2021 will welcome the arrival of many new TV shows, but the year will also feature the end of several popular titles. While some of the departing shows reside on popular streaming services, a few long-running cable network titles are also on the list. Unfortunately for Netflix, the top tier platform is set to say goodbye to a handful of major series throughout the calendar year.
The decade started on an unprecedented note with the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Due to COVID, production on the majority of film and TV projects were halted for a portion of 2020. With the delays, many new releases were put on the back burner, but several shows still concluded in the first year of the new decade. Among the shows that had series finales in 2020 included Supernatural, Modern Family, Homeland, Arrow, How to Get Away with Murder, and Schitt's Creek.
With ongoing production delays, some shows that intended to end in 2020 were forced to push their schedules into 2021. For that reason, the list of TV titles ending in 2021 might look a tad longer than in previous years. That said, here's every show coming to an end this year whether it was from a cancellation or creative decision.
Better Call Saul
Vince Gilligan's Breaking Bad prequel, Better Call Saul, is saying goodbye in 2021. The sixth and final season was given a 13 episode count, which is up from the typical 10 episodes per season. After documenting Jimmy McGill's (Bob Odenkirk) transition into his Saul Goodman persona, the final season is set to fill in the blanks leading up to the events of Breaking Bad. As always, viewers can expect some familiar faces from the award-winning mothership series, but an appearance by Walter White and Jesse Pinkman is still up in the air.
His Dark Materials
HBO had hoped His Dark Materials would fill some of the void left by the end of another fantasy drama, Game of Thrones, but the premium channel will have to turn elsewhere soon. The series based on the novels by Philip Pullman premiered in 2019, featuring an alternate reality where humans have animal companions. Despite the potential, HBO announced that the upcoming third season will serve as the end of the series. With production on His Dark Materials season 3 eyed in early 2021, there's a good chance that the final installment will begin before the end of the year.
Shameless
After airing for over a decade on Showtime, Shameless fans will be forced to say goodbye to the dysfunctional Gallagher family. Even though viewers assumed season 10 would be the last, the network renewed the longtime drama for an eleventh season. Originally scheduled to begin airing in mid-2020, COVID delays pushed the season 11 premiere to December. In addition to 12 traditional episodes, a series of clip shows, titled Shameless: Hall of Shame, will be interspersed into the final season.
Dead To Me
Netflix's critically acclaimed dark comedy Dead to Me is bowing out with a third and final season in 2021. Created by Liz Feldman, Dead to Me centers on two unlikely friends, played by Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini, who bond over their deepest and darkest secrets. While Dead to Me season 2 ended on a cliffhanger, the forthcoming installment will provide some much-needed answers before wrapping up the narrative. Previous installments dropped in May, but COVID delays could potentially push back season 3 until the second half of 2021.
Ozark
Ozark, the award-winning Netflix drama, has been renewed for a fourth and final season heading into 2021. With the last installment set to be split into two parts, the first batch of episodes will likely arrive in 2021, but the latter half may not arrive until 2022. Either way, Jason Bateman will return as the head of the Byrde family in the last chapter of the hit crime drama.
Superstore
Superstore has been a highlight of NBC's primetime schedule since the sitcom premiered in 2015. Set in a fictional big-box store, the comedy centered on America Ferrara's character Amy Sosa and her co-workers. Despite Ferrara's departure, the series was renewed for a sixth season, which began in late October 2020. While the narrative switched focus to other characters, the network decided to cancel the sitcom, but the remaining episodes will air through the early months of 2021.
Atypical
Netflix's Atypical is officially coming to an end in 2021 after the comedy-drama was renewed for a fourth and final season. The series, which centers on a young man on the autism spectrum, has received predominantly positive reviews since it debuted in 2017. The final installment will presumably follow Sam Gardner (Keir Gilchrist) as he continues tackling college and decisions that will affect his future.
