Here is a roundup of 15 LGBTQ series taken from us far too soon.
We are all about celebrating LGBTQ series wins on television. But what about the losses? Not all of our favorite queer-inclusive shows get picked up for another season (much to our dismay). While we look forward to another season of Euphoria and The L Word: Generation Q, here are 15 series that was robbed of a second season (that’s right, only one season!).
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High Fidelity
The gender-flipping adaptation of the classic 2000 film starred Zoe Kravitz as Rob, a record store owner who has no luck with love. The show had multiple LGBTQ+ storylines, including Rob’s and Simon’s (David H. Holmes). The series premiered on Hulu in 2020 and was canceled after just ten episodes.
I Am Not Okay With This
The Netflix coming-of-age, queer, superhero series starred It actors Sophia Lillis and Wyatt Oleff. It follows Sydney (Lillis), a teenage girl trying to come to terms with her sexuality and the mysterious superpowers she possesses while also trying to survive high school. Netflix canceled the series the same day it pulled the plug on The Society.
The Society
Like I Am Not Okay With This, Netflix ended this series due to “pandemic concerns.” The sci-fi series follows a group of teens who must create their own society to survive after the rest of their town mysteriously disappears. Adorably queer couple Sam and Grizz shared a beautiful queer kiss in episode seven before the show got the boot. You can stream the season on Netflix.
The Get Down
Starring Justice Smith, Shameik Moore, and Jaden Smith, this 2016 musical drama followed a group of ambitious teens who tried to make it in the world of hip hop and R&B in the 1970s. Jaden’s character Dizzee has a budding romance with a graffiti artist named Thor, but the show ended before we got to see the two together.
Everything Sucks
Set at a local high school in Boring, Oregon, a group of teens join the AV/drama club and attempt to make a movie. This beloved series starred Sydney Sweeney, Peyton Kennedy, and Jahi Di’Allo Winston. Kennedy’s character Kate begins a relationship with a boy named Luke (Winston) but develops feelings for another drama student, Emaline (Sweeney).
Genera+ion
Justice Smith and the rest of the Genera+tion cast brought to life a beautiful story about a group of queer youth trying to find love and friendship in a conservative community.
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First Kill
The teen supernatural drama followed a classic forbidden love story between a vampire and a monster hunter. Based on the novel by V.E. Schwab, the story of Calliope and Juliet gained a dedicated fanbase for its depiction of a young lesbian relationship. Unfortunately, Netflix axed the series after one season.
Champions
The Mindy Kaling series starred some of our favorites like Ginger Gonzaga (She-Hulk), Fortune Feimster, and Josie Totah. Not only did the NBC sitcom have a leading gay teen character, but it also had a lesbian character played by Feimster.
Stumptown
Following a bisexual private investigator played by Colbie Smoulders, Stumptown premiered on ABC in 2019. Though it was initially renewed for a second season, the production company ultimately canceled it after 18 episodes. It also starred Jake Johnson (New Girl) and Tantoo Cardinal and is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
Q-Force
The hilarious animated series will be missed by many for bringing accurate LGBTQ representation to television. Q-Force starred Sean Hayes as secret agent Steve Mayweather. After being exiled from the American Intelligence Agency for coming out as queer, Steve finds a new squad of LGBTQ+ superspies, including a trans hacker named Stat (Patti Harrison), a drag genius named Twink (Matt Rogers), butch mechanic Deb (Wanda Sykes), and their token straight Rick Buck played by David Harbour.
4400
4400 tells the story of thousands of marginalized people who mysteriously vanish and reappear without an explanation. The series had trans and lesbian representation and starred T.L Thompson, Kausar Mohammed, and Ireon Roach.
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Naomi
Another superhero series taken away too soon is Naomi, a drama based on the comic book by the same name. Naomi starred Kacie Walfall as the comic book-loving Naomi, Cranston Johnson as Naomi’s ally Zumbado, and Camila Moreno as Lourdes – a sarcastic woman who works at a vintage collectibles shop and has a crush on the superhero.
Queer As Folk
No! Say it isn’t so! The highly anticipated modern adaptation of the original British series by Russell T Davies will not be returning for another season. The Stephen Dunn-directed series is led by an all-star cast, including icons like Jesse James Keitel, Fin Argus, CG, Devin Way, Ryan O’Connell, Johnny Sibilly, Kim Cattrall, and Juliette Lewis. In this reboot, a group of queer teens must figure out life and love after a tragedy hits New Orleans.
Teenage Bounty Hunters
Twin sisters take up bounty hunting in order to pay off their debt to their dad for wrecking his truck. Despite getting great reviews and being a hit among its audience, the Netflix series got caught in the crossfire of the pandemic.