-demand actor. But we’re dreaming, right?
There continues to be rumors that "SHERLOCK" will return for another season. I think everyone involved wants to make it happen. But of course, there are a lot of factors. The great thing about the series is that they could keep making it for the next twenty years and it would continue to work and be relevant.
Hi Cole, Surprise, surprise mine would be Dracula 2013, but also Legend of the seeker.
Dracula 2013 in either series or film, mine is more a film version in my scene by scene. I have taken these characters to my heart and they are like my children now. I know how’s those characters go on in my version and would love to see it on screen and see all those actors grow more with those characters.
Legend of the seeker was a series many moons ago on sci-fi channel, based on the book series of Terry Goodkind. I enjoyed several of these books before shameful being taken away by fifty shades of grey book series. Legend of the seeker was less dark than the books and could laugh at itself, just to know where the story would go and how the actors would grow with these characters a bit like Dracula.
I will always be grateful of the inspiration these series gave me, through their writing, story and characters.
It also gave me two precious actors in Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Craig Parker.
Have you ever read me explain that Harker becomes the Big Bad to Dracula in my Bible for the series? He ascends to the head of the Order of the Dragon, becoming the villain in every way. I have no idea why they killed Lady Jayne. She was meant to go the distance, too, and have her own spiritual conversion. All very operatic stuff and a lot bloodier.
That is a cool idea Cole, but in mine. Harker goes through a quest from London to Budapest and finally Bran Castle, Romania. Lady Jayne and Van Helsing and the order of the Dragon form his army to defeat Dracula and get Mina back. Only now Mina is Wilhelmina and a vampire and how to get Mina back. I will leave you hanging about that…..
Lady Jayne is revived by the order using Dracula’s blood. She turns into a slayer, even more badass they Buffy, but she is slowly turning into a vampire as well. She finds redemption through Harker and their defeat of Dracula, but also through the real love for a fellow huntsman’s. She also kills her Lord and Husband. He has been in no nursing home. He has secretly been working with the order and abused lady Jayne for many years of their marriage.
Is it weird that I saw Harker doing that exact same thing, long before I knew what your plans were? I had a lot of time to think of what would've happened to our cast of characters and strangely it was on a similar wave length. Maybe it's that writer's mentality thing, but it was a bit spooky nonetheless.
It isn't especially high brow, ut Person of Interest. I would be good to either 1) see them have a full season to end the show properly or 2) See how Harold and Shaw handle their respective roles in the newly established status quo.
Time Traveler's Wife series developed and written by Steven Moffat. Sadly only two seasons were commissioned before it was canned. Unlike the previous adaptation, the characters, dialogue and visuals were far more elevated and edgy. It was disappointing not to be able to follow the narrative to the end.
Last year I binged watched Mad Men for an advertising class I was in, so it would be cool to see the gang working in the 1980s.
A tv series I'd bring back for one more season is "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." That show was my orbit during my formative high school years; it was my escape! Part of my love of writing is because of this show. I fell in love with journalism and had all the plans to become a reporter, but my life took a different turn. In a way I am a "journalist" but of the social media kind.
Way back in 1997, we were promised a 5th season. In fact, the show ended on the night of my high school graduation, and I wanted to be home watching that instead of getting a stupid piece of paper. lol Thank God, my VCR worked that night as well or tables would've been flipped.
ABC promised us another season so the season 4 finale kind of ended on a cliff hanger. Then, Disney swoops in and adopts ABC as one of their own and the show gets the boot! The writing was pretty much on the wall when your beloved show is moved from its Sunday at 8pm time slot to Saturdays at 9 or even Fridays?!? I can't totally remember but losing its Primetime Sunday time slot sealed its fate but we "super" fans still had hope.
The show still lives on in fanfic (and I am one of those writers) but I still yearn for a "where are they now and what was that baby found doing there?" I have my theories, but I've rambled on enough.
Obviously I’m a couch potato.. ‘Sopranos’ was epic and ‘The Mindhunter’ needs to come back NOW. I’m currently into ‘The Rookie’ and omg, it’s like a soap opera on steroids. Love it. Next up is season 2 of ‘Kleo’. Hope it’s as good as the first. Btw.. for once I’m glad I was born in Germany, been to Berlin West and East a few times. What an experience!
