With equal parts drama and angst, teen TV series are a rich source of storytelling, capturing self-discovery, heartache, and difficult early life lessons. From the friends-to-lovers trope to supernatural thrills to dark mysteries, the coming-of-age genre has the great capability to tell an endless rotation of compelling stories that reach even those beyond their target audience. Sadly, teenage tales are one of the most affected when it comes to networks and streaming giants canceling productions.
Throughout the years, there have been many captivating teen shows that got the axe before they got a chance to come into their own. Some examples include Mike Flanagan’s Midnight Mass, Prime Video’s YA drama Panic, and Shadow and Bone on Netflix. There are countless others that deserved a chance to “grow up” before their untimely end.
The 10 canceled teen shows on this list are some of the ones viewers are still mourning.
10
‘My So-Called Life’ (1994 – 1995)
Claire Danes received universal praise for her lead performance as the introspective, precocious protagonist Angela Chase in this ’90s cult classic. My So-Called Life aired on ABC in the fall of 1994 through January 1995. Set in the fictional suburban Pennsylvania town of Three Rivers and narrated by Angela, the teen drama follows as the 15-year-old and her friends navigate the trials and tribulations of adolescent life. The show was ahead of its time, tackling subjects that were taboo back then, like sexuality, homophobia, violence, drug use, and more.
One of the Best Portraits of Adolescence
Despite a handful of Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe Award for Danes, and critical acclaim, the show was canceled after only one season, leaving audiences hanging on a cliffhanger of sorts. Low ratings were to blame, as well as the lack of publicity by the network. A passionate online campaign was started by fans to try to save the show, but sadly, that fight was lost. Although it only lasted for a short time, the groundbreaking series continues to live as one of the greatest teen dramas of all time. It’s mind-blowing to think of the great lengths it could have gone to if it had run for longer.
9
‘Freaks and Geeks’ (1999 – 2000)
Freaks and Geeks premiered on ABC in the fall of 1999 and was canceled after airing 15 of its 18 episodes. Created by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids and A Simple Favor) and produced by Judd Apatow, the teen dramedy is set in a fictional suburb of Detroit. It follows Lindsay Weir, played by Linda Cardellini, and her younger brother, Sam (John Frances Daley), during the 1980-81 school year as they navigate the minefields of high school life. Trying to find their way, Lindsay joins the “freaks,” and Sam becomes a part of the “geeks.”
Among the Best Shows of the ’90s
The TV show launched the careers of Cardellini, Daley, Seth Rogen, Busy Phillips, and Jason Segel. It left a mark with its honest, character-driven storylines. By focusing on misfits and outcasts, it completely defied expectations. With its unique blend of humor and heartfelt emotion, the series had great potential to go far. Sadly, it didn’t get to further explore its themes of identity and self-discovery. Its life was cut short due to a poor time slot and the clash of visions between the creative directors and the network. Despite being a one-season wonder, the show has become a beloved cult classic.
8
‘Dead of Summer’ (2016)
Those growing up watching Freeform in the 2010s might remember the unceremoniously canceled horror TV show Dead of Summer. Created by the minds behind Once Upon a Time, the series stars Elizabeth Lail (You, Five Nights at Freddy’s). Set in the summer of 1989, it centers around a group of misfit counselors at Camp Stillwater, which has been newly reopened by Deb Carpenter (Elizabeth Mitchell), herself a former counselor. When a series of unexplained incidents occur, such as a slaughtered deer, the death of a handyman, and alleged sightings of the “Tall Man” (Tony Todd), the teens investigate. Their discoveries lead to a Satanic cult and the land’s dark, old history.
Criminally Underrated Campy Horror
While it’s not the greatest show, it’s so much better than its reputation would have you believe. Surprisingly inclusive, it featured Black, queer, and Latinx characters, also shining a light on the trans experience and delving into xenophobia. What made the series so compelling was its fleshed-out characters and how it used flashbacks to share their backstories. Although it had its shortcomings, it had great potential to become more refined in later seasons. Conceived as an anthology, it’s hard not to lament what new scary stories would have been introduced.
7
‘The Society’ (2019)
One of Netflix’s greatest crimes was canceling the mystery teen drama The Society. Following a Lord of the Flies-type premise, the series sees a school bus full of kids suddenly end up in a completely vacant version of their hometown, where they’re forced to set up a functioning society to survive with limited resources, without adult supervision, and with no contact to the outside world. With a newly appeared dense forest around the town’s borders, they have no other option.
A Sad and Unexpected Cancellation
The series attracted many viewers and was renewed for a second season, but it sadly became a victim of COVID budget cuts, upsetting fans to this day. It has been one of the most unique and compelling shows on the streaming platform. With a huge cliffhanger in the finale and plenty of unexplored potential plotlines, this one really hurt.
6
‘I Am Not Okay With This’ (2020)
Another show canceled way too soon by Netflix is the coming-of-age black comedy I Am Not Okay With This. Based on the graphic novel of the same name by Charles Forsman, the series stars Sophia Lillis (It, It Chapter Two, Gretel & Hansel) as Sydney Novak, a 17-year-old lesbian struggling with the woes of adolescence, complicated family dynamics, and her father’s death. As she navigates all of this, she also tries to make sense of her newfound telekinetic powers, which are triggered by the strong emotions she can’t avoid as a teen.
