Every year, new TV series are born and old series die. More shows are added to the RIP list by the week.
The latest canceled TV shows include HBO Max's Minx and Netflix's Blockbuster.
While some shows are getting canceled, some are ending due to natural causes — after a long life or by choice of the creators. Among this set are fan favorites like Ozark, Black-ish, Better Call Saul, The Walking Dead and Peaky Blinders. In fact, there are so many that we've compiled a list of 21 TV shows we think were canceled too soon.
Before we dive in, a little positive news: There are plenty more renewed TV shows that are confirmed to be returning in the near future as well. And speaking of shows too popular to die, Yellowstone season 5 is going strong.
Here are the biggest canceled TV shows and series that are ending in 2022 (want to find something new that has a chance of survival? Check out our new on Netflix list).
Minx
Seasons: 1 | Ended: April 14, 2022
HBO Max actually renewed the dramedy set at a 1970s erotica magazine geared toward women. But then they pulled the plug — after season 2 had already finished filming. Minx became the latest casualty in the great Warner Bros. Discovery purge. However, the show's studio, Lionsgate, can shop it around to other outlets, so fans can have some hope.
Blockbuster
Seasons: 1 | Ended: Nov. 3, 2022
Netflix killed Blockbuster for a second time. The streamer is widely seen as the cause of the video rental chain's demise, which was the first death. Now, it's canceled the comedy set at the last Blockbuster store in the country. The show received terrible reviews, as even the combined charm of Randall Park and Melissa Fumero couldn't save the lackluster writing.
Raising Dion
Seasons: 2 | Ended: Feb. 1, 2022
Not all superheroes live forever; neither do all superhero shows. Raising Dion star Sammi Haney revealed on social media that the show had been cancelled by Netflix. "Thank you for all of the amazing support we got from all of our wonderful fans! Season 2 was a success, equal to Season 1, even if just looking at how many people watched all of it and wanted a season 3!" Haney said. The story follows young Dion (Ja’Siah Young) after he starts to manifest several mysterious, superhero-like abilities.
Archive 81
Seasons: 1 | Ended: January 14
The supernatural natural horror series left off with a massive cliffhanger, one that won't be resolved now that Netflix has opted not to move ahead with season 2. The cancellation came as a bit of a surprise since Archive 81 did hit No. 1 on Netflix's Top 10 list. The show centered on archivist Dan Turner (Mamadou Athie), who is restoring a collection of damaged videotapes from 1994 when he discovers mysterious footage about a dangerous cult.
New Amsterdam
Seasons: 5 | Ending: in the 2022-2023 season
Sometimes, shows and fans get a chance to say goodbye. NBC is axing hospital drama New Amsterdam following its upcoming fifth season. The series focuses on Dr. Max Goodwin (played by Ryan Eggold) the new administrator at one the country’s oldest public hospitals. Goodwin arrived to fix care issues, and throw out the old bureaucracy. New Amsterdam creator and producer David Schulner has explained how the show's wins go beyond ratings, stating "As my emotions swing from sadness to pride, I’d like to share New Amsterdam‘s recognition by the World Health Organization, which makes us more proud than any award or non-linear 30-day ratings curve ever could." This refers to a letter he’d received last year from Christopher Bailey, the WHO's Arts and Health lead, which stated "how much many of us at WHO appreciate your work and your show."
The Baby-Sitters Club
Seasons: 2 | Ended: Oct. 11, 2021
Even shows that are highly rated by critics and viewers aren't safe from being canceled — as Netflix's decision to kill off The Baby-Sitters Club proves. This Netflix Original based on a popular series of books has garnered near-universal acclaim, with a 100% rating from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and an 87% score among viewers. But for whatever reason, Netflix has now decided to axe the show after two seasons, leaving fans without a satisfying conclusion to the adventures of Kristy, Claudia, Stacey, Mary Anne, Dawn, Jessi and Mallory.
The Big Leap
Seasons: 1 | Ended: Dec. 6, 2021
Fox didn't let its ballet drama-comedy series The Big Leap take a second jump, but the network did spend months trying to figure out if the show should be canceled or not. Fox canceled The Big Leap on March 4, 2022 in a Friday afternoon news dump moment, and it's not hard to see why the show died. While The Big Leap earned a 100% on Rotten Tomatoes with critics, its ratings were the lowest on Fox that season. The Big Leap told the story of many aspiring performers looking for a second chance in a reality TV series.
Ordinary Joe
Seasons: 1 | Ended: January 24
Canceled shows often leave fans wanting answers. Ordinary Joe's single-season NBC run is a big example of this, as it ended with not one, but three cliffhangers. The series, created by The Batman director Matt Reeves, follows three different versions of Joe Kimbreau (James Wolk), as parallel universes (we guess) enabled us to see realities where Joe's a cop, a rock star and a nurse. Each of those Joes had a huge life choice at the end of the first season, but NBC canceled the TV show before it could show us what happened.
