Long Before Warrior Nun, These 10 Canceled TV Shows Were Saved by Fandom

It doesn't matter how passionate a show's creators are, or how loyal the fan base is — if the ratings aren't in the eights and nines on IMDb, and the project doesn't bring high viewership numbers, the greedy media giants will consign it to oblivion.

But sometimes, fans can change the course of events. Most recently, this happened with Warrior Nun, which was canceled by Netflix after Season 2 but, as fans and showrunner Simon Barry campaigned to get it renewed, got picked up for one more season.

Here are 10 more series that got saved by their fandoms after cancellation.

10. Designated Survivor (2016, 3 seasons)

IMDb rating: 7.5/10

This political thriller, which follows the aftermath of a terrorist attack on the Capitol that kills the president and all his deputies in the line of succession except for one minister, originally aired on ABC but was canceled after Season 2. Following a vigorous campaign by loyal fans, Netflix picked up the rights to the show, but unfortunately, the streaming giant also canceled it after just one season.

9. Nashville (2012, 6 seasons)

IMDb rating: 7.7/10

In 2016, ABC upset all fans of country music, canceling its musical drama Nashiville, which depicted the lives of fictional country singers in Nashville, Tennessee. After fans started the #BringBackNashville campaign, the rights to the show were transferred to CMT, which produced the final season.

8. Lucifer (2016, 6 seasons)

IMDb rating: 8.1/10

Lucifer is a great example of how ratings do not reflect actual fan sentiment. The urban fantasy series about a fallen angel who opens a nightclub in LA and works with the cops had relatively low ratings for its first three seasons, leading to its cancellation by Fox. After that, fans and executive Joe Henderson launched the #SaveLucifer campaign, which resulted in Netflix acquiring the rights.

7. Sense8 (2015, 2 seasons)

IMDb rating: 8.2/10

It's hard to imagine anyone turning down the Wachowski sisters, but Netflix had the nerve to do so — even despite the fact that their sci-fi drama Sense8, exploring the themes of mental connection and empathy, was highly praised by viewers and critics alike. In the face of fan outrage, Netflix was forced to release a 2.5-hour finale as the 12th episode of Season 2.

6. Longmire (2012, 6 seasons)

IMDb rating: 8.3/10

The neo-Western about the eponymous Wyoming sheriff was one of the most successful shows on A&E, thanks to its compelling plot and excellent ensemble cast. However, for some inexplicable reasons, the network decided to cancel the series after Season 3. Recognizing the high demand from fans, Netflix picked it up and released three more seasons.

5. Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013, 8 seasons)

IMDb rating: 8.4/10

Thanks to legendary showrunners Michael Schur and Dan Goor, this sitcom about Brooklyn cops immediately became a phenomenon in the comedy world. But to the shock of viewers and pretty much all of Hollywood, Fox canceled the series. After a campaign by fans and cast members, the show was acquired by NBC, which was originally going to produce it.

4. The Expanse (2015, 6 seasons)

IMDb rating: 8.5/10

The Expanse is a clever blend of political thriller and high-tech science fiction, so it's no wonder the show has become immensely popular. As Syfy canceled it after Season 3, fans started a petition that garnered over 100,000 signatures and even lobbied Amazon by flying a plane with a #SaveTheExpanse banner over the studio. Fantasy maestro George R.R. Martin also endorsed the relaunch.

3. Community (2009, 6 seasons)

IMDb rating: 8.5/10

Dan Harmon's Community became a cult sitcom thanks to its meta humor and great ensemble cast, but its ratings were quite low when it aired on NBC, leading the network to cancel the show after Season 5. Following the fans' campaign, Yahoo! picked up the show and renewed it for another season. In addition, fans and cast members started the #sixseasonsandamovie campaign, and a feature-length movie is already in development.

2. Young Justice (2010, 4 seasons)

IMDb rating: 8.6/10

The animated series about aspiring superheroes mentored by the Justice League members was one of Cartoon Network's most popular shows but was canceled after Second 2. Young Justice was renewed first on DC Universe and then on HBO Max at the request of fans and voice actors, but Warner Bros. still canceled it after Season 4.

1. Arrested Development (2003, 5 seasons)

IMDb rating: 8.7/10

The 2000s show Arrested Development, following the dysfunctional Bluth-Fünke family, set the standard for sitcoms and influenced the genre for years to come. However, audiences didn't seem mature enough for such humor at the time, and the series was canceled by Fox due to low ratings. Thankfully, the sitcom had a strong fandom advocating for its renewal, so Netflix picked up the show seven years later.