The Expanse
After airing for three seasons on Syfy, The Expanse was cancelled before Amazon Prime revived the title. Following the remnants of humanity after the Solar System was colonized, the sci-fi series is based on the books by James S. A. Corey. The show was renewed for a sixth and final season before season 5 premiered in late 2020. With production slated to begin early in the year, there's a good chance the final season will arrive before 2021 closes out.
Lucifer
Loyal fans of Lucifer were ecstatic when Netflix revived the fantasy drama after Fox cancelled the title following its third season. Focusing on Lucifer Morningstar's abandonment of Hell for a life in Los Angeles, the Tom Ellis-led series has grown a cult following. Based on the increased ratings when it jumped to Netflix, a season 5 got the greenlight. While Lucifer season 5, part 2 is expected to arrive in 2021, the service also renewed the series for a sixth and final season. Based on the timeline, it's possible that the last installment could begin before 2021 closes out.
Dear White People
Netflix will also be losing another original series when Dear White People concludes in 2021. Based on the 2014 film of the same name, creator Justin Simien returned for a TV series focused on Black college students at an Ivy League school. The fourth season was originally planned to drop in 2020, but COVID production delays pushed the debut date to an unspecified date in 2021.
Grace And Frankie
Fans of Grace and Frankie were prepared to bid farewell to the comedy in 2020, but that changed when production on the final season was shut down in early 2020. Featuring two unlikely friends portrayed by Jane Fonda and Lily Tomlin, the title has garnered favorable reviews. With filming set to resume in early 2021, the premiere of season 7 is expected by the end of the year.
Supergirl
The Arrowverse is gearing up to welcome a new series, Superman & Lois, in February 2021, but the franchise will subsequently bid farewell to Supergirl. In the months following the debut of the spinoff, Supergirl will begin its sixth and final season as part of The CW's midseason slate of programming. With Melissa Benoist's time as Kara Danvers coming to an end, the Arrowverse will lose a second major figure on the heels of Arrow's conclusion.
Black Lightning
Another Arrowverse series is coming to an end in 2021 with the departure of Black Lightning. Based on the superhero from DC Comics, the series starred Cress Williams in the titular role. After premiering in 2018, aspects of the series took part in the Arrowverse's "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover event. Though season 4 will serve as the show's last, a spinoff following Jordan Calloway's Khalil Payne/Painkiller is currently in development on The CW.
Claws
TNT's original series Claws was thought to be ending last year, but production shutdowns due to COVID pushed back the final season. Starring the likes of Niecy Nash as the owner of a nail salon whose employees enter the world of organized crime, Claws has gained a cult following. While it's unclear exactly when the fourth and final season will begin, filming concluded in November 2020.
Baroness Von Sketch Show
Baroness von Sketch Show, the Canadian sketch comedy series from an all-female team, was originally set to end in late 2020. Instead, the critically acclaimed series will be expanding season 5 with a handful of bonus episodes. The five new episodes, featuring never-before-seen sketches, begin airing on February 24 either on CBC in Canada or IFC in the United States.
Younger
TV Land's hit comedy-drama Younger is preparing to say goodbye when the seventh season arrives in 2021. Starring Sutton Foster as a 40-year-old who pretends to be a millennial to acquire a journalism job, Younger has become the longest-running original series for TV Land. Though the series is coming to an end, there are rumblings of a spinoff focused on Hilary Duff's character in the early stages of development.
Last Man Standing
Last Man Standing marks one of the longest-running shows coming to an end in 2021. The Tim Allen-led sitcom originally aired on ABC for six seasons beginning in 2011. After the network declined to renew the series, Fox picked it up a year later. Last Man Standing season 7 premiered in 2018, and thanks to a loyal fanbase, the network decided to continue with the comedy. Last May, Fox renewed Last Man Standing for a ninth and final season, which began airing the first week of January and features a Home Improvement crossover.
Feel Good
Feel Good, the British comedy from Mae Martin and Joe Hampson will be short-lived at Netflix. After premiering in March 2020, the streamer renewed the series for a second season set for 2021, which will ultimately be its last. The series focuses on a couple, Mae and George, as they navigate relationship struggles, careers, and their respective pasts.
