Isn’t it the absolute worst when a television show you love gets canceled, sometimes abruptly? After spending so many viewing hours invested in new characters and the worlds they inhabit, they’re ripped away from you.

Television is a cut-throat game, especially in the days of endless streaming options. Hundreds of shows are nixed every year. Some of the cancellations are justified, but it’s often the case of a brilliant show meets the proverbial ax way too soon. Below are 10 such television shows from the past decade, shows that should have never been prematurely canceled, deserved their full runs, and were just probably way too weird for everyday television watchers.

Swamp Thing (2019)

It was a total bummer for fans of this Louisiana swamp dweller when the DC Universe streaming service decided to end their Swamp Thing revival after just one season. Created by Gary Dauberman and Mark Verheiden, this series combines horror, crime scene procedurals, and romance flawlessly.

What makes this comic book adaptation stand out is that instead of utilizing excessive, flashy action, the show focuses on character development, which makes the scares more authentic. The cancellation was a surprise to many, and rumor is that it had more to do with financing issues than with the tone and direction of the show.

Enlightened (2011-2013)

Indie comedy legend Mike White collaborated with Laura Dern on this HBO series about the life of a toxic executive who has a nervous breakdown and tries to put her life back together. Enlightened was a critical success, and Dern won a Golden Globe for her outstanding performance.

Despite all this, the quants at HBO weren’t happy with the show’s viewership numbers, so they retired it after the second season. White and Dern both envisioned the series lasting three seasons, and fans are still furious about the fact they will never know how the action should have been resolved.

The Knick (2014-2015)

Steven Soderbergh focused his camera on the dawn of the modern medical era in this turn-of-the-20th- century hospital drama. Starring Clive Owen and André Holland, The Knick’s action occurs in NYC’s Knickerbocker Hospital. Owen plays the talented but drug-addicted chief surgeon, and Holland is hired as his new assistant.

Holland’s character is a knowledgeable medical expert who faces ceaseless racial discrimination as he attempts to make a name for himself, and Owen’s character seems intent on making his new colleague’s life as difficult as possible. With its compelling character development, natural lighting, and lo-fi electronic soundtrack, The Knick is a cinematic masterpiece that Cinemax cut from its offerings after only two seasons.

Scream Queens (2015-2016)

With its ensemble cast and tongue-in-cheek take on slasher movies, Scream Queens proved to be a one-of-a-kind genre satire. Starring Emma Roberts, Jamie Lee Curtis, Abigail Breslin, and Niecy Nash, the events of the first season transpire on a college campus, while the second season unfolds in a hospital.

Created by American Horror Story’s Ryan Murphy, FOX aired both seasons before canceling Scream Queens. Ratings sank in the second season, but it still deserved another chance to play around with horror tropes. With its campy B-movie vibes, all-female main cast, and comic brilliance, Scream Queens has been missed.

Detroiters (2017-2018)

Filmed on location in Detroit, this Comedy Central show stars two natives of the city: Sam Richardson (of Veep fame) and Tim Robinson. Both comedians began by performing stand-up in Detroit before moving on to Chicago’s Second City. In the show, they play best friends working together to build up their careers as advertising agents.

Detroiters was liked by critics for its goofy yet charming look at a city that has garnered a lot of negative media attention over the years. Comedy Central decided to cancel it after the second season, causing fans, including Seth Meyers, to speak out in favor of it. None of it made a difference, though. RIP, Detroiters.

Hannibal (2013-2015)

For three insane seasons, Hannibal graced NBC with its uncompromising look into the life of the infamous cannibal invented by writer Thomas Harris. Mads Mikkelsen plays Hannibal, who engages in a tense relationship with Detective Will Graham, played by Hugh Dancy, that borders on romantic.

Bryan Fuller, who helmed the venture, imbues his series with beautiful yet terrifying imagery. The show’s violence, while graphic, is portrayed with a level of artistry that makes viewers feel as if they are watching an obscure European art house film from the 1970s. Somehow, this gem made it three years before NBC finally ended it due to very low viewership ratings.

Too Old To Die Young (2019)

Happy Endings (2011-2013)

When this single-camera comedy was canceled by ABC after its third season, television critics came out of the woodwork to deem it one of the worst decisions ever made by the network. Happy Endings takes place in Chicago, and it follows the romantic escapades of six best friends.

While the first season was received with mix reviews, it got considerably better in its second season, appearing on many “best of” lists. Despite all of the positive ratings, the show continued to fly under the mainstream radar, and its viewership never picked up in the third season. It’s still seen as one of the funniest unwatched comedy masterpieces of the 2010s.

Mercy Street (2016-2017)

PBS attempted something new with this period drama set during the Civil War. Mercy Street tells the story of two nurses, one working with the Confederates and the other with the Union. Filmed in Virginia, the series won praise for its honest, sweeping look into the bloody war that forever changed the trajectory of America.

While history buffs and fans of slow-moving television ate it up, people who expected more Downton Abbey-esque melodrama were not happy with Mercy Street’s dedication to being as accurate as possible. Some writers have claimed it’s one of the few shows to portray the lives of slaves with precision and honesty. Ultimately, PBS let the show go after only two seasons.

Sense8 (2015-2017; 2018)

The Wachowskis of The Matrix fame collaborated with Netflix on this ambitious sci-fi series that became an instant genre classic. Sense8’s multinational ensemble cast, LGBTQ+ themes, and extrasensory explorations made it stand out, but it ended up being too weird for Netflix mainstreamers.

Unique and creative, the show’s divergent, variegated plots proved too confusing for some, but those who were able to keep up were disappointed when the show came to a sudden halt after only two seasons. Netflix did commission a standalone special in 2018 in order to wrap up some of the narratives, but fans were ultimately disappointed by how it all ended.