The endings of Breaking bad and better call Saul exuded both sublime beauty and ideal closure (I adore both shows), but I’d love to see more spin offs based on other characters. For example, what happens to Marie, Skyler, and her two kids? How about more on Gus Fring’s origin story? Where does Kim go after everything she’s survived? One ending that doesn’t sit right for me is Ozark. First 2 seasons I was captivated, but the ending felt rushed and cruel (I interpreted the end as a middle finger to the audience: evil and power wins bc that’s just real life? I was furious. Viewers deserve more a story with more complexity and nuance!) An extra Ozark season in the style of seasons 1&2 could potentially help explain more complicated issues and raise better thematic questions through showing us what happens to the surviving characters? Grace and Frankie has room for a hilarious spin off too, I think!
Oh, I agree Trek never addressing the return of Sisko is ridiculous. I thought Picard was gonna do it in its third season with all the shapeshifter founder storyline, but no. Some Trek outing in the near future ought to do it, if Avery Brooks is willing.
Yes, Reservation Dogs deserved many more seasons. Quite literally the best TV show of the 21st century, along with Breaking Bad.
If Lost could do a redux of its last season, it wouldn't annoy me at all. :)
Could Sisko go back to being a starship captain, though? I know there's a comic series out now where that exact thing happens, but I got the impression the Prophets were preparing him for something other than going back to his old job. Plus, would Starfleet be willing to give him a command? "Oh, hey Ben. So you've spent the past year in some other dimension with a bunch of wormhole aliens and now you want-- what? Oh right. Prophets. Sure. Sorry. Anyway, you-- what? Time isn't linear? You're... still there? Oh, you've always been there and always will be there but you're also here. Sure sure. Right. Of course. So, yyyyeah... we're gonna have to take a pass on reinstating you right now. Maybe go home and rest. Spend some time with your family. We'll call you."
I'm not interested in him being in Starfleet anymore, but the story of DS9 and what happened to him, his ultimate fate and how it could circle back into the main narrative of ST intrigues me.
Me too. I'd want two seasons. One where everyone on the station comes to grips with him being gone, and one focused on what happens after he comes back in the season 8 finale.
(not an answer to your question, BUT, as to your point 2)... are you reading the 2022 "Star Trek" comicbook featuring Sisko as the leading character?)
To answer your question, I would have loved (at lease) a second season of two Japanese dramas:
- Aoi Hono/Blue Blazes (https://mydramalist.com/10434-aoi-honoo) to see Hono's first steps as a professional mangaka while Hideaki Anno and friends would have gone on moving their first steps with GAINAX...
- Atami no Sousakan (https://asianwiki.com/Atami_no_Sousakan). The open finale is great, but I feel there were still so many stories to tell in in Minami-Atami... this was clearly inspired by Twin Peaks, but with its own kind of craziness (written and directed by Satoshi Miki, after all).
BANSHEE. Who is Lucas? Why did he end up hiding in a small Pennsylvania town? Given the popularity of the actors in subsequent series, we need them all to come back for S05 and give Banshee the ending it deserves.
Evil. It’s on its final season at Paramount+ but deserves more. Great chemistry with the cast. The tonal shifts between comedy and drama shouldn’t work, but they do.
Mindhunter, no doubt. Strong writing, acting and with just enough period nostalgia.
Very popular title on this thread.
Our Flag Means Death - sadly cancelled. I'd like more Poldark, but we need to wait a few more years until the cast have aged a bit to match the novels. For sheer enjoyment, more Torchwood - so ridiculous and OTT, yet so much fun!
But Ianto :(
Firefly,. We'll just pretend 'Serenity' never happened.
Reservation Dogs. Great cast. Great writing. Funny and also tugs at the heart strings...The Wire. Deadwood. The Sopranos albeit impossible without James Gandolfini rest in peace. Arrested Development same reasons as Reservation Dogs- great cast, writing, humor maybe not so much the heart strings but a great ride.
I haven't seen "RESERVATION DOGS" yet, but I'm excited to. Not at all surprised it's already been canceled despite the love and accolades. It's kind of a miracle it existed in the first place.
