15 Shows That Were Canceled Too Soon but Are Worth Watching

They may not have had a fair shot, but that doesn't mean they're not worth your time.

1. Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)

Freaks and Geeks is set in the 1980s and follows two groups at McKinley High School: the freaks led by Daniel Desario (James Franco) and the geeks fronted by Sam Weir (John Francis Daley). The freaks skip class, smoke up, and rebel against authority, while the geeks are all about Star Wars, comic books, and getting through gym class without dying of embarrassment. We watch Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini) transition from a star mathlete to hanging out with the freaks, which worries her parents to no end.

2. Terriers (2010)

This one-season wonder follows ex-cop Hank Dolworth (Donal Logue) and his best friend, Britt Pollack (Michael Raymond-James), as they run an unlicensed private investigation business in Ocean Beach, San Diego. These two are your classic odd couple: Hank is struggling with alcoholism and a divorce, while Britt is a former thief trying to go straight for the sake of his girlfriend. They get involved in a corporate conspiracy that includes shady land deals and murder.

3. Pushing Daisies (2007-2009)

Ned (Lee Pace) is a pie-maker with the ability to bring dead things back to life with just a touch. The catch? Another touch makes them dead again, permanently. Partnering up with private investigator Emerson Cod (Chi McBride), Ned solves murders by temporarily reviving the dead and asking them who killed them. But here's where things get even more complicated: he revives his childhood sweetheart, Chuck (Anna Friel), and can't bear to return her to the afterlife.

4. Dead Like Me (2003-2004)

Life after death isn't all halos and harps, at least not in Dead Like Me. Georgia "George" Lass (Ellen Muth) dies at 18 when a toilet seat from a space station falls on her. After her bizarre demise, she becomes a "Reaper", tasked with collecting souls right before they die. She's mentored by Rube (Mandy Patinkin), who gives her Post-It notes detailing her next assignment. She has to navigate her new afterlife while watching her family grapple with her death.

5. Better Off Ted (2009-2010)

Workplace comedies are a dime a dozen, but Better Off Ted is one of a kind. Ted Crisp (Jay Harrington) is the head of a research and development department at Veridian Dynamics, a massive, ethically questionable corporation. From freezing employees for future use to creating killer robots, the company's projects are as absurd as they are dangerous. Ted tries to navigate the corporate madness while managing his team, which includes the socially awkward scientists Lem (Malcolm Barrett) and Phil (Jonathan Slavin).

6. Firefly (2002-2003)

Captain Malcolm Reynolds (Nathan Fillion) leads a crew aboard the spaceship Serenity. Their mission? Basically, to survive by taking on odd jobs, some legal and others not so much. The crew is a lovable hodgepodge of characters – from a badass second-in-command, Zoe (Gina Torres), to a sheltered but brilliant mechanic, Kaylee (Jewel Staite). They pick up some passengers, including a preacher and a doctor hiding his psychic sister from the government. Across 14 episodes, they rob banks, smuggle goods, and narrowly dodge the law – all while dealing with each other's baggage.

7. Wonderfalls (2004)

Jaye Tyler is a 24-year-old philosophy grad working a dead-end job at a Niagara Falls gift shop. One day, the animal figurines in the shop start talking to her, sending her cryptic messages that push her to do good deeds. At first, she thinks she's going nuts, but eventually, she learns to listen and act on the messages, leading to unexpected yet heartwarming outcomes.

8. The Riches (2007-2008)

The Riches centers on Wayne Malloy (Eddie Izzard) and his family, who are con artists by trade. After stealing money from an extended family gathering, they get into a car accident and find another family who died on the scene. Seizing the moment, they assume the identities of the deceased family and start living in their lavish home. Wayne even goes to work as a lawyer, faking his way through court cases. But the longer they live the lie, the more their past catches up to them.

9. Rubicon (2010)

Will Travers (James Badge Dale) is an intelligence analyst who stumbles upon a cryptic pattern in crossword puzzles. Turns out, it's a clue to a grand conspiracy that might reach the highest levels of government. As he starts to pull on the thread, things get increasingly dangerous. Members of his team are killed off, secrets are buried, and Will realizes he's part of something much bigger than himself.

10. Enlisted (2014)

Think military comedy, and M*A*S*H probably comes to mind. But give Enlisted a shot too. This under-the-radar show follows three brothers – Pete (Geoff Stults), Derrick (Chris Lowell), and Randy Hill (Parker Young) – who find themselves stationed at the same Florida military base. They're tasked with the less-than-glamorous jobs of mowing lawns, sorting mail, and cleaning latrines.

11. Happy Endings (2011-2013)

The show kicks off with Alex (Elisha Cuthbert) leaving Dave (Zachary Knighton) at the altar. Their circle of friends – including control freak Jane (Eliza Coupe), her laid-back hubby Brad (Damon Wayans Jr.), and their perpetually single pals Max (Adam Pally) and Penny (Casey Wilson) – try to juggle two friendships after the breakup.

12. Life (2007-2009)

Framed for a murder he didn't commit and sentenced to life in prison, Charlie Crews (Damian Lewis) is exonerated after new evidence comes to light. He rejoins the LAPD with a zen outlook, a heap of settlement money, and an insatiable curiosity to find out who set him up. Alongside his skeptical partner Dani Reese (Sarah Shahi), Charlie solves cases while piecing together the conspiracy that cost him years of his life.

13. Trophy Wife (2013-2014)

Kate Harrison (Malin Åkerman) is a reformed party girl who marries Pete (Bradley Whitford), a man twice her age with two ex-wives and three kids. As she adjusts to her new life, Kate finds that being a stepmom is harder than she thought. From PTA meetings to sibling rivalry, she fumbles through domestic duties, often with hilarious consequences.

14. Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23 (2012-2013)

Newcomer June Colburn (Dreama Walker) moves to New York City for her dream job, only to have it vanish on her first day. Broke and desperate, she moves in with Chloe (Krysten Ritter), a cunning, morally flexible roommate from hell. Chloe takes pleasure in scamming and tormenting June until she realizes that she might actually like having her around.

15. Forever (2014-2015)

Dr. Henry Morgan (Ioan Gruffudd) has a secret: he's immortal. Whenever he dies, he reappears in a nearby body of water, fully alive. He works as a New York City medical examiner to study death and perhaps solve the mystery of his own immortality. He pairs up with Detective Jo Martinez (Alana De La Garza) to solve crimes, all while hiding his ability.