9 TV shows that were cancelled in 2023 that received a rating of 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes

9 TV shows that were cancelled in 2023 that received a rating of 90% or higher on Rotten Tomatoes

Usually, the lengthy list of TV shows that have been canceled in the past 12 months makes for grim reading, and while I doubt many viewers shed a tear when Netflix's "Snow Mountain" was canceled, it is never welcome news to hear that a show is not coming back. Especially when it's a series that was highly praised by critics and viewers alike, but struggled to gain enough viewers to justify the addition of a season.

In 2023, many traditional television networks, as well as almost all of the best streaming services, have discontinued highly rated shows. All seven of the TV shows on this list received high scores on the review aggregation site Rotten Tomatoes, and while most of them were fortunate enough to run for multiple seasons, it is still a serious disappointment to learn that they will not be returning. Here are a few that we wish had lasted just a little longer.

Netflix has a reputation for being an easy trigger for show cancellations. The streaming company is not afraid to cancel underperforming series: such was the case with "Dead End: Paranormal Park," which ended after two seasons in January. The show's final episode ended with a dramatic cliffhanger, so creator Hamish Steele was hoping that the quirky cast of theme park employees would be given a chance to tell more stories, but Netflix executives had other ideas. The animated show follows Bernie (Zach Barrack) and Norma (Cody Cavita), the newest hires at Phoenix Parks, as they embark on various paranormal-themed adventures with a talking dog named Pugsley and a thousand-year-old demon named Courtney. It was a very silly show, but with a strong heart and relatable characters.

Season: 2 (20 episodes) Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

Paramount Plus discontinued its reboot of "iCarly" this year after three seasons. The revival of the classic Nickelodeon sitcom featured the return of original series stars Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, and Nathan Kress, with new additions Laci Mosley and Jaidyn Triplett. The reboot once again focuses on the eponymous Carly Shay (Cosgrove), who starts a web show with the help of her friends and irresponsible brother Spencer (Trainor). The revival was generally well received by longtime fans and critics alike, especially for raising the tone to accommodate the audience's more mature demographic. The third season ended with quite a cliffhanger, but at least in the last few episodes Carly and Freddy (Cress) finally got together. This was the romantic coupling that fans had wanted to see on screen for over a decade.

Season 3 (33 episodes) Rotten Tomatoes: 100%

DC, under the direction of James Gunn and Peter Safran, is cleaning house for a new expansion of the connected superhero universe, starting with Gunn's Superman: Legacy (2025). Naturally, that means the remnants of the old DC Universe will be terminated, sadly including the surprisingly solid "Doom Patrol," which was a spin-off from the show "Titans," which ended this year. The Hollywood Reporter noted that the creators "saw the writing on the wall" and wrote a fourth season specifically to end appropriately. The superhero show followed the eponymous Doom Patrol. The Doom Patrol was made up of talented people who had acquired superhuman abilities through tragic circumstances and banded together to protect Earth from various evil forces.

Season 4 (46 episodes) Rotten Tomatoes: 98%

Apple TV Plus does not have the volume of content that Netflix and Prime Video have, but the overall quality level is a step above its streaming rivals. However, the cancellations are likely to sting extra, and "Central Park" is certainly one of them. In many ways it is a bit of a miracle that this animated adult musical comedy comedy, narrated by fourth wall-breaking busker (voiced by Josh Gad), has lasted three seasons, but Apple TV Plus has decided to discontinue the show after airing almost 40 episodes. When the eccentric Tillerman family, who live in New York City's historic greenbelt, reveal their nefarious plan to buy up land in Central Park and turn it into expensive condominiums, they must fight off a wealthy heiress.

Season 3 (39 episodes) Rotten Tomatoes: 97%

Multiple Emmy nominations and a refreshingly inventive show that got better with each passing season, "The Great" was supposed to remain a Hulu mainstay for years to come, but, frustratingly, the "anti-history" comedy drama was cancelled in the spring after its third season and was cancelled. The satirical series, starring Elle Fanning and Nicholas Hoult, follows a young Catherine the Great (Fanning) as she travels to Russia to marry Peter III, who eventually usurps her husband and becomes the longest reigning female ruler in Russia. The Great is a critically acclaimed series that playfully blends historical fact with outlandish fantasy.

Season 3 (30 episodes) A League of Their Own, a new adaptation of the 1992 film of the same name, follows the formation of the Rockford Peaches, a women's baseball team created in the 1940s to play in the newly formed National Women's Professional Baseball League The film depicts. Set during World War II, the show follows a group of lovable underdogs who defy social conventions and create a spirited team that makes you want to root for them. The show was originally slated for a reduced second season in March, but in the fall Amazon abruptly shut the show down, citing production delays caused by an actors' strike. It is a great shame, as Rockford Peach deserved to step up for a proper farewell.

Season 1 (8 episodes) Rotten Tomatoes: 95%

The Afterparty is another great show that was set to end after just two seasons. This Apple TV Plus murder mystery anthology series follows the suspects the morning after a murder. For example, one episode is a musical, another a noir crime drama. After Party was endlessly inventive and did a remarkable job of maintaining a certain quality, even with an almost entirely new cast between seasons (Tiffany Haddish appeared in both as Detective Danner). Apple had hoped that this after-party was just the beginning, but sadly, it was confirmed that the criminally overlooked comedy series will not be returning for a third installment.

Season: 2 (18 episodes) Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

The re-imagining of the classic ABC television series "Doogie Howser M.D.," which starred Neil Patrick Harris and aired from 1989 to 1993 and was well received by Disney Plus, was unfortunately cancelled in August. Although "Doogie Kameāloha, M.D." was well received, it did not seem to make a big impression on Disney Plus subscribers. Peyton Elizabeth Lee starred as a child prodigy trying to determine his teenage life and burgeoning career as a doctor. If being a child doctor wasn't enough of a headache, Rahela "Dougie" Kamealoha also had to navigate her shifting relationship with her mother, Dr. Clara Hannon (Kathleen Rose Perkins), the big boss at the hospital. While this family comedy was charming, it did not seem to garner enough ratings to justify more than two seasons on the air.

Season: 2 (10 episodes) Rotten Tomatoes: 92%

Back in January, Peacock ended author Karen M. McManus' best-selling series One of Us Lying after two seasons. This murder mystery show follows a group of five high school students suspected of being involved in the deaths of each of their gossip-mongering classmates after suffering a fatal allergic reaction during detention; all five have motives for the murders, and one of them is not telling the truth. The show was surprisingly well received, and while much of the high school drama was very routine, the core mystery was strong and compelling. The second season was not up to that standard, and the cancellation of "One of Us is Lying" seemed quite likely.

Season: 2 (16 episodes) Rotten Tomatoes: 90%

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