Well worth the watch. It might have only been conceived of as a three-season series to begin with as it plays out that way. Would not be difficult to continue where it leaves off however. A miracle indeed.
Came here to say 1000% Reservation Dogs
Hell yeah
Now, it has to be MINDHUNTER, but if it had been made at the time, I would have killed for another season of Freaks and Geeks.
You're the third person to bring up MINDHUNTER now. Netflix has killed so many beloved shows.
Selfishly I would say Constantine and Swamp Thing. The fact that I worked on both has NOTHING to do with it. In a less selfish vein, Deadwood (the TV movie wrap-up was not that satisfying) and Manhunter.
CONSTANTINE replaced my TV series on NBC, as it seemed the better bet at that point. I both hate it for that reason and am wholly grateful to it for helping to kill a series (and experience) I hated so much.
I've had the rug pulled out many times and it's never fun. But sometimes it's a blessing in disguise. Or not. "This business..."
LOL the amount of hate and then glee us DracPackers had when Constantine was canceled. 😬
I would love to see Constantine come back. The fact the character popped up in League was small consolation. I really enjoyed Swamp Thing too
MINDHUNTER for sure. They left us tantalizingly hanging with the BTK killer. Also, they left us hanging with increasing creepiness of Tench's serial-killer-in-the-making kid.
This series is getting a lot of love on this thread.
Peaky Blinders, I could watch that right up to the present day, the dynamics of family, influenced by the times and wars and life experiences and by the magical gypsy world they are from.
There's a film coming on Netflix, if you haven't heard yet!
Yes!! And there’s an amazing new series that Stephen Knight did that’s not here in the US yet called This Town that I’m looking forward to. Have you seen it?
I haven't.
There is a seemingly endless list in my mind of animated television programs that ended long before they should have due to factors beyond their control. Traditional network and cable channels have often treated them as an unwanted boil on their financial backs, and streaming services treat them with the capriciousness, stupidity and quick mood changes of human adolescence. So I could give you numerous examples of this type of show that ended before their creative prime did (except in the cases where the creators intended it to only run for a short time, which I understand and respect).
Metalocalypse ?!
One example, yes.
I'll name two other Bryan Fuller series, which I loved: Wonderfully and Pushing Daisies. I'd love to check in on the characters all these years later and see what's changed and what hasn't. Pushing Daisies knew it was getting cancelled so had a quick fast forward in the last couple minutes of the final episode, but would love to see how the characters in both series grew and changed and all the continual weirdness around them that persists in new ways.
Yes. Absolutely these two shows! They still hold up all these years later as well!!!
Sugar. This series camouflages as familiar noir genre, but is altogether something new. The series ending left it open but it depends on Colin Farrell in the lead role, so I don’t have much hope.
Also Cumberbatch’s Sherlock, which again relies on an in-demand actor. But we’re dreaming, right?
There continues to be rumors that "SHERLOCK" will return for another season. I think everyone involved wants to make it happen. But of course, there are a lot of factors. The great thing about the series is that they could keep making it for the next twenty years and it would continue to work and be relevant.
I'm still mad that we don't have a Season 3 of SPORTS NIGHT. Of all the one-to-two season Sorkin TV shows, this one had the least weird ending.
"SPORTS NIGHT" was so good.
Hi Cole, Surprise, surprise mine would be Dracula 2013, but also Legend of the seeker.
Dracula 2013 in either series or film, mine is more a film version in my scene by scene. I have taken these characters to my heart and they are like my children now. I know how’s those characters go on in my version and would love to see it on screen and see all those actors grow more with those characters.
Legend of the seeker was a series many moons ago on sci-fi channel, based on the book series of Terry Goodkind. I enjoyed several of these books before shameful being taken away by fifty shades of grey book series. Legend of the seeker was less dark than the books and could laugh at itself, just to know where the story would go and how the actors would grow with these characters a bit like Dracula.
I will always be grateful of the inspiration these series gave me, through their writing, story and characters.
It also gave me two precious actors in Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Craig Parker.
