fantasy shows have been canceled before completing their original plans, and in some cases, this means major incidents remain unresolved. This can be seen with several of Netflix's recent projects, though it's not the only platform to have this problem.
Fantasy shows tend to have intricate plots, which makes it difficult to end a season on a conclusive note, unless it's the final outing. If there's more story to tell, projects attempt to build momentum ahead of another season. This makes things worse when they're unexpectedly canceled, as there are huge questions and storylines that never get addressed properly.
5 Shadow And Bone (2021-2023)
Canceled After Season 2
Shadow and Bone
- Release Date
- 2021 - 2023-00-00
- Showrunner
- Eric Heisserer
- Directors
- Mairzee Almas, Lee Toland Krieger, Jeremy Webb, Bola Ogun, Karen Gaviola, Laura Belsey, Dan Liu
Cast
Kit Young
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on Leigh Bardugo's bestselling Grishaverse novels, Netflix's Shadow and Bone follows the story of Alina Starkov, an orphan and soldier who has released a power that could potentially set her country free. Instead, Alina s an elite army of soldiers known as the Grisha as the Shadow Fold, an area of mysterious darkness that grows each year, threatening to envelop her world. Alina quickly learns that nothing is as it seems, and it will take more than the power of magic to make it through.
Despite Shadow and Bone was canceled by Netflix after just two seasons — and the show's final episode left viewers in a strange place. On the one hand, Shadow and Bone season 2 successfully resolved the issues of the Darkling and the Fold, wrapping some of the biggest storylines in a way that felt like a proper ending. However, that didn't prevent the Netflix show from dropping a major twist in the final moments of season 2. This made its premature conclusion more disappointing.
This cliffhanger raised many questions that even Bardugo's books couldn't answer.
Shadow and Bone season 2's ending diverged from Bardugo's canon, revealing that Alina had manifested the same shadow abilities as General Kirigan during its final scene. This cliffhanger raised many questions that even Bardugo's books couldn't answer. Add in the fact that Alina became the Queen of Ravka — another break from the source material — and viewers were desperate to know where things were headed. Unfortunately, thanks to the series' cancelation, we'll never see how things might have played out.
4 Warrior Nun (2020-2022)
Canceled After Season 2
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Warrior Nun
- Release Date
- 2020 - 2021
- Network
- Netflix
- Showrunner
- Simon Barry
Cast
Alba Baptista-
Toya Turner
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on the comic series Warrior Nun Areala, Warrior Nun is a Netflix series created by Simon Barry. When an orphaned teen wakes up in a morgue and a mysterious artifact lodged inside her, she learns she is part of an ancient order tasked with hunting demons - and that she's the chosen Halo-Bearer with unique superpowers.
- Directors
- Simon Barry
- Writers
- Simon Barry
- Seasons
- 2
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Warrior Nun has become one of Netflix's most controversial cancelations in recent years, prompting a massive fan campaign to bring back the series — one that led to the announcement of Warrior Nun season 2's ending also left viewers on a cliffhanger after finally giving them the romance they'd been waiting for.
6 Biggest Things That Would Have Happened In Warrior Nun Season 3
Warrior Nun season 2’s finale, combined with recent comments from showrunner Simon Barry, helps decipher what would have happened in season 3.
Ava nearly dies during the fight against Adriel in Warrior Nun season 2's finale, but Sister Beatrice and Lilith send her through a portal to another realm to save her. Ava and Beatrice finally it their love for one another before this happens, leaving viewers eager for a reunion. Lilith's sentiment that a holy war is on the horizon also makes it seem like there's more to come in Warrior Nun season 3. This finale certainly doesn't feel like the end of the story, and the post-credits scene teases that it isn't. Unfortunately, none of these hints were delivered on.
3 Kaos (2024)
Canceled After Season 1
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Kaos
- Release Date
- 2024 - 2024-00-00
- Directors
- Georgi Banks-Davies, Runyararo Mapfumo
- Writers
- Charlie Covell, Georgia Christou
WHERE TO WATCH
Kaos is a dark comedy series starring Jeff Goldblum as Zeus. Zeus is enjoying being the King of the Gods, until he starts to self-destruct after thinking a wrinkle on his forhead is a sign of an ancient prophecy. His situation becomes even worse when Prometheus develops a plan to take Zeus down once and for all.
