10 Canceled Crime Shows That Deserve a Second Chance

Everyone deserves a second chance, including the production teams of canceled television shows. For most small-screen projects that get terminated, there is usually no hope for a revival, but that never means a return is impossible. Fans can always remain optimistic, even if a lot of time has passed. After all, Arrested Development and Doctor Who made a comeback years after their abrupt endings. And shows like Magnum P.I. and Brooklyn Nine-Nine were quickly picked up by other networks when they were kicked out of their original homes.

In each genre, a couple of projects ended sooner than fans would have liked. The crime arena has a few such gems that many initially thought would reach the heights of The Sopranos or Power, only to not be renewed after a certain season. Even though it might have made economic sense for networks or streaming services to pull the plug, there ought to have been a little more optimism, considering that even Breaking Bad started with low numbers only to grow into a juggernaut in later seasons.

10 Hap & Leonard (2016 – 2018)

Hap & Leonard‘s Hap Collins (James Purefoy) is a character plucked right out of John R. Lansdale’s series of novels, and so is his Vietnam veteran buddy Leonard Pine (Michael Kenneth Williams), though the show isn’t loyal to the books. Like many other human beings, the two friends dream of Ferraris and mansions, so they quickly jump on the opportunity when Hap’s ex-wife Trudy (Christina Hendricks) shows up and claims a treasure is near a river many don’t know about. Hap is also motivated by his love for Trudy. He is eager to appear as a go-getter in her eyes, hoping they can rekindle their romance.

A Big Question Mark Remains

Most shows get canceled because there aren’t enough people watching, meaning advertisers cannot pay top dollar for the slot. However, Hap & Leonard was the highest-rated original series in the history of Sundance TV. It also had a perfect 100% Rotten Tomatoes, which has now slightly sunk to 98%. What more could network executives want? Well, it might just remain a mystery forever. The show was also very progressive as it tackled racism head-on and addressed several LGBTQ challenges. The route to a revival is even more complicated now because Michael Kenneth Williams sadly passed away in 2021, but if any network wants this show back, the creators can always find a way to retool it.

Stream on Prime Video

9 Jett (2019)

One of the hardest things to do in the criminal world is to retire, and skilled thief Daisy “Jett” Kowalski (Carla Gugino) learns this as soon as she is paroled in Jett. Just when she thought she was out, they pulled her back in — in classic Michael Corleone fashion — forcing her into fresh heists that she wasn’t initially willing to be a part of but soon grew to enjoy. Her new adventures pull her into an interesting work-pleasure association with the feared level-headed crime boss, Charlie (Giancarlo Esposito)

Cinemax Stopped Developing Original Programs

Jett deserves to be back on the screens because its cancelation had nothing to do with performance or quality. WarnerMedia’s executives decided to reserve all original programming for Max instead of Cinemax. The show was then shopped around to other networks, but nothing materialized, which is a shame considering how good the performances and cinematography were. Every scene was stylish and colorful, while Giancarlo Esposito’s performance reminded everyone of his Breaking Bad days. Hopefully, a resuscitation will still happen.

Stream it on Max

8 The Black Donnellys (2007)

Created by Paul Haggis (best known as Casino Royale’s screenwriter and Walker Texas Ranger’s co-creator), The Black Donnellys centers around four ambitious brothers in Hell’s Kitchen, New York, as they are slowly indoctrinated into gang culture and ushered into the Irish mob. While shaping their fangs in the underworld, they must also deal with numerous family-related challenges.

Arguably the Closest Thing to The Sopranos

The Black Donnellys was thought of by many as the closest thing to The Sopranos, given how it hopped between family and crime. But it didn’t just draw inspiration from the HBO hit show only. The Hell’s Kitchen experiences were very similar to those of Vito Corleone in The Godfather: Part II, while the themes of Catholicism and loyalty reminded viewers of Martin Scorsese’s Mean Streets. Regrettably, the numbers weren’t good enough. Still, this kind of show is needed because there is no other standout crime drama for hardcore mob fans at the moment.

Stream it on Roku, Vudu, or Xumo Play

7 Good Girls (2018 – 2021)

Good Girls deserves a final season, as it is not only solidly written but also has some of the most relatable criminals ever seen on television. The main characters are Beth, a mother of four whose husband keeps triggering her urge to cheat; Ruby, a waitress whose daughter suffers from Kidney disease; and Beth’s younger sister, Annie. Because they are all struggling financially, they decide to rob a local supermarket. It turns out the business was being used as a front by a cartel.

Pay Issues Got in the Way

Many television producers who have had their shows canceled will feel that the team behind Good Girls ought not to complain about anything. After all, events stretched up to Season 4. Still, the story had become very juicy. Hence, another season needed to happen. NBC acknowledged this and offered to make one final season on a tighter budget and lower pay for the actors. Everyone agreed except Manny Montana (who played the villain), and since his role was crucial, plans for another season were scrapped.

Stream it on Netflix

6 Sneaky Pete (2015 – 2019)

Sneaky Pete happens to be one of those shows where the creator is part of the main cast. Breaking Bad alum Bryan Cranston is the brains behind the project, and he also plays crime boss Vince Lonigan, who is eager to capture a newly released convict who once robbed him. To avoid the wrath of his enemies, the ex-convict, Pete (Giovanni Ribisi), takes on the identity of his former cellmate, but this only lands him in more trouble.

