Random TV Shows That Were Canceled On Major Cliffhangers (18 items)

(#18) Bored to Death
- Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson, Zach Galifianakis
Starring Jason Schwartzman, Zack Galifankis, and Ted Dansen, the off-beat black comedy Bored to Death follows failing writer trying his hand at crime-solving. It won an Emmy, but HBO still canceled the series after three seasons.
Unfortunately, this leaves protagonist Jonathan in the lurch after he discovers his girlfriend is actually his half-sister. Viewers never find out how he would have coped with this seismic revelation (though best guess is: not well).
(#10) Invasion
- William Fichtner, Eddie Cibrian, Lisa Sheridan, Kari Matchett, Tyler Labine, Evan Peters, Ariel Gade, Alexis Dziena, Aisha Hinds
This short-lived series from 2005 begins as the story of resilient Floridians coping in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane, and evolved into a sci-fi mystery about glowing-eyed, aquatic beasts secretly replacing members of the small town in the wake of the chaos.
After another hurricane hits, main character Russel Varon's ex-wife, Larkin – who is acting really suspiciously – is shot. Her similarly suspicious husband Sheriff Tom puts her body in the water but, as the show got canceled, viewers will never know what was about to happen to her or what the freaky insects were up to.
(#7) ALF
- Max Wright, Paul Fusco, Anne Schedeen, Andrea Elson, Ben Gregory, Liz Sheridan, John LaMotta
ALF was a show very much of its time – that time being 1986-90. The eponymous ALF was a fuzzy, snouted alien who crash-lands into the lives of human family the Tanners, causing surreal, cheesy comedy to ensue.
Despite a lighthearted and family-friendly feel throughout, the fourth and final season takes a comparatively darker turn. The cuddly space critter is forcibly captured by the Alien Task Force in the final episode. Luckily, this huge cliffhanger was resolved in the TV movie, Project ALF, six years later.
(#1) Hannibal
- Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Laurence Fishburne, Aaron Abrams, Caroline Dhavernas, Scott Thompson, Gillian Anderson, Tao Okamoto, Hettienne Park
Hannibal stars the brilliantly-cast Mads Mikklesen as Dr. Hannibal Lecter, the therapist with a ghoulish taste for human flesh, and Hugh Dancy as FBI agent Will Graham, whose darker side is teased out by the seductive doctor.
Their twisted obsession with one another is brought to an operatic conclusion in the Season 3 finale. The pair embraces on a clifftop, having taken care of a psychopathic murderer together... right before Will decides to plunge off the cliff with Hannibal. It's certainly poetic, though frustrating; showrunner Bryan Fuller had another season all planned out before NBC killed the show, leaving the fate of its two lead characters up in the air.
(#17) No Tomorrow
- Tori Anderson, Joshua Sasse, Jesse Rath, Amy Pietz, Sarayu Blue, Jonathan Langdon, Elizabeth Bowen
The irony of this 2016 show's title probably wasn't lost on the production staff when it was canceled after just one season. No Tomorrow focuses on an "opposites attract" romance between daredevil apocalypse-prepper Xavier, and not-so-daring quality-control assessor Evie.
The CW shows' axing meant viewers never learn whether or not an asteroid is really on a collision course with Earth (proving Xavier right, but leaving him little time to celebrate), or whether Evie ends up with him or Graham, the Doctors Without Borders stud.
(#8) My So-Called Life
- Bess Armstrong, Wilson Cruz, Claire Danes, Devon Gummersall, A.J. Langer, Jared Leto, Devon Odessa, Lisa Wilhoit, Tom Irwin
Claire Danes stars in this cult favorite from the '90s. Starring alongside a young Jared Leto, she plays teenager Angela Chase, struggling to navigate through the typically choppy adolescent waters of romance.
The Golden Globe-winning series was cruelly canceled after the first season, despite plans for a second. This left viewers with a parting shot of Angela driving off with Jared Leto's Jordan while her parent's marriage was in peril, with no hope of resolution.