- Creator(s)
- Charlie Covell
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Kaos was one of Netflix's most interesting new shows in 2024, but sadly, the Jeff Goldblum-led series was short-lived. And like many other canceled Netflix projects, Kaos left viewers on a pretty unfortunate cliffhanger. Hera rallies the troops against Zeus during the final moments of season 1, but she'll never get the chance to go to war with her husband now that Kaos has been canceled. That's not to mention all the other storylines left unresolved, from Zeus' aging problem to Eurydice's destiny.
Kaos is the perfect example of a fantasy project with plenty of potential that wasn't given a chance to find its footing.
Kaos established a clear direction for season 2, and the Netflix series left the fates of the gods up in the air after its season 1 finale. This made it all the more disappointing when the streamer revealed that it wouldn't return. Kaos is the perfect example of a fantasy project with plenty of potential that wasn't given a chance to find its footing.
2 Lockwood & Co. (2023)
Canceled After Season 1
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Lockwood & Co.
- Release Date
- 2023 - 2023-00-00
- Network
- Netflix
- Directors
- William McGregor
Cast
-
Ruby Stokes
-
Cameron Chapman
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on the novels by Jonathan Stroud, Lockwood & Co. is a supernatural detective action series that centers around a small agency of paranormal investigators that face off with dangerous spirits. The only teenage-operated agency, Lockwood & Co., hosts three gifted hunters who operate outside the bureaucracy that holds back their competitors. With minimal resources and nothing to lose, the three teenagers will find themselves in a deadly conspiracy that only they can stop.
- Seasons
- 1
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Lockwood & Co. is another fantasy series to meet an early end on Netflix, but fortunately, Jonathan Stroud's books can tell viewers where things are headed next. Lockwood & Co. season 1's ending leaves off on an unsatisfying note, with Lockwood about to reveal important information about his backstory by opening the door to his secret room.
The outing comes to a frustrating close at this point, and the series' cancelation ensures this final scene will remain a frustrating and mysterious moment. While those who have read the books can piece together what comes next, those invested in Netflix's iteration of Lockwood & Co. were left wondering. It's a shame, as this was yet another fantasy series with great potential.
1 Cursed (2020)
Canceled After Season 1
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Cursed
- Release Date
- 2020 - 2019
- Network
- Netflix
- Showrunner
- Frank Miller
Cast
-
Matt Stokoe
WHERE TO WATCH
Based on the book of the same name, Cursed is a re-imagining of the Arthurian legend, told through the eyes of Nimue, a teenage heroine with a mysterious gift destined to become the influential Lady of the Lake. After her mother's death, she finds an unexpected partner in Arthur, a young mercenary, in a quest to find Merlin and deliver an ancient sword. Throughout her journey, Nimue becomes a symbol of courage and rebellion against the terrifying Red Paladins and their complicit King Uther.
- Directors
- Frank Miller
- Writers
- Frank Miller
- Seasons
- 1
- Story By
- Frank Miller
- Streaming Service(s)
- Netflix
Cursed was one of Netflix's best releases of 2020, but the fantasy show didn't make it past the first season. Cursed season 1's ending, but it's never revealed whether she lives or dies. Thanks to the fantasy series' cancelation, there's been no answer to this question. While ambiguous conclusions work for some shows, this one didn't suit Cursed, which easily could have continued.
10 Great Fantasy TV Shows With Terrible Endings
Fantasy shows range from excellent to abysmal endings, but there are 10 great fantasy TV shows in particular that have terrible endings.
Despite leaving the fate of its heroine hanging in the balance, Cursed's cliffhanger ending has received significantly less backlash than some of the other canceled fantasy projects of the 2020s. It's still a great example of a fantasy show that was canceled at the worst time, however, making a good argument for giving series more than one season to tell their stories.
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