TV shows are like shooting stars as they brighten our screens but often don’t stick around! Some of my favorites flickered out after just one season. But I can’t resist re-watching them, reliving the sweet joy they brought, even if it was all too brief.
6
The Society (2019)
You can find The Society on Netflix
Netflix
It was the year before the pandemic, when, in retrospect, real life seemed ordinary. One of my great escapes in 2019 was visiting the fictional, twisted world of The Society. The 10-episode Netflix series tells the story of a group of high school students who return home from a field trip to find that everyone in their town has disappeared. What transpires is a modern take on William Golding’s novel, Lord of the Flies.
With the adults in their lives suddenly gone, the students of West Ham High School experience a range of emotions, from joy at having no one to boss them around to dread as they are unsure of what they need to do to survive. Throw in some natural teenage angst, and it’s an incredible story with strong characters.
The interaction between the characters is what brings me back to The Society. Plus, I love when one of its talented stars finds a breakout in another show or film, which allows their talents to be appreciated by a wider audience. Admittedly, the sudden ending of The Society is another reason I often return. It presents a classic cliffhanger that’s amazingly told; unfortunately, one that will never be resolved.
The Society wasn’t canceled after one season because it failed to find an audience; instead, the COVID-19 pandemic is primarily to blame for its untimely demise. Production issues during that unusual time in our lives meant there wouldn’t be a second season.
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5
Frequency (2016-2017)
You can stream Frequency on Tubi TV
The CW
It’s rare when I find a show to enjoy on The CW, and even rarer when that show is a drama. Enter Frequency, a science fiction gem that was gone way too soon.
Based on a 2000 film by the same name, Frequency, which stars Peyton List as Raimy Sullivan, is about an NYPD detective living in 2016 (when it aired) who stumbles upon her father’s old ham radio. When the radio is turned on, she can talk to her father. The hook is that her father, another NYPD detective, died in 1996 under a cloud of suspicion.
By talking to her dad, Raimy can warn him of his pending demise, which triggers a “butterfly effect” where her timeline changes. Though her dad survived in the new timeline, he still dies, this time in a car accident. And sadly, so did her mom, who was alive in the old timeline.
Frequency lasted for just 13 episodes, and there were plenty of unanswered questions when it ended. Luckily, an epilogue was later released that tied up many of the loose ends. Although we fans didn’t get a second season, at least we got some closure.
Ever since I saw Back to the Future, I’ve been interested in TV shows and films where timelines get twisted. It’s what keeps me coming back to Frequency every few years. Better still, it’s currently streaming on Tubi, which always makes our list of the best free movie streaming sites.
4
Firefly (2002)
You can find all 14 episodes of Firefly on Hulu
20th Century Fox
On IMDB, Firefly is rated as the best television series that lasted only one season, and with good reason. Created by Joss Whedon (Buffy the Vampire), the beloved science fiction Western TV series lasted just 14 episodes, although only 11 of those aired in the US. It follows a team of renegades in a world that is much different than the one we have today.
Starring Nathan Fillion as the captain of a Firefly-class spaceship, the series explores various themes worth revisiting, including moral dilemmas, relationships, questions of good and evil, and more. It does so in the year 2517, when the Earth has long ago been abandoned.
Though it was abruptly canceled, Firefly’s story was continued mainly in the 2005 film, Serenity, although some questions remain. The story also carried on into novels and comic books, so the world it presented lives on in those mediums as well.
3
My So-Called Life (1994-1995)
Stream it all on Hulu
ABC
My age is showing when discussing this favorite one-season masterpiece: My So-Called Life. The teen drama is noted for displaying a realistic portrayal of adolescence, which was something unheard of on network television at the time.
The heart of My So-Called Life is Angela Chase, played by Claire Danes, who is the protagonist and narrator. In each episode, she takes us through stories focused on everyday life themes, such as family dynamics, first loves, friendships, questions of identity, and more. Along for the ride are future Academy Award Winner Jared Leto, Wilson Cruz, and many others.
Adding My So-Called Life to this list was a tough one, because its abrupt ending means there will never be any closure, no matter how many times I watch it, which is frustrating. Yet, the stories it tells are still relevant and worthwhile, as I recognized a few years ago when my daughter was the same age as the characters. As such, I’m convinced it’s for anyone who has experienced life in an American high school, which means it’s for basically anyone.
2
Freaks and Geeks (1999-2000)
You can catch Freaks and Geeks on Paramount+
NBC
Less than five years after ABC aired My So-Called Life, NBC introduced Freaks and Geeks. Like the previous series, this one explores life in and out of an American high school, encompassing both the positive and the negative aspects. In this case, the show primarily focused on the less popular students, hence its title.
Through 18 episodes, Freaks and Geeks explores various themes, including the awkwardness and pain of adolescence, family dynamics and parental relationships, social groups, the distinction between reality and fiction, and more. In the background is a soundtrack that still impresses 25 years later, which is available to listen to on Spotify.
Freaks and Geeks doesn’t end on a cliffhanger, except that we were only able to spend one school year with this group of kids. But that’s okay, especially since many of the stars of the show grew up and found great success elsewhere. This includes Seth Rogen, Jason Segel, Linda Cardellini, Busy Philipps, James Franco, and others.
1
The Passage (2019)
Buy The Passage on Amazon Prime Video
FOX
One of my favorite book series, The Passage by Justin Cronin, was adapted into a FOX drama. Though it never lived up to the books, mainly because it only lasted 10 episodes, it’s still an excellent drama for anyone interested in post-apocalyptic storytelling on the small screen.
The Passage begins at a top-secret U.S. facility where government officials are testing a highly contagious and deadly new virus in the hope of finding a cure for all diseases. That’s not what happens, as many of the test subjects become “virals” and begin spreading the virus worldwide.
At its core, The Passage follows the relationship between Brad Wolgast (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) and Amy Bellafonte (Saniyya Sidney). Amy is a young girl chosen as a test subject. Unlike the other virals, she doesn’t go mad, however, which is something many people, for good and evil, find interesting.
Even though The Passage only lasted 10 episodes, it features great, multilayered characters that are worth revisiting. My rediscovery of the series occurred as I recently continued reading The Passage book series. My advice is to watch the series if the story interests you, and then continue to the books if you’re hooked. You’ll be glad that you did.
Unfortunately, The Passage isn’t currently available through any paid streaming service. However, you can purchase and download all 10 episodes across multiple platforms, including Amazon Prime Video.
