Despite great writing, a stellar cast and continued support, great shows are cancelled all the time. Here are some of the great shows that never really got the numbers they deserved.
Firefly, Joss Whedon's Unappreciated Masterpiece
Firefly, Joss Whedon’s classic western-style sci-fi did everything right. The characters were intriguing and well-developed, the plot was engrossing and the visual effects were outstanding, but for some reason people just didn’t watch it. It hit cult status after DVDs hit stands and the large numbers of supporters were blessed with a film sequel name Serenity.
With Whedon working on the substandard Dollhouse, Nathan Fillion tied up in the crime series Castle and other cast members scattered in various different projects, any chances of seeing Firefly back on the small screen are slim to none.
The Action Drama Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles took the Terminator storyline to new heights with its inventive character development, a stellar cast and a great storyline. Much better than the recent attempt to bring the Terminator series back to the big screen, the T.V. show really succeeded in showing how a somewhat shy computer nerd led an entire army to fight in the resistance with the help of his strong willed mother.
While still action-packed, it was very story driven and creative, really coming into its own right before it was cancelled. Several campaigns tried to save the show, but even creator Josh Friedman conceded that worthy shows are cancelled every week.
The Hilarious Comedy Arrested Development
Arrested Development was a witty and clever look at a dysfunctional family. Every episode brought big laughs and the show didn’t rely solely on extremely crude and overly suggestive humor common in shows like Family Guy. A film is currently in development, while many of the cast members teamed up with creator Mitchell Hurwitz to star in the animated comedy Sit Down, Shut Up, a show which has received very mixed ratings.
The Ambitious, Religious Drama Kings
Kings was an ambitious show, building on the story of David from the Bible. With constant religious references, it was interesting to see a television show that focused on God, while still keeping dramatic elements. Although some episodes were hit and miss, the overall premise was very, daring and fresh. Despite critical acclaim the show didn’t pull in the numbers and another good show bites the dust.
The Time Travelling Marvel Journey Man
Journey Man had more than just a typical time travel premise; a man was pulled from his life and sent back in time to help someone from the past with sometimes gritty results. Though clever in its execution and different in its ideals, Journey Man never received the following it deserved.
The Cop Drama Life
Life was different than other crime dramas through the presentation of its primary character, Charlie Crews. Crews was a cop, recently released from prison when new evidence showed he was wrongfully accused of the murder of three of his friends. Now intrigued by the Zen lifestyle and with millions in compensation in his pocket, he returns to the force to do the only thing he know how, be a cop. The premise was great, but once the mystery of who framed him for the murders was solved, there wasn’t too much to go back for.
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