10 Cancelled TV Shows We Wish Netflix Would Bring Back

1. Santa Clarita Diet (2017-2019)

There's nothing like a good family sitcom to kick back to, right? Well, Santa Clarita Diet was nothing like a good family sitcom, and we mean that affectionately. A dark comedy featuring Drew Barrymore as a suburban real estate agent who turns into a zombie and starts craving human flesh, this show had a healthy mix of gore, humor, and surprisingly, heart. Yes, there was heart, and not in a literal sense.

The show was unexpectedly canceled after three seasons, leaving fans on a cliffhanger that could have been solved with just a touch of zombie-logic closure. Critics loved it too, with a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 100% for its final season.

2. The OA (2016-2019)

The OA was a sci-fi drama that seemed to specialize in blowing our minds with its intricate plot and nuanced storytelling. Brit Marling starred as Prairie Johnson, a blind woman who resurfaces after a seven-year disappearance with her sight mysteriously restored. This was just the beginning of an extraordinary story involving near-death experiences, inter-dimensional travel, and interpretive dance.

After a mind-bending cliffhanger in season two, Netflix dropped the ax, depriving us of answers to the labyrinthine mysteries the show had carefully constructed.

3. Everything Sucks! (2018)

For those of you who miss the 90s, Everything Sucks! was the show you never knew you needed until, well, you watched it. The series offered an amusingly nostalgic, yet heartfelt look at high school life in the 1990s. Set in the real-life town of Boring, Oregon, it followed two groups of misfit students, one from the A/V club and one from the drama club.

With only one season, it didn't fully get the chance to explore the depth of its diverse characters. Plus, the cliffhanger ending of Kate Messner's relationship drama and the fallout from the Tori Amos incident begs for closure. Maybe someday, when 80s' craze will end with Stranger Things…

4. GLOW (2017-2020)

This comedy-drama, based on the real-life Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling, was a brilliant mix of the absurd and the poignant. The show boasted an ensemble cast, including Alison Brie, Betty Gilpin, and Marc Maron, who brought the 1980s women's wrestling league to life. The first three seasons garnered 17 (!) Emmy nominations, making its cancellation even more of a shock. With season 4 already in the works, the show's sudden demise due to COVID-19 related issues left fans grappling for more.

5. Sense8 (2015-2018)

Created by the Wachowskis, Sense8 was a grand sci-fi drama series with an ambitious premise that spanned continents and cultures. It followed eight strangers from different parts of the world who suddenly become mentally and emotionally linked. Known for its inclusive and diverse cast, the show was lauded for its representation of various ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities. It got a two-hour special to wrap things up – a rare occurrence given Netflix's tendencies to just ax its shows randomly, but still.

6. Tuca & Bertie (2019)

Featuring the voice talents of comedians Tiffany Haddish and Ali Wong, Tuca & Bertie was an animated series about a toucan and a songbird who were best friends navigating their 30s in Bird Town. From the team behind Bojack Horseman, the show's quirky animation and adult humor were well-loved, but it also tackled serious themes such as anxiety and sexual harassment with a surprising degree of sensitivity.

Unfortunately, it was cancelled after one season due to low viewership, a decision that had many fans squawking in protest. Thankfully, Adult Swim swooped in to continue the series, but we'd still love to see it back on Netflix's roster.

7. Mystery Science Theater 3000 (2017-2018)

Mystery Science Theater 3000 was not just a show; it was a pop-culture phenomenon that celebrated and poked fun at B-movies. The revival of this cult classic was crowd-funded and managed to preserve the original's charm with the same concept: a host and his robot companions humorously commentate on low-budget movies. After two seasons on Netflix, the curtain fell again, leaving fans to riff on the cancellation themselves.

8. The Get Down (2016-2017)

Set in the late '70s, The Get Down was a music-driven drama that told the fictional story of hip-hop's birth in the Bronx. The series, co-created by Baz Luhrmann and Stephen Adly Guirgis, had a distinct visual style, compelling characters, and a foot-tapping soundtrack (how could it not, given it's Baz, right?).

Despite a high production cost (a reported $120 million), the series only lasted one season. While we understand budget concerns, we can't help but wish Netflix would drop the beat and bring this vibrant, nostalgic, and stylistic show back.

9. Daredevil (2015-2018)

When Netflix and Marvel joined forces, Daredevil was the first hero to get a solo outing. Following the story of blind lawyer Matt Murdock (Charlie Cox), who moonlights as a vigilante in Hell's Kitchen, Daredevil received widespread critical acclaim for its gritty tone and complex characters. Despite its popularity, it was cancelled after three seasons due to a breakdown in the relationship between Netflix and Marvel.

While it's a long shot, given the multitude of legal and business obstacles, we would love to see the man without fear return to Netflix's corner of the Marvel universe. Certainly would be better than Disney+ attempts at adult superhero-ing, to be honest.

10. One Day at a Time (2017-2020)

A reboot of Norman Lear's 1975 series of the same name, One Day at a Time was a heartfelt sitcom that chronicled the life of a Cuban-American family led by a single mom and military veteran. The show deftly mixed humor with real-life issues such as PTSD, immigration, sexuality, and mental illness. Despite a dedicated fan base and a solid 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, it was cancelled after three seasons due to low viewership. Yes, it found a temporary new home at Pop TV, but we're still bitter.