Cranston’s Departure Affected the Viewership Figures

Cranston left the cast after the first season, which was a shame, given how good he was. Most of the show’s initial fanbase consisted of Breaking Bad loyalists who had mainly come because of him, so they were disappointed when he left. Perhaps his character should have been replaced by an even stronger villain played by another A-list actor, but the crime drama continued to flourish even in his absence. None of the three seasons scored less than 90% on Rotten Tomatoes.

Stream it on Prime Video

5 Magic City (2012 – 2013)

Magic City takes viewers back to 1950s Miami, which is infested by mobs and all kinds of criminals. This means there is plenty of money flowing around the city, but Miramar Playa Hotel owner Ike Evans (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) struggles to keep his business afloat due to stiff competition. He thus makes the risky decision to seek investment from a hot-headed Jewish Don, and as expected, he comes to regret it.

A Planned Spinoff Movie Still Hasn’t Happened

Colorful interior décor, marvelous costumes, beautiful cast members, and an endless display of opulence made Magic City the perfect crime show. As an actor who has never disappointed, Jeffrey Dean Morgan was also at his usual best. Regrettably, despite the praise from critics and the appreciation from award organizations, the numbers kept going down and never improved. A spinoff movie was then announced, but it has been stuck in development hell for a decade now.

Stream it on Peacock

4 Brotherhood (2006 – 2008)

Brotherhood can be compared to Boardwalk Empire, given the fluid manner in which it blends crime and politics. Set in the Irish neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, the show centers around two brothers, each with different objectives. Michael (Jason Isaacs) is a career criminal who has just returned home and seeks to reassert his dominance in the underworld, while Tommy (Jason Clarke) is a member of the Rhode Island House of Representatives who is always happy to bend the rules.

The Third Season Was the Strongest

Covering the themes of loyalty, corruption, and crime, Brotherhood was the kind of show every genre fan was supposed to enjoy. Surprisingly, the ratings weren’t as high as the network had hoped. The stakes were significantly higher in the third season, which ended up being the show’s best. This meant things were getting much better, which explains why the cancelation took a long time to be announced. It was perhaps a painful decision to make and one that ought to be reversed one day.

Stream it on Paramount+ With Showtime

3 McMafia (2018)

Undoubtedly one of the most underrated British crime dramas, McMafia is all about the genial investment banker Alex Goldman (James Norton), who happens to have been raised in a mob family. Like Michael Corleone, he initially considers himself the purest of the bunch and is eager to stay out of trouble, but he soon learns that once you are close to it, the criminal lifestyle forcefully sucks you in.

A Realistic Portrayal of the Mafia in Europe

McMafia is a very realistic show as its storylines are inspired by the details provided by Misha Glenny’s best-selling non-fiction book McMafia: A Journey Through the Global Criminal Underworld. And it has everything, from opulence to bloody mayhem. Fans have hoped for a second season since 2018 because the BBC had announced a renewal, but in 2022, it emerged that the show would not be moving forward. This was unfortunate, considering how strongly it had started. Presumably, the content had something to do with it, as the show also covered the complicated dealings between Britain and Russia.

Stream it on AMC+

2 The Riches (2006 – 2007)

The Riches is all about the joys and dangers of the American Dream. After getting involved in an accident that leaves a wealthy couple dead, a family of Irish Pavees takes on their identity and goes on to live in their mansion in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Each of the pretenders, including the children, is skilled in a particular criminal activity. However, they soon realize they bit off more than they could chew.

Minnie Driver Is Still Upset

Minnie Driver, who received an Emmy nomination for playing the mother, Dahlla Malloy, has been vocal about the show’s cancelation for years. She is still furious, claiming that the termination only happened because the show’s writers had been very vocal about being underpaid during the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike.

On the other hand, FX blamed a drop in ratings, so it’s a case of “she said, they said.” Since then, no other show has been like it, which is an even bigger reason why it needs to return. Viewers would enjoy a show where every member of the family is on the same page when it comes to crime. So far, only the projects in the Power universe have come close to filling this void, only that they don’t address the key aspects of the American Dream.

Stream it on Hulu

1 Truth be Told (2019 – 2023)

Truth be Told’s protagonist, Poppy Parnell (Octavia Spencer), is a Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist eager to stay relevant. She figures podcasts are the new thing, so she starts one, and it becomes popular. Using her platform, she investigates various murders, but even though her job initially seems safe, various unexpected incidents make her question whether she is doing the right thing.

A Slight Dip in Quality in the Final Season

The first two seasons were spectacular, but the third was a bit slow, which explains why viewers tuned out at some point. This is understandable because the writers had already mined all the good stuff from Kathleen Barber’s debut novel Are You Sleeping. Even so, it’s highly likely that this kind of show would have rediscovered its form rather quickly. With the right villain and story, Truth be Told would have an extra solid season. And since it was only canceled recently, it isn’t too late for Apple TV+ executives to reverse the decision.

Stream it on Apple TV+