Great TV shows that lasted just two seasons is a surprisingly long list.
It makes you wonder why good shows fail to attract an audience. Is it ineffective marketing (or a lack thereof)? Did the show not connect with viewers?
Whatever the case may be, the following shows are well worth your time even though each ended too soon.
“Counterpart” — Arguably the best two-season show ever ended on a perfect note. The fascinating sci-fi series starred J. K. Simmons and Olivia Williams as agents caught in a cold war between mirror universes. It’s a deep exploration of how global conflicts can begin with a few people.
“Terminator: The Sarah Conner Chronicles” — If I had to rank the “Terminator” saga I’d choose “T2,” “T1,” “T:SCC,” “T3” and then everything else. Lena Headey is fantastic as Sarah Connor and Summer Glau was brilliant as a T model. The twist at the end of season two hurts when you consider how great a third season three might have been.
“Tokyo Vice” — This HBO show should be more loved. The travelogue of Tokyo alone is worth the watch, but the drama is real, based on the book by journalist Jake Adelstein. The story tracked down how Yakuza bosses were paying to skip the line for transplants for cash in U.S. hospitals. It’s a gritty show with a fantastic cast: Ansel Elgort as Jake, Rachel Keller as Samantha Porter, Sho Kasamatsu as Sato and the venerable Ken Watanabe as world-weary detective Hiroto Katagiri.
“Fleabag” — Maybe it didn’t merit a five or six-season run, but Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s dark comedy deserved at least a third go-around. We came to love the unlovable sisters played by Waller-Bridge and Sian Clifford. Such a funny twosome.
“Carnivale” — This quirky show made a lot of Top Ten lists during its short run because it had so much going for it. The saga depicted an epic battle between good and evil during the Dust Bowl era.
“The Alienist” — I really liked this three-person detective team (Daniel Bruhl, Dakota Fanning, and Luke Evans) set in late 1800s Manhattan. The show felt like it was building to an even better third season, but I was in the minority on that front.
“Winning Time” — This is a show that, a decade from now, people will lament not getting a third season. It built a perfect foundation to highlight the Lakers versus Celtics clash during the 1980’s “Showtime” era. The show’s ratings collapse couldn’t be ignored.
“Enlightened” — Brilliant and perfect at two seasons. The series, created by Mike White and starring Laura Dern, delves into a s*** show of a personality trying to reach enlightenment while managing an out-of-control inner and outer life.
“Mindhunter” — People keep trying to bring this one back, but I think two seasons is just right for this show about a team catching serial killers. Come on, they tackled most of the big names by the end of season two, yes?
“Dollhouse” — The premise was exceptional and the execution not as bad as some remember, but I think it just was too much for a large audience at the time (2009-2010). The show depicted “Dolls” who have their memories blanked so a new “program” personality can be run for various crimes, adventures and rendezvous.
“Lodge 49” — Weird, quirky and fun, plus it added a visually interesting canvas.
“Pushing Daises” — I wasn’t a huge fan of this quirky ABC comedy, but I certainly liked it.
That’s all I have on my list. Did I miss your favorite? Why do you think there are so many good two-season shows that get canceled?
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