8 TV Shows Canceled in 2025 That Make Zero Sense

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Each year, television shows are canceled, finish their planned run, get picked up for another season, or are newly announced. Sometimes, renewal decisions seem strange – shows that weren’t popular with critics or audiences get another season, which is confusing. It’s even more frustrating when well-received shows, or those that were gaining momentum, are suddenly canceled before their storylines can reach a satisfying conclusion.

This year, several TV shows were cancelled, including the long-running Ridiculousness on MTV, which some felt had run its course. Others, like Countdown and The Bondsman on Amazon Prime Video, The Recruit on Netflix, and Suits L.A. and Found on NBC, along with HBO Max’s Duster, were cut due to low ratings or lack of audience interest. Surprisingly, All’s Fair is returning despite being widely disliked. Renewals of shows like Dexter: Resurrection, Wednesday, The Studio, The Pitt, and Pluribus were expected. However, some cancellations were particularly disappointing for viewers and seemed premature.

Dexter: Original Sin Got a Renewal Reversal

The show’s renewal for a second season was welcomed by fans of the original series. They enjoyed seeing the story of a young Dexter Morgan continue in a compelling way, avoiding reliance on predictable flashbacks and staying true to the established storyline. It expanded on the original narrative, revisited important moments, and introduced exciting new developments. Everything, from the actors to the plot, was exceptionally well done.

After Paramount merged with Skydance, several changes occurred, and these changes are now official. Fortunately, the popularity of the recent series led to a quick renewal, so the story of Dexter will continue. This allows the writers to fully focus on creating a great second season, titled Resurrection. However, this news doesn’t make it any easier for fans who enjoyed the original story.

Even though we know what happens to each of the Morgan siblings, the show doesn’t quite feel complete because it lacks a satisfying ending.

Mid-Century Modern Threw Back to Classic Sitcoms

It’s been a while since a sitcom felt as genuinely classic yet refreshingly modern as Modern Family, but Mid-Century Modern really captured that same spirit. Similar to The Golden Girls, the show beautifully portrays the joys and challenges of life and friendship as its characters age.

The show featured a talented cast including Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham. Sadly, Linda Lavin, who played Nathan Lane’s character’s mother, Sybil, passed away after appearing in seven episodes, which created uncertainty about the show’s continuation. While it’s unknown if her passing led to the cancellation, the series was popular for its funny writing, heartwarming feel, and strong performances, making the decision to end it quite surprising.

For now, you’ll have to check out some other .

The Waterfront Was Looking for a Life Vest

While The Waterfront didn’t immediately grab viewers with the same impact as shows like Ozark, it started to find its footing and develop a compelling story. Sadly, Netflix canceled the series just a few months after its debut, before it could fully gain momentum.

I just finished watching this movie, and it’s a really gripping story about the Buckleys, a family who run a restaurant and a port. What makes things complicated is their history with the cartel. The film focuses on Cane, the son, who’s trying to keep the family business going, and he ends up getting involved in some shady stuff, just like his dad and grandfather before him. But he messes up big time, and suddenly he’s in a lot of danger with some seriously powerful enemies. It’s a wild ride!

The show received mixed reviews – they weren’t amazing, but it showed promise. This was frustrating for fans, who believed the series deserved more time to attract an audience and develop its storyline.

Goosebumps’s Nostalgic Kid Entertainment Will Be Missed

Many parents who grew up in the ’90s remember Goosebumps fondly, making the recent revival a great show for families to enjoy together. The new series, based on R.L. Stine’s books and reimagined from the 1995 version, takes a fresh approach. Instead of one continuous story, each season presents a brand new mystery while still capturing the spooky spirit of the original.

The show ran for two seasons before being cancelled in August 2025, just seven months after the second season aired. Despite winning an impressive 19 Children’s and Family Emmy Awards, the cancellation is surprising. It’s still a popular choice for younger children who aren’t yet ready for scarier content.

The Residence Was the Small-Screen Knives Out

When a murder occurs at the White House, Cordelia is brought in to investigate. She confines everyone inside – including guests at a state dinner with the Australian prime minister – while she questions them all. It’s a complicated situation with many people present.

Each person shares their version of events, and Cordelia gradually uncovers the truth through subtle clues revealed throughout the series, culminating in a shocking finale that exposes the murderer.

Even though critics and audiences loved The Residence’s story and acting, it won’t be renewed for another season. Given Cordelia’s profession in the show, it could have easily continued with a fresh mystery, setting, and cast – making the cancellation surprising, especially given the positive feedback. It was a refreshing and funny addition to the many shows already available.

The Wheel of Time Ran Out of Time

The show ran for three seasons on Amazon Prime Video, but it didn’t quite stand out among other popular fantasy series like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. It’s based on Robert Jordan’s books and centers around Moiraine Damodred (Rosamund Pike) and her quest to find the person she believes is the reincarnation of the Dragon – the one who can save the world.

While The Wheel of Time was generally well-received and enjoyed a successful run, it didn’t quite reach the heights of some other shows, despite being a worthy adaptation. However, the show consistently improved with each season, culminating in a fantastic 97% score on Rotten Tomatoes for its third season. Cancelling it after such a strong finish seemed like a mistake.

Mythic Quest Is Gone, But There’s a Spinoff

Apple TV+’s comedy series Mythic Quest, about a video game studio and its quirky boss Ian Grimm (played by Rob McElhenney) and his team, was a hit with audiences. Despite its popularity, the show was cancelled after four seasons. Fortunately, the creators had enough notice to write a proper ending for the series.

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But the story didn’t truly end—a spin-off series premiered in March 2025, just a month before the original show was canceled. This left fans wondering why, if the show was successful enough to warrant a spin-off, it was canceled while there was still more story to explore.

The first season of Side Quest, which consisted of four standalone episodes, was a hit with viewers. However, it hasn’t been officially confirmed whether the show will return for another season.

The Late Show With Stephen Colbert Has an Expiration Date

Despite being renewed through May 2026, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will eventually end, leaving CBS without a late-night talk show after 33 years – a program famously led by David Letterman. The cancellation is largely believed to be a result of the merger between Paramount and Skydance, and Stephen Colbert’s public statements regarding it.

The network blamed declining ad revenue and poor business choices for the cancellation, but the announcement still sparked a lot of criticism and rumors.

Fans can continue watching The Late Show with Stephen Colbert for the first three months of 2026. However, many are disappointed and frustrated by the show’s eventual cancellation, especially since it’s happening while other late-night programs are still successful. The issue isn’t simply that the show is ending, but rather the reasons given for its cancellation that are causing concern.

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2025-12-27 06:41