With series like Locke and Key and Manifest about to premiere their final seasons after being canceled, fans are presented with one last look at the popular series before they leave TV screens forever. Although popular, some series still face the ax, due to reasons ranging from low ratings to production costs, however, some have been lucky enough to come back from a cancellation.
From Lucifer to Law & Order, these are only a few series that survived a cancellation. After being given a second chance, these series were either picked up by another network or given a second chance on their original network to pick back up where they left off. Although surprising, these second chances have proved as successful for many networks regarding viewership and subscription.
Veronica Mars (2004 – 2006 & 2019)
Veronica Mars is a television drama series that was released in 2004. It follows a once popular high school girl turned outcast by the name of Veronica Mars. Throughout the series, Veronica assists her father in digging into the lives of the rich and famous, while also juggling her trauma.
Starring Kristen Bell in the leading role, the series ran from 2004-2006 until it was canceled by Warner Bros. Television. However, after being off the air for over 13 years, the series made a surprising return for a fourth and final season on Hulu in 2019.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer (1997 – 2003 & 2011)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer has become a television cult classic over the years with the series presenting a cathartic moment each season. The teen supernatural drama was released in 1997 written and directed by Joss Whedon.
The series starred Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers, a prophesied vampire slayer that fights to protect her town of Sunnydale from vampires. Initially, the series was canceled after its fifth season, however, a move from the WB to UPN saw the series survive for another two seasons until it had its last run in 2003.
All Rise (2019 – )
An American legal drama series, All Rise follows newly appointed Judge Lola Carmichael and her cohorts as they take on the complex cases that come across their desks. The CBS series was released in 2019 starring Simone Missick, Wilson, on Bethel, Marg Helgenberger, and Ryan Michelle Bathe.
After two seasons of the series on the network, CBS announced in 2021 that the series would be canceled. However, this cancellation didn’t last for long because the series was surprisingly picked up by the OWN network, with the third season currently running.
Manifest (2018 – )
A series that continues to be plagued by weird and wild Reddit fan theories, Manifest was released in the fall of 2018 on NBC. The series follows the passengers of Flight 828 after they return from a turbulent flight to find that it’s five years later and they had been presumed dead.
The series ran for three seasons on NBC until it was unexpectedly canceled in 2020, however, this didn’t last for long. The series is set to return for its fourth season in 2022 on Netflix after the platform entered into talks with Warner Bros. to acquire the show.
Magnum P.I. (1980 – 1988 & 2018 – )
A reboot of the 1980 series by the same name, Magnum P.I. follows Thomas Magnum, a former Navy SEAL turned private investigator who solves crimes in Hawaii. The series stars Jay Hernandez in the lead role alongside Perdita Weeks, Stephen Hill, Zachary Knighton, and Tim Kang.
The first episode was released in the fall of 2018 on CBS with some successful ratings, however, when a large number of shows on the network were announced for cancelation, Magnum P.I. was among them after running for four seasons. However, not long after its cancelation was announced, NBC announced that they would take on the series for a fifth and sixth season.
The Expanse (2015 – )
The Expanse is arguably one of the best sci-fi TV shows of the last decade. The series is centered around a group of humans who have colonized Mars and the solar system, and a rogue ship set with the task of uncovering a conspiracy and saving the human race.
Initially, The Expanse was released in 2015 on the SyFy network. Even with rave reviews, the series was canceled on the network in 2018 after three seasons. But considering the popularity of the series and audience viewership, the series was shopped around to other networks until it found a new home on Amazon Prime in 2019.
Law & Order (1990 – 2010 & 2022 – )
Making a triumphant return earlier this year, Law & Order, originally released in 1990 on the NBC network, hit many fans’ screens 12 years after its cancellation in 2010.
Created by Dick Wolf, the series followed the lives of detectives and prosecutors as they investigated and sought justice for crimes committed. Anthony Anderson reprises his previous role with the sudden revival of the OG series, alongside Sam Waterston, Jefferey Donovan, Hugh Dancy, and Camryn Manheim.
Lucifer (2016 – 2011)
Arguably one of the best TV shows Netflix has saved to date, Lucifer follows the fallen angel as he abandons hell for the exciting world of Los Angeles. In his new life, he encounters an intriguing homicide detective while solving murder cases and discovering himself in the process.
The series, created by Sam Kieth, Neil Gaiman, and Mike Drigenbery, was released in 2016 on FOX. The series lasted for three seasons on the cable network before its cancellation in 2018 because of ratings. However, after a long hiatus, the show was excitedly picked up, going on to create three more successful seasons.
Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013 – 2021)
Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a police comedy sitcom that follows the day-to-day lives of the individuals working at Brooklyn’s 99th precinct. Starring the talented Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero, Terry Crews, and many more, the series was released in 2013 by FOX.
In the beginning, Brooklyn Nine-Nine successfully ran for five seasons on the cable network until it was announced in 2018 that FOX had canceled the series. However, not even a day later, NBC picked up the series and continued to carry the series until its eighth and final season premiered in 2021.
Doctor Who (1963 – 1989 & 2005 – )
One of Britain’s most popular shows that have gained a cult following, Doctor Who is a British science fiction program that follows an extraterrestrial being called the Doctor, who happens to be a Time Lord, as he travels across the universe with various companions to save civilizations and battle foes.
The very first episode of the series was released in 1963 on BBC. The series aired for 26 years until it was canceled in 1989, with an unsuccessful attempt at a revival in 1996. However, after 16 years off the air, the popular series was relaunched in 2005 under BBC Wales and had continued in to be a success today.
