4 TV shows that definitely won’t be back in 2025

4 TV shows that definitely won't be back in 2025

As a long-time fan of supernatural dramas and a connoisseur of shows that fly under the radar, I must say this year has been quite a rollercoaster ride for me! From the thrilling return of some classic favorites to the emergence of fresh, quirky newcomers like the Dead Boy Detectives, it’s been an absolute delight to immerse myself in these fantastical worlds.

2024 turned out to be quite an impressive year for television productions. We saw many groundbreaking debuts and long-anticipated streaming sensations that truly lived up to their hype. Fortunately, there was no shortage of excellent TV shows this year since the movie industry took a step back, with several highly anticipated films from various genres getting postponed till 2025 due to delays.

Well, TV provided us with a lot of thrilling escapades to pass the time! Superman and Lois Lane were back for another round of superheroics on The CW, and they weren’t alone; other famous comic book pairs also made an appearance. The Walking Dead Universe welcomed Rick Grimes (played by Andrew Lincoln) and Michonne (Danai Gurira) in the much-awaited The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live, while Carol Peleteir, portrayed by Melissa McBride, teamed up with her buddy Norman Reedus for the second season of Daryl Dixon, also known as The Book of Carol. To top it off, The Dead Boy Detectives took center stage in their own excellent Netflix series.

Meanwhile, Marvel Studios presented the praised, season-fitting “Agatha All Along” for a chilling Halloween experience, while Netflix’s “Heartstopper” stirred up a whirlwind of emotions with its heartwarming, critically-adored third season. Additionally, “The Penguin” transported us back into Matt Reeves’ Batman universe, providing eight suspenseful episodes featuring Colin Farrell’s iconic Batman adversary.

Indeed, we’ve enjoyed some great TV shows this year. Regrettably, the reverse isn’t entirely true – the past year hasn’t been particularly kind to television. Some outstanding series that captivated audiences (either recently or in the past) will not return for another season next year.

Instead of appearing on the 2025 schedule, these shows might not make a comeback due to early terminations, multi-season completions, breaks in production, or uncertain return dates.

4 TV shows that definitely won't be back in 2025

The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live

At last, after nearly seven years of anticipation among “The Walking Dead” enthusiasts, Rick Grimes and Michonne made their much-awaited return to our screens in 2024. The six-part miniseries titled “The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live” aired on AMC and AMC+ earlier this year, garnering praise from both critics and longtime fans of the original series. It was absolutely worth the wait and left viewers eager for more.

Regrettably, there won’t be additional installments since “The Ones Who Live” was indeed a miniseries. Originally planned as a trilogy of Rick Grimes films, it transformed into a series during the extended time gap (and pandemic), continuing the saga of the TWD Universe post the original series’ end. The six episodes were utilized to narrate this story, and while the finale seemed a bit hurried in its conclusion, it achieved what it aimed for.

In Alexandria, reunited with Judith and RJ, Rick and Michonne have concluded their story for now. However, it’s important to note that they may reappear in the future. This could happen when Daryl and Carol return from Europe, or when Maggie and Negan wrap up their stories in New York City. The Walking Dead Universe will continue until it’s time to say goodbye for good.

It’s unclear whether it will be part of a separate spin-off series or continue with Daryl Dixon or Dead City, but it won’t be in another season of The Walking Dead as the show has been terminated (for now) on AMC and AMC+.

4 TV shows that definitely won't be back in 2025

Superman and Lois

Undeniably, among superhero TV series that have graced our screens over the past two decades, “Superman and Lois” deserves high praise for its innovative reimagining of the classic Superman and Lois Lane narrative. This show originates from The CW’s Arrowverse, but it breaks away from its predecessors by concentrating more on the core characters rather than the usual tropes found in these shows (recurring episodes, weekly villains, etc.), focusing instead on the depth and complexity of their relationships.

The series titled “Superman & Lois” follows the story of Clark Kent and Lois Lane, along with their twin boys, who decide to relocate from Metropolis back to Smallville in search of a quieter life and stronger family ties. Their decision seems to work well, fostering deeper connections among them and opening up fresh possibilities for the family. However, this move also brings about new struggles such as adapting to new jobs, schools, and lifestyles, along with finding a balance between their heroic duties and parenting responsibilities. Ultimately, the show portrays an impressive depiction of Clark and Lois’ narrative, with their tale never carrying more emotional depth than it does in this series.

