Second Life For Small Screens
TV can be brutal. Shows are axed after one season, or even mid-season, regardless of the loyal fan base or cliffhanger. But with the rise of streaming platforms like Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+, some shows have been rescued from the abyss of cancellation. Here are 20 great shows that beat the odds thanks to the power of streaming.
The Expanse
When Syfy dropped The Expanse after three critically acclaimed but weakly rated seasons, fans organized a grassroots campaign—flying a banner over Amazon HQ. The message was heard by Jeff Bezos, a fan of the series. Amazon Prime Video revived the sci-fi epic and gave it three more seasons, allowing the complex politics and interstellar wars to unfold fully.
The Expanse Season 6 - Official Trailer | Prime Video, Prime Video
Arrested Development
Fox canceled Arrested Development after three seasons due to low ratings despite its critical success. Years later, Netflix revived the show in 2013 with two additional seasons. While the revival did not receive great reviews, it gave closure to the die-hard fans and put the dysfunctional Bluth family back together in the public eye.
Arrested Development - Season 4 | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix, Netflix
Lucifer
After Fox canceled it in 2018, Lucifer was rescued by Netflix due to a huge online outcry, which involved the viral hashtag #SaveLucifer. Netflix not only rewarded the series with a fourth season but ultimately took it to six seasons, where the devilish drama could go darker, explore more complex character developments, and have an epic conclusion that network television wouldn't have allowed.
Lucifer | Season 4 Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix, Netflix
Longmire
When it was canceled by A&E in 2014, Longmire was saved by Netflix thanks to its loyal fanbase. The Western crime drama had an additional three seasons on the platform, where there was space for more grown-up themes and the right ending that honored the characters and the audience.
Longmire - The Final Season | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix, Netflix
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life
Nearly a decade after the original series ended, Gilmore Girls returned with a four-part Netflix mini-series. A Year in the Life reunited most of the original cast and gave fans long-awaited glimpses into Lorelai and Rory's lives. While reactions were mixed, the revival offered emotional moments and an argumentative final four words.
Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life | Main Trailer [HD] | Netflix, Netflix India
The Mindy Project
Fox canceled The Mindy Project after three seasons, but Hulu acquired it to continue Mindy Kaling's quirky rom-com series. The show continued for three more seasons on Hulu, where it took its storylines in bolder directions, heightened its off-color humor, and wrapped with a fantastic finale.
The Mindy Project Final Season Trailer | hulu, Uncreative Movie Tralier
One Day at a Time
This modern reimagining of the 1970s sitcom was praised for covering subjects like immigration, PTSD, and LGBTQ+ identity. Netflix canceled it after three seasons to positive reviews. It was revived after fan outcry when Pop TV picked it up for season four, making it one of the few shows to be revived from a streaming platform to cable.
One Day at a Time Season 4 Trailer | Rotten Tomatoes TV, Rotten Tomatoes TV
Community
Community was cancelled by NBC after five seasons, but Yahoo! Screen rescued it for a sixth life in 2015. While the platform eventually shut down, the show again became beloved on Netflix, and a movie sequel is currently being produced—making the "six seasons and a movie" curse a reality.
Community Season 6 Trailer, Leon Aves
Designated Survivor
ABC dropped this political drama after two seasons. Netflix brought it back for a third and final season, where the show explored more mature and politically provocative topics. The network allowed flexibility in cursing and longer episodes, which afforded the writers more creative freedom.
Designated Survivor: Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix [HD], Netflix
Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Fox's cancellation of Brooklyn Nine-Nine in 2018 was soon followed by outcry from both its audience and celebrities. NBC stepped in within 24 hours to rescue the show. Although NBC is a TV network, the streaming longevity on Hulu preserved its popularity, and the revival brought three additional successful seasons full of progressive storylines and fan favorite moments.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine Season 8 Trailer (HD) Final Season, TV Promos
Cobra Kai
Originally released on YouTube Red, Cobra Kai was an unexpected hit, reviving The Karate Kid franchise. When YouTube stopped making original series, Netflix acquired the rights, doubling its viewers and funding new seasons that propelled the franchise to new heights.
Cobra Kai: Season 3 | Official Trailer | Netflix, Netflix
Manifest
NBC cancelled Manifest after three seasons, leaving viewers in the middle of a cliffhanger. Netflix acquired the show and added it to their libraries, and it quickly became their number-one title. The fans' popularity guaranteed that Netflix granted a fourth and final season, so the creators could resolve the show's mysterious plot threads.
Manifest: Season 4 | Official Trailer | Netflix, Netflix
The Killing
AMC originally canceled The Killing twice before Netflix stepped in to make a fourth and final season. The streaming platform gave the dark, rain-soaked crime drama a chance to tie up its narrative threads, resolving open questions and character storylines.
The Killing - Season 4 | The Final Season [HD] | Official Trailer | Netflix, Netflix
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
Initially produced for NBC, the show never premiered there. Netflix saw potential and picked up Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, making it one of its early big comedy hits. The show's quirky tone and bright aesthetic translated nicely to streaming, and it even received an interactive special.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt - Season 2 | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix, Netflix
Young Justice
Cancelled by Cartoon Network in 2013 at the end of season two, Young Justice went on to be a cult hit and had strong streaming numbers on Netflix. DC Universe revived it in 2019, and HBO Max later acquired the series. The show matured with its audience, offering them more mature themes and complex character developments.
Young Justice: Phantoms - Official Season 4 Trailer | DC FanDome 2021, IGN
The Great British Bake Off
When the rights to Bake Off were lost by the BBC, Channel 4 acquired it, and Netflix took it to the world. Even though the cast changed, the show was a global favorite among fans due to its cozy atmosphere and drool-inducing bakes.
The Great British Baking Show: Collection 12 | Official Trailer | Netflix, Netflix
The Boondocks
The Boondocks originally aired on Adult Swim and gained a cult following. HBO Max was working on a reboot with creator Aaron McGruder set to bring its stinging social commentary to modern audiences. Though pushed back, the availability of the reboot through streaming has ensured that the legacy of the show remains alive.
Boondocks Season 4 Official Trailer | Adult Swim, Adult Swim
All Rise
This courtroom drama was canceled by CBS after two seasons but was picked up again by OWN for a third. With broader streaming availability on platforms like HBO Max and Hulu, the series attracted new viewers and continued to spin courtroom stories of social significance.
Watch CBS' All Rise Trailer, TV Guide Trailers
Futurama
The computer-generated sci-fi sitcom has been canceled and revived multiple times—first by Fox, then by Comedy Central, and now by Hulu in 2023. Each revival introduced new fans and continued the misadventures of Fry, Leela, and Bender with a combination of satire, warmth, and geeksque humor.
Futurama | Official Trailer | New Season July 24 | Hulu, Hulu
Tuca & Bertie
Following Netflix's cancellation of Tuca & Bertie after just one season, it was picked up by Adult Swim for an additional two seasons, where it explored topics including anxiety, dating, and personal development through a vibrant, visually experimental approach.
TUCA & BERTIE Official Trailer (2019) Tiffany Haddish, Netflix Animated Series, ONE Media
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