For all of the TV shows that have ended spectacularly, there have been many TV shows that have been canceled and left lingering without a resolution. For so long, fans have been clamoring for answers on the unresolved storylines, the abrupt endings, and the momentous cliffhangers through any extra season.
Fortunately, nowadays, there has been a surge of TV movies that finally bookends their shows. HBO did this with Deadwood, Hello Ladies, and Looking, and that had die-hard fans wishing other unresolved series to have their own finale movies. With that, here are ten shows that desperately need movies to conclude their stories.
Pushing Daisies
Pushing Daisies has developed a cult following that persisted throughout the years. This story of the pie-maker Ned (Lee Pace), who gains the ability to bring dead things to life and uses it to solve murder mysteries, has fans and viewers embrace its eccentric premise, quirky characters, witty dialogue, storybook-like palette, and occasionally grotesque elements.
Unfortunately, it got canceled after its second season, with Ned and company solving the case of synchronized swimmer Sid. Even if that is a good case to solve, Pushing Daisies deserves a better case to close.
My Name Is Earl
As Jason Lee’s star vehicle for television, My Name Is Earl brings light to the blue-collar figures who linger on their limitations and circumstances. Lee stars as Earl Hickey, a small-time thief who wins a $100,000 lottery ticket but loses it in a car accident. But, after doing a good deed, his lottery ticket comes back to him, encouraging him to believe in karma.
My Name is Earl ended on a cliffhanger, with Earl Jr. never finding out the true identity of his father, and fans would still love to see a conclusion to this storyline.
The Last Man on Earth
Will Forte stars as the titular “last man on earth," Phil Miller, who believes he is the sole survivor after a virus wipes out all citizens around the world. He soon discovers another survivor in Carol Pilbasian (Kristen Schaal), along with a range of normal to eccentric survivors.
The fourth season ends with the group being surrounded by underground colonists, Mike driving off to Cancún, and a mysterious blob manifesting secretly. As Rick & Morty has proven, oddball shows can sometimes become major successes.
Chuck
Chuck (Zachary Levi) is no ordinary nerd. This run-of-the-mill computer whiz who works in an electronics store accidentally received a software program that has him feed US spy secrets into his brain, making him a viable asset for CIA and NSA missions. Along with him are NSA Major John Casey (Adam Baldwin) and CIA Officer Sarah Walker (Yvonne Strahovski).
With five solid seasons, it ended in a positive note, but fans are clamoring for a better resolution on what happened to Chuck and Sarah. Even Levi is interested in it.
30 Rock
30 Rock is based on Tina Fey’s experiences as the head writer for Saturday Night Live, and it revolves on her daily life inside 30 Rockefeller Plaza, going behind the scenes of a sketch show starring Tracy Jordan (Tracy Morgan), and being under the eye of Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin).
This satirical show had tons of surreal moments and biting commentary, and it was disappointing that it was canceled on its seventh season. While it had a fitting finale and a subsequent reunion, 30 Rock deserves a movie comeback.
Terra Nova
Terra Nova is the most ambitious show on this list. It centers on the Shannon family, who are living in a dying Earth in the year 2149. They are given the chance to travel back 85 million years to prehistoric Earth where they join a colony of humans known as “Terra Nova” with a chance to build a civilization in that period.
Fox canceled the series, leaving the mystery of Terra Nova hanging. While Netflix was allegedly interested in a continuation, nothing came to fruition. We believe fans deserve a fitting finale movie.
Angel
A spin-off of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel carries the mythology of its predecessor, centering on Angel (David Boreanaz), an Irish vampire cursed with a soul. He relocates to Los Angeles and becomes a private detective to help people with supernatural cases. All the while, he battles his own demons, primarily from the firm Wolfram & Hart.
Like Buffy, this show spawned off a cult following with its character growth, noir feel, and fantastical elements. It ended well with “Not Fade Away,” but the show could use a grander resolution.
Freaks and Geeks
Freaks and Greeks is one of those shows that fruitfully produces a range of talent that break out in Hollywood. It follows the life of Lindsay (Linda Cardellini), who joins a gang of slacker “freaks," and Sam (John Francis Daley), who tags along with his geek friends in high school.
Even with a single season, Freaks and Geeks was instantly a cult sensation, and, for it feeling incomplete, it is a no-brainer that a reunion movie should take place. But, hopefully, Paul Feig and Judd Apatow can pull it off.
Hannibal
Hannibal Lecter finally preys on TV with this thriller, with Mads Mikkelsen playing the titular part. This time, his arc revolves on his early encounters with FBI investigator Will Graham (Hugh Dancy) and his methods of connecting with him. Slowly, Graham finds himself in conflict himself as Lecter veers on manipulating and corrupting him.
This television adaptation from Thomas Harris’ characters received acclaim during its run, but fans and viewers are looking for answers on the finale’s ambiguous ending. Hopefully, a resolving movie has a Silence of the Lambs scope.
Community
Everybody say it now: “six seasons and a movie!” Community truly made a mark in present-day nerd culture. The eccentric lives of Jeff, Britta, Annie, Shirley, Ben, Dean, Troy, and Abed around Greendale Community College flourished with six seasons and raised the standards for sitcoms.
Even with a satisfying finale in “Emotional Consequences of Broadcast Television," Community fans are clamoring for that promise to be fulfilled, and only a film can make for a decent resolution that unites everyone. Here is to hoping that Dan Harmon can make it truly possible.