Four Shows that Need to be Renewed

Each year television shows come and go. New series premiere and develop a devoted following, only to be cancelled because their following wasn’t strong enough for the network to keep it going. Returning shows that can’t keep their audience face the same fate. And each year fans’ hearts are broken when they’re favorite shows meet this unfortunate (and often, in the eyes of the fans, unjustified) fate.

Here are four shows that I love, and whose fates we are still waiting to learn.

Constantine

If you follow me on Twitter then it should come as no surprise to you that Constantine is the very first show on this list. Constantine was one of my favorite new shows this season (the other being The Flash, which is already sitting comfortably with a season 2 renewal). I knew little of John Constantine before the show premiered, mostly through his appearance in Neil Gaiman’s Sandman comics because until recently I hadn’t read any issues of Hellblazer. I saw the pilot twice during New York Comic Con and fell in love with the series almost immediately. I loved series star Matt Ryan as Constantine, and once I finally started reading the comics I loved him even more. Ryan is Constantine; he plays the part so well and has a terrific grasp on who the character is. Episodes like “Feast of Friends” brilliantly show the conflict within Constantine – as well as his ability to make the hard decisions, choosing the greater good over his own friends.

Fans were disappointed when NBC announced they would not be giving the series a back nine order, and instead would let the season end after the first 13 episodes. However, they have been quiet about whether or not they would be renewing the series for a second season. The series has consistently performed as well or better than Hannibal, which will be premiering its third season on NBC this summer, so there is hope. Even keeping it to the shorter, 13-episode pattern is enough to make me happy. Other rumors include the possibility of shifting the series to NBC-owned Syfy and rebranding it by the comic series’ original name, Hellblazer. Even this would be satisfactory as long as the cast and crew remain. Airing on Syfy would also give the series a little more room to stretch its wings and include storylines that may have been questionable for NBC. As long as the show stays on the air I will be happy. Unfortunately it seems NBC is content to make us wait until the May upfronts to learn it’s decision on the matter.

Agent Carter

I was a fan of Peggy Carter from the start in Captain America: The First Avenger, and I was thrilled when I learned she would be having her own series on ABC. I was even more excited when the series gave me everything I had hoped for – Peggy Carter is a nearly flawless female role model, and we all need more characters like her on television.

Agent Carter was the perfect fill-in for the Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. hiatus plus it gave us a look at two of the characters fans loved from Captain America. Also, it introduced us to the living and breathing inspiration for Tony Stark’s computerized Jarvis. Peggy and Jarvis made a wonderful team and I really enjoyed having them on my television. This show even managed to help me overcome my initial dislike of Chad Michael Murray (no offense, I’ve just never been a huge fan). Added bonus: It finally brought Enver Gjokaj back to my television, something I’ve been sorely missing ever since Dollhouse went off the air.

Ratings for Agent Carter may not have been spectacular, but the audience is loyal and I’m pretty sure every single one of them wants to see this show come back for a second season. I want more of Peggy Carter, and I wouldn’t mind seeing more of the original Howling Commandos. I’d also love to see how S.H.I.E.L.D. is actually formed, and we all want to know who Peggy ended up marrying (my money is on Sousa, or possibly Dum-Dum Dugan).

Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.

I don’t know if Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. is actually in any danger or not, though it’s ratings aren’t what I would hope they’d be. Unfortunately a lot of fans gave up on the show prematurely last season, and haven’t come back even though the series is better than ever. The fact that Disney owns ABC and the Marvel Cinematic Universe gives me hope that they wouldn’t give up on the series too easily – and that they have plans for how the series will continue to tie into the MCU.

I love this series for so many reasons, but mostly because I love having a connection to the MCU on television each week. I love Agent Coulson and I love all the little Marvel easter eggs. I’m also really excited about how they’re setting up the Inhumans movie already, with Skye’s current storyline. The series may have started out a little slow last year, but it is fantastic now.

Galavant

I loved this show, I really did. It was silly and ridiculous but it was so much fun to watch. Timothy Omundson and Vinnie Jones were flawless and without a doubt my favorite characters to watch. We don’t need a full season, just another 8 or so episodes to fill in some of the time during Once Upon a Time‘s winter hiatus next year would be perfect. That finale really left us hanging and I want some conclusion. Or, if ABC doesn’t want to renew it as a series, how about just a once-a-year Galavant musical movie? Even that would make me happy (after all, a two hour movie would be the equivalent of four episodes). Seriously ABC, please consider this option if you don’t want to renew it as a series. And honestly, you don’t even need to bring back the entire cast. I would happily watch a Richard and Gareth spinoff.

Recently Renewed: Sleepy Hollow

When I wrote this post earlier this week, there were actually five shows on my list. However, after spending yesterday mostly offline I got home to learn that Fox had announced they were renewing Sleepy Hollow for an 18-episode third season. I couldn’t be happier. I think the decision makes a lot of sense, but this is Fox we’re talking about; those of us still bitter about Firefly know Fox can’t be trusted with any genre television.

When it comes to Sleepy Hollow, I have to admit, I don’t understand all the season 2 hate. I enjoyed season 2 almost as much as I enjoyed season 1. Sure, there were some things that I wasn’t sure about – the possibility of an evil Frank Irving being one – but I trusted the writers and never even came close to giving up on the show.

I’m really glad Fox recognized the potential this show has for season 3. I think with Katrina and Henry completely out of the way, Ichabod will no longer have to worry about divided loyalties and we will finally be able to get back to the happy place we were in during season one. Season 3 could bring back all the elements fans loved most about the show. Also, with the Katrina and Henry baggage behind us the show is essentially resetting itself, so this is a great time to ramp up on the promotion and draw in new viewers. I’m really looking forward to seeing what happens next.

So there’s my list of shows I really want to see come back (and one renewal I’m celebrating). I didn’t include shows like The Night Shift, which has just begun it’s second season (so it’s too early to tell if it’s in danger) though that is definitely another one I would like to see stay on TV (I’m not even a fan of medical dramas, but I love that show). What shows are you hoping to see renewed for another season?