10 TV Shows That Should've Been Cancelled Sooner

Superseding the previous entry only by virtue of sheer length and consistent lack of quality, Supernatural is infamous. Launching in 2005 and lasting a whopping 15 seasons, the biblical fantasy show about two brothers who fight monsters for a living started small and grew up to spawn arguably the largest, most intense fandom on the internet.

As with Sherlock, fandom means money, and money means seasons. The show’s first few were well received, however the initial overarching plot only spanned the first five seasons, with the season finale having to be tweaked after it got picked up in advance for its sixth. This original full stop turned ellipses is narratively evident, however viewers were simply happy to get more of their favourite show. And then more. And some more on top of that.

Following season five, the original showrunner bowed out, leaving various others to try their hand and resulting in a series of plot decisions so disjointed that it seemed as if God had (sometimes quite literally!) taken the wheel. Post double digits, all but the most dedicated of fans felt that the series was limping, though many desperately hung on to see the end. While spirits were lifted after the introduction of unruly nephilim teenager Jack, leading to an interesting new parenting dynamic for Team Free Will that briefly revived for the show, it once again sauntered downwards.

Culminating in a final season that saw angel Castiel confess his secret love for friend Dean only to be sucked into The Empty, a move which fans dubbed ‘a gay angel being sent to super hell’, and both Winchester brothers dying unsatisfactory deaths featuring some truly heinous old man wigs, Supernatural ended with a bang only in so much as the fanbase exploded with fury following it.

Perhaps other shows and their networks should take this as a sign to quit while you’re ahead. Though considering a prequel to the show is in active development, clearly no one learned their lesson.