Despite enjoying significant viewership on The CW and success beyond U.S. borders, the series will conclude after its fourth season in 2024. This decision isn’t due to the show itself, but rather changes in leadership at both The CW Network and Warner Bros. Discovery. New leadership is steering The CW towards more affordable content, while DC Studios aims to establish a unified universe, starting with a Superman film. Given these shifts, it was determined that the series should end after four seasons.

Its final season has been nothing short of spectacular, showcasing a powerful feud between Lex Luthor and Lois Lane that has led to the show adapting The Death of Superman arc, making Doomsday a key player, and setting in motion the arrival of Brainiac. All incredible reasons as to why the series deserved a much, much longer run.

4 TV shows that definitely won't be back in 2025

X-Men ’97

1997’s “X-Men ’97” is one of the standout achievements of the year, marking a comeback of sorts for the iconic animated series “X-Men: The Animated Series.” This classic show, which aired from 1992 to 1997, left an indelible mark on history as one of the most intellectually stimulating, captivating, and outstanding cartoons ever produced. It played a significant role in broadening the X-Men’s fanbase, with many children who grew up watching the series becoming aware of the characters even if they hadn’t delved into the Marvel Comics. Consequently, there was immense anticipation surrounding this revival to live up to expectations. Fortunately, it not only met but surpassed them.

This year, Disney Plus premiered the series, continuing right where the last one ended, promptly diving into storylines we’ve eagerly anticipated or ones that left viewers in awe. In any case, fans were captivated. To put it frankly, they were hooked from the instant the legendary theme tune started playing and the familiar (yet refreshed) opening credits graced the screen. However, the series that followed was deserving of its esteemed predecessor.

The initial 10-episode run was exciting, and it’s reassuring to hear about a second and third season in development. Unfortunately, it seems that season 2 won’t be airing on our TVs this upcoming year. Recently, Marvel Studios unveiled a sneak peek at the various TV shows scheduled for Disney Plus in the next year, but X-Men ’97 season 2 did not make the cut.

You’ll find shows like “Your Friendly Neighborhood Spider-Man”, “Daredevil: Born Again”, “Ironheart”, “Eyes of Wakanda”, “Marvel Zombies”, and “Wonder Man” (alongside the third and final season of Marvel’s “What If…?” which is due this holiday season). However, the return of “X-Men ’97” season 2 has been delayed, with a likely release date in 2026 instead.

It’s clear that the show outshines several other projects on this list, which sadly won’t be renewed for another season. However, the postponement was disappointing news for fans eagerly waiting for more installments of their cherished series next year.

But hey, the X-Men will be back – and that is the main thing!

4 TV shows that definitely won't be back in 2025

Dead Boy Detectives

One of the year’s most understatedly remarkable TV series was undoubtedly “Dead Boy Detectives.” Derived from DC comics characters bearing the same name, this unique blend of supernatural horror and comedy stood out as a refreshing change of pace. It skillfully updated an old genre for contemporary audiences, providing an escapade reminiscent of network television in the ’90s or early 2000s.

The series focused on Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland – ghosts who run their own detective agency to help other ghosts resolve their mysteries and find peace – and it was very easy to fall in love with the quirky characters (which we did… we all did). Soon enough, the agency expanded to include some other quirky characters (including their neighbor Niko and a medium named Crystal) and this allowed the show to successfully channel classic supernatural horror shows of years gone by, like Buffy The Vampire Slayer or spinoff Angel.

As a dedicated gamer, I’ve got to say that “Dead Boy Detectives” was the kind of show that TV used to overflow with, but we desperately need more like it today. It was staking its claim in a world it belonged in, but unfortunately, it was abruptly cut short after its impressive, compact, and brilliant first season.

Netflix’s underdog series faced overshadowing due to the “Baby Reindeer” trend at its release, causing it to be undervalued by the algorithm in its critical initial phase. However, it didn’t deter the series from amassing a passionate fanbase rather swiftly, who became staunch supporters and advocates for its success. Just like the show itself, these fans deserved another season to continue their journey with the series.

Netflix’s renewal system doesn’t facilitate a series to quickly amass a large viewer base as traditional supernatural shows did in the past. Although the first season of Dead Boy Detectives is expected to gradually build an audience, it won’t reverse the disappointment that the show didn’t receive a second season to captivate its growing fanbase.

The Dead Boy Detectives deserved so much better.

2024-11-20 00:31