Television has always known how to keep audiences on the edge of their seats, but some cliffhangers do more than just leave us with a mild sense of curiosity. They go so far beyond suspense that they temporarily dominate our cultural conversation, sparking debates, theories, and criticisms. And for a few diehard fans, they may even lead to a handful of sleepless nights. Some of these cliffhanger moments faded to black just as the stakes hit their peak, leaving fans desperate for answers; answers which may not come for months… or sometimes even years! The best cliffhangers don’t just have us casually wondering what happens to our favorite characters; they rock our world, reminding us how invested we are in a fictional story.
What makes these particular cliffhangers unforgettable is the lasting mark they left on entertainment culture. They were shared experiences that united fans in speculation, frustration, and WTF moments. Some cliffhangers became legendary because their follow up episodes took forever to shoot (and in some maddening cases, the show never resumed production), while others became memorable because the show was so darn good that the short wait between seasons felt unbearable. Revisiting these twelve TV moments reminds us how powerful a pause in the story can be, (and maybe how truly impatient you are as the viewer).
“Mindhunter” (2017 – 2019)
- Creator: Joe Penhall
- Stars: Jonathan Groff, Holt McCallany, Anna Torv, and Hannah Gross
“Mindhunters” left fans wanting more. While the end wasn’t a dramatic or large cliffhanger compared to the first season’s ending, there were still plot points left unresolved. Technically, “Mindhunters” has not been officially canceled, but there is no timeline or hints pointing to when it will continue. In 2020, Joe Penhall, an executive producer for “Mindhunters” commented that he was going to work on other projects and paused this series.
“Santa Clarita Diet” (2017 – 2019)
- Creator: Victor Fresco
- Stars: Drew Barrymore, Timothy Olyphant, Liv Hewson, and Skyler Gisondo
“Santa Clarita Diet” ran for three seasons, but it really should have been four. This interesting zombie comedy ends with a jaw-dropping cliffhanger. In the end, all the audience sees is Sheila biting Joel in order to save him, possibly also turning him into a zombie. The thing is, we will never know as “Santa Clarita Diet” was canceled by Netflix in 2019.
“The Society” (2019)
- Creator: Christopher Keyser
- Stars: Kathryn Newton, Gideon Adlon, Sean Berdy, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, and Jacques Colimon
What would you do if most of your town disappeared overnight except for a group of teenagers? That idea is the main plot of “The Society.” During this show, teenagers attempt to survive and understand what happened to their town. Fans, though, will never uncover the secrets of the world within “The Society” as the show was canceled due to cost and difficulty scheduling during the Covid-19 pandemic.
NCIS: Hawai’i (2021 – 2024)
- Creators: Christopher Silber, Jan Nash, and Matt Bosack
- Stars: Vanessa Lachey, Alex Tarrant, Noah Mills, Yasmine Al-Bustami, and Jason Antoon
“NCIS: Hawai’i” has the biggest cliffhanger you’ve probably ever seen. In the last episode, Jane goes home expecting her daughter but is instead face to face with Maggie, who says one line before the show ends: “You’re probably going to need a drink for what’s coming next.” While this sounds like a perfect cliffhanger for an epic new season and story line, CBS canceled the show. They cited cost as a big reason.
“The Glades” (2010 – 2013)
- Creator: Clifton Campbell
- Stars: Matt Passmore, Kiele Sanchez, Carlos Gómez, and Uriah Shelton
“The Glades” ran for four seasons and had millions of viewers. About 3.41 million people tuned in for the seasonal finale and yet, the show was canceled on a major cliffhanger. The last thing viewers got to see was Detective Jim Longworth bleeding on the floor as he was shot by a hidden killer.
“iCarly” (2021 – 2023)
- Creator: Dan Schneider
- Stars: Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, Nathan Kress, Laci Mosley, and Jaidyn Triplett
So many “iCarly” fans were excited when this hit Nickelodeon series was revised, but it didn’t last long. After three seasons, the new “iCarly” show was canceled and left a lot of unanswered questions. One of the biggest is: Who is Carly’s mom? Right at the end, she shows up, but the audience never sees her face.
“Hannibal” (2013 – 2015)
- Based On: Characters from Red Dragon by Thomas Harris
- Stars: Hugh Dancy, Mads Mikkelsen, Caroline Dhavernas, and Hettienne Park
“Hannibal” was a popular show featuring 39 episodes. Like the others on this slideshow, “Hannibal” ended on a major cliffhanger. During the final moments of the series, Hannibal Lecter and Will Graham fall into the ocean after an altercation, leading fans to wonder what happened to them. Although “Hannibal” had a dedicated fan base during its release, low viewership led to its cancellation.
“1899” (2022)
- Creator: Jantje Friese and Baran bo Odar
- Stars: Emily Beecham, Aneurin Barnard, Andreas Pietschmann, and Miguel Bernardeau
Another TV series that didn’t make it to the end is “1899.” This unique German sci-fi Netflix series lasted for one season and is incredibly diverse with actors from various countries. While there is no direct statement as to why Netflix canceled this show, it’s likely due to a mix of low viewership and expensive sets.
“How I Met Your Father” (2022 – 2023)
- Creators: Isaac Aptaker and Elizabeth Berger
- Stars: Hilary Duff, Christopher Lowell, Francia Raisa, Suraj Sharma, and Tom Ainsley
Spin-off TV series are hit or miss. Either you love them or hate them. “How I Met Your Father” is no different. This series received mixed reviews and lasted for two seasons. While not a major cliffhanger, the last episode ruled out a potential love interest for Sophie but never answered who the father is or how they met.
“Agent Carter” (2015 – 2016)
- Creators: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
- Stars: Hayley Atwell, James D’Arcy, Chad Michael Murray, and Enver Gjokaj
“Agent Carter” is a phenomenal TV series, and yet it was canceled after two seasons. Interestingly, the second season wrapped up nicely, but the last few minutes were a big cliffhanger and opened up another storyline for season 3 – one that would never come.
“Julie and the Phantoms” (2020)
- Creators: Dan Cross and David Hoge
- Stars: Madison Reyes, Charlie Gillespie, Owen Patrick Joyner, and Jeremy Shada
“Julie and the Phantoms” is adorable. Netflix released the first season in 2020 but they canceled it shortly after, leaving viewers with a lot of questions. Although positively received and rated high on Rotten Tomatoes, the series didn’t attract a large enough audience for Netflix to continue with production.
“Lockwood & Co.” (2023)
- Based On: Lockwood & Co. by Jonathan Stroud
- Stars: Ruby Stokes, Cameron Chapman, and Ali Hadji-Heshmati
Last but not least is “Lockwood & Co.” which featured a dramatic and sudden cliffhanger. Unfortunately, viewers will never know what happens next in this Netflix series as it was canceled after one season (unless you read the books). It ends with Lockwood about to reveal his secrets. He opens the door to his secret room and the series comes to a close.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Courtesy by Disney+.