American Rust
Seasons: 1 | Ended: Nov. 7, 2021
Jeff Daniels and Maura Tierny led the cast of American Rust for one season before Showtime gave the series the axe. Daniels played police chief Del Harris, who was in love with a woman whose son with accused of murder. The announcement came on Jan. 25, 2022, via the Pittsburgh Tribune Review. Only on the air for one season, American Rust ended on multiple cliffhangers, which will likely go unresolved as the show doesn't seem like it will get picked up elsewhere.
Black Monday
Seasons: 3 | Ended: Aug. 1, 2021
The Don Cheadle-led Black Monday, which tried to explain how a band of renegade wanna-be brokers could have been responsible for the October 19, 1987 stock market crash, died a quiet death. Co-star Paul Scheer revealed the show's cancelation on a Twitch stream on January 20, 2022, saying "I guess we haven't said it, let's say Black Monday was not renewed. ... It's been a known factor for months and months and months, but I guess no-one has officially said it. But now I have."
Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol
Seasons: 1 | Ended: January 24
This Dan Brown adaptation is the first big Peacock canceled show of 2022. Airing for only one season, and finding tepid reviews online, Dan Brown's The Lost Symbol failed to secure an audience or thrill critics. With a premise revolving around a severed hand, and spinning off of a movie franchise that was on the decline with audiences, The Lost Symbol seemed fated for the axe.
Ellen's Game of Games
Seasons: 5 | Ended: January 18
Ellen's other show (read more about her talk show below) is also ending. NBC canceled Ellen's Game of Games, a competition series where guests played games made famous from the interviews DeGeneres conducted in morning show. Airing in prime time for four seasons, GoG was canceled after its ratings dipped too far in 2021.
I Know What You Did Last Summer
Seasons: 1 | Ended: November 12, 2021
The series based on Lois Duncan's novel didn't captivate the zeitgeist the way its predecessor movie did in 1997. Like the film, the show followed a group of teens who are stalked by a killer one year after covering up a fatal car accident. The attempt to bring the story into the TikTok age received dismal reviews and, worse, never seemed to trend on social media. Compare that to another series featuring teens in dire circumstances (the critically beloved Yellowjackets) and it's easy to see why Amazon pulled the plug.
Gentefied
Seasons: 2 | Ended: January 14, 2022
2022 is just like every other year, as Netflix canceled another show early on. Gentefied, from America Ferrara (Ugly Betty) had two seasons of storytelling about a trio of Mexican American cousins in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles. Their stories, which involves babies, familial separation and gentrification, were cut short from a third season.
Bull
Seasons: 6 | Ending: May 26
After six seasons of playing Dr. Jason Bull, star Michael Weatherly is exiting the CBS legal drama Bull. CBS canceled the show following the announcement of its titular star leaving. Bull made more news over its internal troubles, though, with CBS paying actress Eliza Dushku $9.5 million to settle a sexual harassment claim against Weatherly, and series showrunner Glenn Gordon Caron getting fired following an investigation.
Search Party
Seasons: 5 | Ended: January 7, 2022
The wild ride that is Search Party had to come to an end at some point. And what an exhilarating five seasons it's been! The show started off with Dory (Alia Shawkat) and friends looking for a missing classmate; it concluded with Dory as a guru selling enlightenment to the world. Along the way, Search Party took astonishing twists and turns, while remaining completely hilarious.
The Expanse
Seasons: 6 | Ended: January 14
The Expanse already survived one cancellation (by Syfy after season 3), so it's not completely farfetched to think that the space drama might find a new docking station after its "final" season on Amazon. Writers Daniel Abraham and Ty Franck have said that they consider this a “pause point” for the story. What that actually means remains to be seen.
After Life
Seasons: 3 | Ended: January 14
Ricky Gervais doesn't like to outstay his welcome; none of his series have lasted more than a few seasons or a couple dozen episodes. So it goes with his dark comedy After Life, which wraps up its exploration of grief with an ash-disposing road trip. When you consider successes like The Office (UK) and Extras that left us wanting more, you have to admit it's a pretty good strategy.
Claws
Seasons: 4 | Ended: February 6
Not even a manicure by Desna Simms (Niecy Nash-Betts) and her Florida salon crew can last forever. The wickedly funny and very dark comedy has seen the manicurists clawing their way from painting nails to laundering money to controlling a criminal enterprise. TNT is moving away from scripted content, which may be why the show is closing shop. But the network's boss has promised it'll be "a little bit of crazy, a lot of fun and the exhilarating ending to a great series run."
A Discovery of Witches
Seasons: 3 | Ended: February 18, 2022
The fantasy drama is ending for a very simple reason: It's mirroring Deborah Harkness' novels. Season 3 takes on the last entry in her trilogy, The Book of Life, which sees witch Diana Bishop (Teresa Palmer) and vampire Matthew Clairmont (Matthew Goode) fighting for their lives as well as those of their unborn twin babies. They must take down the manipulative Congregation, stop the blood-raged vampire feasting on humans in London and find the missing pages to the magical tome.
Better Things
Seasons: 5 | Ended: April 25
All good things must come to an end? Well, f---k that because we're extremely sad to see Pamela Adlon's acclaimed series conclude. The fifth and final season of the FX comedy will pave the way for Sam Fox and her three daughters to discover themselves in the next phase of their lives. There's a bit of hope that we may see them all again at some point down the road. Adlon herself said, "This is gonna be a wrap on Sam Fox (for now)." Hope to see you play it again, Sam.