Another Great Teen Drama Axed by Netflix
The series delved into meaningful subjects like sexuality, mental health, and grief. Despite its immense popularity and critical appraise, I Am Not Okay With This was canceled after only one season, becoming a part of the shows axed in the wake of COVID. It was a standout for being dark and more profound compared to other teen dramas. The heartfelt coming-of-age story would have gone to incredible places had it been allowed.
5
‘Gossip Girl’ (2021 – 2023)
CW’s original Gossip Girl is one of the most defining series of the 2000s, forever remaining iconic in television history. When it got a reboot by HBO Max in 2021, the new show was met with mixed reception. With big shoes to fill, that it was even made was faced with great controversy. While it does fall short in some ways compared to its predecessor, the teen drama wasn’t half as bad as some reviews would have you believe. The cast includes Jordan Alexander, Whitney Peak, Zión Moreno, Thomas Doherty, Savannah Lee Smith, Evan Mock, Eli Brown, and Emily Alyn Lind.
A Reboot With New Fan-Favorite Characters
Gen Z breathed fresh life into the show. Not only that, but the characters were more diverse, deviating from the all-white cast presented in the original. The new series’ two main characters were a Black girl duo who played sisters, with another Black teen front and center. The show also featured a trans character and a Filipino-American. With the new age of technology and social media, the series held great potential to introduce interesting situations, but it was canceled after only two seasons. If it had been allowed to run longer, it would have surely improved on its shortcomings. Sadly, audiences will never know what could have been.
4
‘Cruel Summer’ (2021- 2023)
Cruel Summer is a teen mystery anthology that made its debut in 2021. The first season is set between 1993 and 1995 and focuses on Kate Wallis (Olivia Holt), a popular girl who goes missing, and Jeanette Turner (Chiara Aurelia), an outsider who seemingly steps into her life, raising questions about her involvement when Kate is found alive a year later. In Season 2, Megan Landry (Sadie Stanley), a girl from a small town in Washington, welcomes a rich exchange student into her home, Isabella LaRue (Lexi Underwood). The two develop a deep friendship that turns dark, with a deadly love triangle erupting following the leak of a sex tape.
One of the Best Teen Thrillers Ever Created
After Season 1, Cruel Summer became Freeform’s most-watched series to date. To the dismay of its dedicated fanbase, the anthology show was canceled after its second season. As one of the most compelling teen series, it was a shame that it came to an early end. The show explored captivating and profound themes like manipulation, deception, trauma, and the complexities of adolescent relationships. Filled with intense suspense and drama, viewers were kept at the edge of their seats with each episode.
3
‘The Wilds’ (2020 – 2022)
Prime Video is becoming the hub for teen series, with productions like The Summer I Turned Pretty, Maxton Hall, Motorheads, and We Were Liars. One show the platform will never be forgiven for ending before its time is the young adult drama The Wilds. In Yellowjackets fashion, a group of teenage girls become stranded on an island after their plane crashes on their way to the Dawn of Eve Program, a young women’s empowerment retreat. There, they’re forced to create their own society and live off the sea and land, all while confronting the traumas of their past.
A True Loss
The show was extremely intriguing for featuring flashbacks that deeply delved into the backstories of each character. As the story progressed, it unfolded an overarching mystery involving an organization that purposefully placed the girls there in the first place. The Wilds was canceled after the second season, causing rage among fans, and gutting one of the most compelling teen dramas in recent years.
2
‘First Kill’ (2022)
First Kill was a double whammy, becoming one of many fantasy shows canceled by Netflix and yet another great queer series that was undeservedly axed. Created by renowned author V.E. Schwab, the story follows teen Legacy (born, not made) vampire Juliette Fairmont (Sarah Catherine Hook), who must make her first kill after her 16th birthday. She winds up falling for Calliope Burns (Imani Lewis), who comes from a long line of monster hunters and is prepping to slay her first to become an official hunter.
A Show Drained of Life Too Soon
The supernatural teen drama has one of the most addictive and rich enemies-to-lovers tales on the screen. It became extremely beloved among young audiences, especially LGBTQ+ viewers. Its cancellation was hard to digest, with so few queer stories out there. First Kill had the potential to be another The Vampire Diaries, The Originals, or young adult True Blood.
1
‘Pretty Little Liars: Original Sin’ (2022 – 2024)
Pretty Little Liars, which ran from 2010 to 2017, is one of the most popular teen dramas ever created. Its 2019 spin-off, The Perfectionists, was canceled due to small viewership. When Original Sin came out, expanding on the universe and introducing new characters, it surpassed both. As a horror homage-laden slasher, the mystery was something else entirely. When the reboot was canceled after only two seasons, it came as a huge surprise. The series had garnered a dedicated following and had been well received by critics.
A Gory, Suspenseful Slasher Full of Horror References
Season 1, titled PLL: Original Sin, introduces five teenage girls — Imogen (Bailee Madison), Tabby (Chandler Kinney), Faran (Zaria), Noa (Maia Reficco), and Minnie (Malia Pyles) — who come together when they start receiving anonymous message from “A,” a mysterious person who holds their moms responsible for the death of a classmate on New Year’s Eve 1999. “A” starts wreaking havoc through their town, leaving a trail of bodies behind. In the second season, PLL: Summer School, the girls are preyed on by a new masked killer.
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