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More than most genres, fantasy television is prone to getting hit hard by series cancellations. It seems that unless there’s a Game of Thrones or Outlander-sized budget behind a production, it doesn’t stand a chance of telling its full story. And if it can happen to massive series like Wheel of Time or Kingdom, then it feels like the smaller series are basically set up to fail. Which also makes it seem that getting into fantasy television at all is a gamble—your favorite show is either going to be given the axe midway through, or runs the chance of butchering the source material so badly that you wish it had been (yes, Game of Thrones, you’ll never escape your sins). But despite being cut off way before their time, there are still a handful of shows that, while painful to hit that cliffhanger ending with no resolution, are more than worth a watch.
And here are four of the most painful shows that received an early cancellation—cut off before they truly got to make their mark and see what they really had the potential to be.
4. Camelot
Camelot is a fever dream of a show that feels like only about 2 dozen people saw. But to those two dozen people, it was something pretty special. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a Starz retelling of the King Arthur mythos: violent, evocative, and way sexier than it had any business being. Airing all the way back in 2011, it had only one season, and the cast was full of names you’d never expect to show up in the same production. The story takes place just after the death of King Uther, as the wizard Merlin (Joseph Fienes) places his secret son, Arthur (Jamie Campbell Bower), on the throne in hopes of unifying the nation left broken by his demise. But behind the scenes, Arthur’s half-sister, Morgan (Eva Green), plots to take that throne for herself, both for revenge over the death of her mother and because she believes that it’s hers by right. You can accuse Camelot of being a lot of things—a little self-serious, definitely cheesy at times, unable to fully commit to the bit of leaning into its gaudier elements—but you could never accuse it of being boring, or not worth a watch.
3. Unicorn: Warriors Eternal
Don’t be fooled by the name; this show gets dark. Which really should come as no surprise, considering that it was born from the mind of Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack, Primal). Ending after only one season, Unicorn was cut woefully short, with no second season ever announced. The series centers on a young girl who was infused with magical ability against her will. Soon after, she discovers that she is an integral part of a group of eternal heroes who find themselves destined to fight a supernatural evil throughout time. The animation style is gorgeous and just the perfect amount of weird, and while the worldbuilding was better than the actual plot in places, which ran a little thin during certain story beats, there really is nothing else like it. Really, if there’s a studio out there listening, we’re begging for some more Unicorn: Warriors Eternal. Just another season. Or two. Or maybe three.
2. The Acolyte
Is this technically sci-fi? Yes. Did it feel like a sweeping space opera fantasy with wild romantic and gothic potential? Also yes. And it was canceled entirely too early, proving to some that Disney has no idea what it’s doing with its Star Wars television series. It was easily the franchise’s darkest IP to date, a fact that likely contributed to its early demise, but also what earned it a passionate subset of devoted fans. By highlighting the nuance and humanity of someone who had fallen to the dark side (who wasn’t Anakin Skywalker), it opened an entire avenue of storytelling that Star Wars had yet to explore. Which makes the fact that it was canceled after only one season an even more terrible tragedy. The Acolyte had an insane amount of potential, and despite not being able to finish its story, it’s still well worth the watch. And who knows, with Manny Jacinto saying he would return, bringing the original cast and crew with him, anything is possible. Hear that, Disney? Anything is possible.
1. Shadow and Bone
Shadow and Bone, based on the series of novels by Leigh Bardugo, as well as the Six of Crows duology, is one show that you will always catch us screaming from the rooftops about. Its cancellation was one of the most unfair in recent years, and one that cost Netflix a decent number of subscribers. It came without warning, as much of a shock to the cast as it was to the diehard fans of both the books and the show.
And it wasn’t your typical fantasy setting either. While certainly not modern, Shadow and Bone was more of a nod to the Victorian and Regency eras, with a magic system that felt both in-depth and unique, and a noir-mystery vibe to the secondary plot, all while balancing the tried-and-true light-versus-darkness narrative that works so well in fantasy. So, yes, it was canceled after only two seasons, which is the most epic disappointment. But it’s still entirely worth watching. And when that’s finished, you can pick up both series that inspired the show to see how they end.
Which of these shows were you most sad to see end before they could finish their stories? Is there another series you think deserved to make this list? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. And don’t forget to check out the forum to see what other fantasy fans are saying.
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