5 canceled shows of 2024 that made audience bitter

Still from American Born Chinese and NCIS: Hawaii (Images via Disney Branded Television and CBS Studios)

TV channels and OTT platforms release heaps of content each year in hopes of gaining quick virality, or it gets canceled. Gone are the days when shows were given some time to bloom and mature, developing their storyline.

In today’s era of quick and overconsumption, if a show does not start an online trend or does not spend thousands on marketing, it is quickly forgotten and canceled. As the year 2024 comes to an end, there were a number of shows that were canceled and went into oblivion.

Some shows ended on a cliffhanger that infuriated fans a lot. Here’s a list of five such shows that showed promise but could not retain themselves.

KAOS, NCIS: Hawaii, and other shows that got canceled in 2024 and made audiences bitter

1) KAOS - Netflix

Created by Charlie Covell, KAOS had a lot of potential. It gave a unique twist to Greek mythology and had irreverent dark comedy. Starring Jeff Goldblum, the show dealt with an angry Zeus, who begins to cause problems on Earth. Therefore, Prometheus decides to overthrow him through a prophecy, which connects three mortal humans.

Alas, Netflix was unimpressed by the uptake on the show, as even though it remained in the Top 10 for four weeks, it could not gather a significant audience. Sadly, the show was canceled after one season, and the audiences were furious.

2. American Born Chinese – Disney+

Still from the show (Image via Disney Branded Television)

Created by Kelvin Yu, American Born Chinese is a fantasy action-comedy based on a graphic novel by Gene Luen Yang and revolves around a young boy, Jin Wang, who struggles to fit in with his peers as he is the son of Chinese immigrants.

He is given the responsibility of showing around a new exchange student, Wei-Chen, who is loud and confident unlike Jin and the two embark on a fantastical adventure. The show received praise internationally, especially for its diverse cast and story, but the series could not break into the US market and was canceled.

3. Dead Boy Detectives – Netflix

Another fun and quirky show that Netflix lost faith in is Dead Boy Detectives. Based on the DC Comics character of the same name and starring George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, and others, the supernatural detective comedy had an interesting premise. The show was about two ghosts who decide to ditch the afterlife and stay on Earth to help solve crimes and let other spirits find closure.

For this mission, they work with a girl, who has her past but can see ghosts. The show dealt with important topics like life, death, vengeance, friendship, loyalty, and more through a light-hearted setting. Sadly, the streaming giant decided to cut the cord as it started with a bang, but could not retain its audience.

4. Quantum Leap – Peacock

Still from the show (Image via Universal Television)

A revival of the 1989 show created by Donald P. Bellisario, Quantum Leap, is a sci-fi series developed by Steven Lilien and Bryan Wynbrandt. The show takes place 30 years after the original and continues the story of Sam Bennett who vanished in time. In the series, we see Dr. Ben Song (Raymond Lee) go into the future and get stuck.

The reboot had themes of grief, love, and the story of interconnected souls. But as the show was unable to maintain viewership and didn’t get enough promotion, the show was canceled on a cliffhanger.

5. NCIS: Hawaii – Paramount+

Still from the show (Image via CBS Studios)

A spin-off of the popular NCIS franchise and starring Vanessa Lachey, NCIS: Hawaii was a police procedural show that aired for three seasons. It revolved around a team of agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service in Hawaii that solved crimes of military and national security.

Sadly, the show got canceled, even though there were talks of the next season going to be the last one and even the cast was ready to portray their roles. The series was the first female-led NCIS and had a queer relationship.

Viewers can go through the list and choose a show of their liking to watch one final time.

Edited by pshmueni