Killing Eve
Seasons: 4 | Ended: April 11, 2022
The cat-and-mouse game between Eve (Sandra Oh) and Villanelle (Jodie Comer) should have a thrilling finish. For three seasons, the intelligence agent and the assassin have danced around each other. In the final act, they start off in very different places — with Eve seeking revenge and Villanelle living in a new community — but we have a feeling they'll find their way into each other's company once again.
Peaky Blinders
Seasons: 6 | Ended: April 3
While the sixth season may be the last of the Peaky Blinders series, it won't be the end of the story of crime boss Tommy Shelby (Cillian Murphy) and his gang of misfits. Creator Steven Knight is planning on a follow-up movie, set to begin filming in 2023. Not only that, there may be additional shows set in the Peaky Blinders universe. As for the flagship's farewell, expect blood and mayhem as World War II approaches.
Black-ish (ABC)
Seasons: 8 | Ended: April 19, 2022
Black-ish may be closing its doors after eight seasons, but several windows are opening. The ABC family comedy has already launched two spinoffs (Grown-ish and Mixed-ish) and is prepping another (Old-ish). But it's still bittersweet to await the final installment of the flagship, following the antics of Anthony Anderson and Tracee Ellis Ross as heads of the Johnson family.
This Is Us (NBC)
Seasons: 6 | Ending: May 24
Stock up on tissues, because the Pearsons are saying farewell soon — and you just know the tears will flow. The NBC drama is wrapping up in 2022 after six seasons, which was creator Dan Fogelman's plan all along. Heading into the final chapter, we expect high emotion from Sterling K. Brown, Mandy Moore, Milo Ventimiglia and the rest of the cast.
Better Call Saul
Seasons: 6 | Ending: TBA
We all knew AMC's Breaking Bad prequel eventually had to catch up to the events of the original series, but that doesn't make saying goodbye any easier. The story of Jimmy McGill's transformation into Saul Goodman (Bob Odenkirk) has been enthralling. While it's been intriguing to learn more about familiar characters like Saul, Mike (Jonathan Banks) and Gus (Giancarlo Esposito), the best part has been getting to know Kim Wexler (Rhea Seehorn). Her fate is one that we've worried about since Better Call Saul premiered — and we have a very bad feeling about it ahead of the final season.
Grace and Frankie
Seasons: 7 | Ending: April 29
Nowadays, it's rare for a Netflix series to reach a fourth season, much less a seventh, which is a testament to the staying power of Grace and Frankie. The delightfully zany chemistry between stars Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin is a big part of that. The first four episodes of the final season dropped last year, with the other 12 due to be released sometime in 2022.
Derry Girls
Seasons: 3 | Ending: May 17
The Irish teen comedy is a goddamn delight, one we've been missing for what feels like eons (since April 2019). Creator Lisa McGee has said three seasons was always the plan — short but sweet. Well, it's more like bittersweet to bid farewell to Erin (Saoirse-Monica Jackson), Orla (Louisa Harland), Clare (Nicola Coughlan), Michelle (Jamie-Lee O'Donnell), and James (Dylan Llewellyn). On the bright side, McGee has hinted that the characters could "return in some other guise someday."
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (syndicated)
Seasons: 19 | Ending: May 26
The dancing queen of daytime is giving up her crown. Ellen DeGeneres is choosing to end her show after nearly two decades, telling The Hollywood Reporter, "When you’re a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged — and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it’s just not a challenge anymore." The talk show's end comes after it was dogged by accusations of a toxic workplace culture. The final season will kick off this fall.
Queen Sugar
Seasons: 7 | Ending: TBA
Ava DuVernay's drama about a Black family in Louisiana has been an unflinching, thoughtful exploration of racism, injustice, class and gender dynamics. The Bordelons have been through a lot in the previous six seasons, but they head into the final chapter on the upswing after welcoming a new baby, getting engaged and notching a victory over corrupt businessman Sam Landry.
Ozark (Netflix)
Seasons: 4 | Ending: April 29
The award-winning crime drama will conclude with a super-sized season, which “means super sized problems for the Byrdes,” according to star Jason Bateman. Ozark season 4 will have 14 episodes split into two halves. The first batch drops January 21, while the second installment could roll out in late 2022. Here's our look ahead at Ozark season 4 part 2.
The Walking Dead (AMC)
Seasons: 11 | Ending: TBA
Who else thought that AMC’s drama, like the zombies that populate it, would never die? Until its middle years, The Walking Dead was a massive hit that went on to spawn two spinoffs and possible more. But more and more cast members have left (including star Andrew Lincoln) and ratings have fallen. For everything there is a final season and the time has come for this one-time behemoth, with The Walking Dead season 11 being its last run.
Dead to Me (Netflix)
Seasons: 3 | Ending: TBA
Creator Liz Feldman’s decision to end her Netflix show after three seasons was inspired by the short run of Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Fleabag. It “felt like the right amount,” she told Deadline. Stars Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini will return to wrap up the story of two friends brought together by murder.
