4 Great HBO Shows That Were Canceled Way Too Soon
It’s always heartbreaking whenever a fan-favorite TV series suddenly finds itself cancelled after a mere season or two.
Such is especially the case when said fate falls upon a popular HBO series, be it in the form of an award-winning drama show or a little-known genre series. With HBO recently making the rash decision to cancel Duster, we decided to take a look back at some of the network’s many shows that ended way too soon, from chilling horror series to period dramas.
Duster
Despite its glowing critical reception, Duster’s favorable status among viewers didn’t prevent HBO from canceling the series shortly after its first season. An entertaining love letter to ‘70s-set B-movies and unorthodox buddy comedies, Duster could have feasibly gone on to enjoy a multi-season-long run on HBO. As it is, the network made the frustrating decision to end Duster just when it seemed like it was getting started, leaving viewers to only imagine what future adventures the series had in store for Josh Holloway’s Jim Ellis and Rachel Hilson’s Nina Hayes.
Lovecraft Country
In theory, Lovecraft Country had it all: a sensational cast, a fascinating period setting, and plenty of inventive tie-ins to horror writer H.P. Lovecraft’s extensive Cthulhu Mythos. While audiences only got a glimpse at Lovecraft Country’s otherworldly universe, the series’ initial two seasons came packed with thoughtful storytelling and timely topics, including an intelligent breakdown of its 1950s American settings, complete with the hauntingly casual racism that characterized its historical surroundings.
Carnivale
As series creator Daniel Knauf later revealed, Carnivale was originally slated to last six seasons on HBO, spanning the darkest days of the Great Depression to the horrifying peak of World War II in Europe. While fans only witnessed two completed seasons of this underrated fantasy masterpiece, Carnivale’s stellar start seemed to hint at a series of unparalleled creative potential, likening itself to Lost, Twin Peaks, Something Wicked This Way Comes, Freaks, and a lost novel from Stephen King.
Deadwood
Fortunately, Deadwood eventually received the long-awaited conclusion it deserved with 2019’s Deadwood: The Movie. While its cinematic continuation eloquently returned viewers to the latter days of 19th century South Dakota, even the most successful movie still doesn’t make up for Deadwood’s cancellation in 2006. A foulmouthed period drama characterized by sharp writing, fluid dialogue, and powerful characterization, most viewers continue to see Deadwood as one of the defining series of the 21st century, making its short-lived tenure on HBO all the more bewildering to think about.
