The 2000s was a time of interesting films, television, and pop culture in general. TV shows of the 2000s had a different feel to the one's today. There were a number of shows that had amassed fans but sadly didn't make it past a couple of seasons, if they even got that far.
Years later, there are still viewers who rediscover these series and wonder why the show was canceled in the first place. Some of these shows may still ring a bell for people, while others may be unfamiliar to anyone who missed them at the time. Let's take a look at which shows should have had a longer time on the air.
American Dragon: Jake Long (2005-2007)
There are many animated shows from the 2000s that weren't given a chance to blossom. Many viewers have fond memories of catching their favorite shows either after school or on a lazy Saturday morning. Sadly, there are more than a handful of shows that were canceled and cut short.
One such show was American Dragon: Jake Long. Viewers still Jake Long's journey as he trained to become the first American Dragon, all while still dealing with being a normal 13-year-old. The show got the boot in 2007 after just two seasons.
Roswell (1999-2002)
The name Roswell may sound familiar due to the fact that the CW brought back a new and fresher version of the series in 2019. The original was a hit back at the beginning of the 2000s and had rave reviews. Years later, viewers who rediscover the series still fall in love with the dynamic story and main characters.
Roswell was based on the original young adult book series, Roswell High, and was cancelled after only three seasons. Among the cast was future Grey's Anatomy star Katherine Heigl in one of her breakthrough roles.
Tru Calling (2003-2008)
Tru Calling starred actress Eliza Dushku in the role of Tru Davies, a young college student who takes a job at the city morgue. She discovers that she has special powers to relive the last day of the deceased. She is then able to help stop their death from occurring or at least finding out who's responsible.
The show was a bit bizarre, sometimes perhaps too much so, but it was still loved by fans. It only got one full season and then a shortened second season before being canceled by Fox.
Witchblade (2001-2002)
Based on the popular comic book series of the same name, Witchblade was a show that never got to showcase its true potential due to its premature cancellation.
The series told the tale of a New York detective who is haunted by a dark past and comes in possession of an ancient artifact that gives her supernatural powers. The show met its end after only two seasons, with speculation that it was taken off the air due to behind the scenes strife rather than poor ratings.
Dollhouse (2009-2010)
The science-fiction show Dollhouse was another show starring Eliza Dushku in the lead, this time playing the role of Echo. The show was a sensation when it first aired in 2009, with a unique storyline that played on the idea of customizable AI.
Echo's memories are wiped and she's given new ones to suit her paying client. Along the way, Echo and other "dolls" are developing feelings and holding on to their past memories. While the show was canceled after two seasons due to low ratings, many praised it for its intriguing concept and dynamic episodes.
Blood Ties (2007)
Back in the 2000s, vampires were a huge commodity and Blood Ties was a guilty pleasure that fell right into that trend. The story revolved around a P.I. named Vicki Nelson, who finds herself in the world of the supernatural while pursuing a case. She partners up with a vampire to solve crimes dealing with the occult.
Audiences loved the show for its kooky yet mysterious episodes, as well as the love triangle-focused romance that drove the narrative. Sadly, the show ended after two seasons with much of the story left unresolved.
Freaks And Geeks (1999-2000)
The show Freaks And Geeks is still ed fondly and is frequently mentioned in discussions of shows that met an untimely end. The show's main cast included James Franco, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Seth Rogen, John Francis Daley, and Busy Phillips, most of which were still largely unknown at the time.
It was a teen comedy-drama that follows a gifted student who becomes friends with a group of slackers. Along with her younger brother, they all try to navigate the ins-and-outs of high school in the 1970s.
Dark Angel (2000-2002)
James Cameron's Dark Angel was one of the most ambitious TV shows ever made at the time of its release, especially for a non-cable series. In fact, its likely the show's high production values that made it difficult to justify itself beyond its two seasons.
It starred Jessica Alba as Max, an enhanced super-soldier who is determined to bring down the organization that did tests on her and find her lost brothers and sisters. The show did well for its first season but plummeted in the second, partly due to a misguided time slot change that limited its potential viewership.
Jericho (2006-2008)
The post-apocalyptic drama series Jericho involves the survivors of a nuclear attack in major cities in the U.S. Secrets and lies unfold as it revealed that the attacks were deliberate. The show had a mix of intrigue, deceit, personal growth and a turf war with a neighboring town.
Some viewers felt the show's writers jam-packed too much storyline into the second season causing it to lose its hook, and it was canceled before a third season could happen. However, the story was continued in comic book form.
Firefly (2002-2003)
Firefly was an American space western show that is the talk of the town when it comes shows that were canceled too soon. Even today, fans are still loving the show and wished it stuck around longer.
Set in 2517, it follows the arrival of humans in a new star system and a group of renegades on a ship called Serenity. Creator Joss Whedon was then given a chance few TV show creators get when their show is canceled too soon— to wrap up the events of the show in theatrically-released movie form, by way of the 2005 film Serenity.