Have you ever read me explain that Harker becomes the Big Bad to Dracula in my Bible for the series? He ascends to the head of the Order of the Dragon, becoming the villain in every way. I have no idea why they killed Lady Jayne. She was meant to go the distance, too, and have her own spiritual conversion. All very operatic stuff and a lot bloodier.
That is a cool idea Cole, but in mine. Harker goes through a quest from London to Budapest and finally Bran Castle, Romania. Lady Jayne and Van Helsing and the order of the Dragon form his army to defeat Dracula and get Mina back. Only now Mina is Wilhelmina and a vampire and how to get Mina back. I will leave you hanging about that…..
Lady Jayne is revived by the order using Dracula’s blood. She turns into a slayer, even more badass they Buffy, but she is slowly turning into a vampire as well. She finds redemption through Harker and their defeat of Dracula, but also through the real love for a fellow huntsman’s. She also kills her Lord and Husband. He has been in no nursing home. He has secretly been working with the order and abused lady Jayne for many years of their marriage.
Is it weird that I saw Harker doing that exact same thing, long before I knew what your plans were? I had a lot of time to think of what would've happened to our cast of characters and strangely it was on a similar wave length. Maybe it's that writer's mentality thing, but it was a bit spooky nonetheless.
I ❤️ Dracula of course, but I loved Legend of the Seeker too! I started reading the books a few years ago and need to pick them back up again.
I was sad that Raised by Wolves was canceled after two seasons.
It isn't especially high brow, ut Person of Interest. I would be good to either 1) see them have a full season to end the show properly or 2) See how Harold and Shaw handle their respective roles in the newly established status quo.
Time Traveler's Wife series developed and written by Steven Moffat. Sadly only two seasons were commissioned before it was canned. Unlike the previous adaptation, the characters, dialogue and visuals were far more elevated and edgy. It was disappointing not to be able to follow the narrative to the end.
Last year I binged watched Mad Men for an advertising class I was in, so it would be cool to see the gang working in the 1980s.
A tv series I'd bring back for one more season is "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." That show was my orbit during my formative high school years; it was my escape! Part of my love of writing is because of this show. I fell in love with journalism and had all the plans to become a reporter, but my life took a different turn. In a way I am a "journalist" but of the social media kind.
Way back in 1997, we were promised a 5th season. In fact, the show ended on the night of my high school graduation, and I wanted to be home watching that instead of getting a stupid piece of paper. lol Thank God, my VCR worked that night as well or tables would've been flipped.
ABC promised us another season so the season 4 finale kind of ended on a cliff hanger. Then, Disney swoops in and adopts ABC as one of their own and the show gets the boot! The writing was pretty much on the wall when your beloved show is moved from its Sunday at 8pm time slot to Saturdays at 9 or even Fridays?!? I can't totally remember but losing its Primetime Sunday time slot sealed its fate but we "super" fans still had hope.
The show still lives on in fanfic (and I am one of those writers) but I still yearn for a "where are they now and what was that baby found doing there?" I have my theories, but I've rambled on enough.
I love how specific and unexpected this choice is!
A few years ago, I would have said Deadwood, but the final movie solved that narrative gap.
I think another HBO show ‘Rome would be my answer. It deserved a third season.
The DEADWOOD film was kind of perfect...like the series.
Deadwood is pure art from the first second to the last.
The Wire. How do aging Bunk and McNulty cope in a DEI environment - and how much are they drinking and/or seeing a shrink...
I"d love to see another season of Kyle Killan's AWAKE or Shawn Ryan's TERRIERS.
Mind hunter, definitely.
Obviously I’m a couch potato.. ‘Sopranos’ was epic and ‘The Mindhunter’ needs to come back NOW. I’m currently into ‘The Rookie’ and omg, it’s like a soap opera on steroids. Love it. Next up is season 2 of ‘Kleo’. Hope it’s as good as the first. Btw.. for once I’m glad I was born in Germany, been to Berlin West and East a few times. What an experience!