Bosch
Amazon Prime's police procedural Bosch is set to debut season 7 at some point in 2021 after being renewed in February of the previous year. Based on the novels by Michael Connelly, the series stars Titus Welliver as the titular LAPD detective. The seventh and final season is expected to consist of 10 episodes, following the pattern of previous seasons. While past installments debuted in the spring, it could be a bit later in the year due to production delays caused by COVID shutdowns.
Goliath
Amazon Prime will also be gearing up for another major departure when the legal drama Goliath comes to an end. The title starring Billy Bob Thornton debuted in 2016 and served as one of the service's headlining original dramas. While the most recent season dropped in 2019, season 4 was originally planned for a 2020 debut. Due to COVID delays, the final installment will arrive at some point in 2021.
DuckTales
DuckTales premiered in 2017 on Disney XD, serving as a reboot to the animated series from 1987. After moving to the Disney Channel for a brief time, the series featuring Scrooge McDuck and the triplets known as Huey, Dewey, and Louie, moved back to Disney XD for its third season. After premiering in April 2020, it was announced that the series would come to an end following the end of season 3.
F Is For Family
F is for Family, Netflix's adult animated comedy series created by Bill Burr is set to come to an end in 2021. Following a dysfunctional family in a fictional Pennsylvania town in the '70s, the series began in 2015. After attaining generally favorable reviews, F is for Family has had a habit of featuring a stellar voice cast. Season 5, which will be the last installment, is expected to consist of 10 episodes.
The Kominsky Method
2021 will feature the third and final season of The Kominsky Method, a comedy-drama starring Michael Douglas as a former actor who now works as an acting coach. Netflix debuted the series in 2018 after giving it the green light for a second season following a positive response. Though Alan Arkin served as a key character in the first two installments, the actor will not be returning for season 3.
Van Helsing
Syfy's fantasy horror Van Helsing was initially scheduled to end in 2020 when the fifth and final season arrived. Instead, the COVID pandemic delayed production, forcing viewers to wait a bit longer for the last installments. Following Vanessa Van Helsing, a descendant of Abraham Van Helsing played by Kelly Overton, the title is based on Zenescope Entertainment's graphic novel Helsing.
Lost In Space
Netflix's original programming slate will once again take a hit when Lost in Space concludes in 2021. The title, which serves as a reimagining of the 1965 series, began in 2018. Shortly after the release, Netflix renewed the series about a family of space colonists due to its popularity. Featuring an ensemble cast and a visually stunning setting, Lost in Space was given a season 3, but it will mark the last installment.
Money Heist
Money Heist, one of Netflix's most-watched non-English series, will have one last installment before coming to a close. Initially intended to be a two-part limited series, the Spanish crime drama was expanded after Netflix gained international distribution rights. While part 4 arrived in April 2020, the fifth and final installment will presumably hit Netflix in mid to late 2021.
Conan
After the success of Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, the talk show host moved to TBS when Conan debuted in 2010. For the better part of the decade, the late-night show was an hour-long before being shortened to a half-hour format in late 2019. Despite being renewed through 2022, the comedian and host announced that the TBS title will come to an end in June 2021. Conan O'Brien will star in a new variety show set to air on HBO Max soon.
Judge Judy
After 25 long years, the arbitration reality court show Judge Judy will come to an end. The series, which is presided over by Judy Sheindlin, has become a long-standing title within pop culture over the last two decades. While the courtroom show is coming to an end, Sheindlin already has a new project in the works. Judy Justice, a new series centered on the popular judge, will debut on IMDb TV following the end of Judge Judy season 25.
Keeping Up With The Kardashians
The Kardashian-Jenner family is ready to call it quits on the long-running E! reality series. 2021 will feature the show's milestone twentieth season, which will serve as the last installment. The world's "guilty pleasure" program launched a handful of spinoffs and specials, but it's unclear if the network has plans for the family in the future once Keeping Up with the Kardashians comes to an end.