The endings of Breaking bad and better call Saul exuded both sublime beauty and ideal closure (I adore both shows), but I’d love to see more spin offs based on other characters. For example, what happens to Marie, Skyler, and her two kids? How about more on Gus Fring’s origin story? Where does Kim go after everything she’s survived? One ending that doesn’t sit right for me is Ozark. First 2 seasons I was captivated, but the ending felt rushed and cruel (I interpreted the end as a middle finger to the audience: evil and power wins bc that’s just real life? I was furious. Viewers deserve more a story with more complexity and nuance!) An extra Ozark season in the style of seasons 1&2 could potentially help explain more complicated issues and raise better thematic questions through showing us what happens to the surviving characters? Grace and Frankie has room for a hilarious spin off too, I think!
Oh, I agree Trek never addressing the return of Sisko is ridiculous. I thought Picard was gonna do it in its third season with all the shapeshifter founder storyline, but no. Some Trek outing in the near future ought to do it, if Avery Brooks is willing.
Yes, Reservation Dogs deserved many more seasons. Quite literally the best TV show of the 21st century, along with Breaking Bad.
If Lost could do a redux of its last season, it wouldn't annoy me at all. :)
'Babylon Berlin'. Great story, brilliant set, terrific insight into Weimar Germany and the emergence of Nazism.
I still haven't watched this series - despite probably everyone I know and respect telling me it's brilliant. Something to look forward to, I think.
Gentleman Jack - because it's groundbreaking and after only two series there's still so much to explore.
I haven't watched the second season yet, but very much enjoyed the first one.
Could Sisko go back to being a starship captain, though? I know there's a comic series out now where that exact thing happens, but I got the impression the Prophets were preparing him for something other than going back to his old job. Plus, would Starfleet be willing to give him a command? "Oh, hey Ben. So you've spent the past year in some other dimension with a bunch of wormhole aliens and now you want-- what? Oh right. Prophets. Sure. Sorry. Anyway, you-- what? Time isn't linear? You're... still there? Oh, you've always been there and always will be there but you're also here. Sure sure. Right. Of course. So, yyyyeah... we're gonna have to take a pass on reinstating you right now. Maybe go home and rest. Spend some time with your family. We'll call you."
I'm not interested in him being in Starfleet anymore, but the story of DS9 and what happened to him, his ultimate fate and how it could circle back into the main narrative of ST intrigues me.
Me too. I'd want two seasons. One where everyone on the station comes to grips with him being gone, and one focused on what happens after he comes back in the season 8 finale.
Space: 1999 but similar to the Will and Grace approach, the second season would have been one character's dream.
MY SO-CALLED LIFE. Poor Brian Krakow!
Absolutely Fabulous, Monty Python, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Great laughs, great writing, usually. Oh, Max Headroom. Weird fun at the time.
I love that you dropped "MAX HEADROOM" into this thread.
Is a re-do of the way it was cancelled count?
Specifically, Arrested Development without the time jump that made the kids older and the Netflix thing.
It could have been amazing to get even one more season of peak AD
I haven't watched the Netflix seasons, so I can't comment here. Hm.
(not an answer to your question, BUT, as to your point 2)... are you reading the 2022 "Star Trek" comicbook featuring Sisko as the leading character?)
To answer your question, I would have loved (at lease) a second season of two Japanese dramas:
- Aoi Hono/Blue Blazes (https://mydramalist.com/10434-aoi-honoo) to see Hono's first steps as a professional mangaka while Hideaki Anno and friends would have gone on moving their first steps with GAINAX...
- Atami no Sousakan (https://asianwiki.com/Atami_no_Sousakan). The open finale is great, but I feel there were still so many stories to tell in in Minami-Atami... this was clearly inspired by Twin Peaks, but with its own kind of craziness (written and directed by Satoshi Miki, after all).
(I didn't mention UK shows Blake's 7 and Sapphire and Steel because they were made so much time ago that a new season would be more of a reboot...)
Seinfeld. Sharp social commentary played for laughs. Yet it did kind of extend with Curb Your Enthusiasm
BANSHEE. Who is Lucas? Why did he end up hiding in a small Pennsylvania town? Given the popularity of the actors in subsequent series, we need them all to come back for S05 and give Banshee the ending it deserves.
Evil. It’s on its final season at Paramount+ but deserves more. Great chemistry with the cast. The tonal shifts between comedy and drama shouldn’t work, but they do.