HBO is one of the more prominent producers of new TV series, partially thanks to its streaming service HBO Max. It offers a large variety of shows that fit different genres and is no stranger to mini-series either. However, while the majority of HBO TV shows manage to run their course, it doesn't always work out that way.
Just like with every other TV producer, HBO has canceled shows prematurely over the years. Sometimes it was for the best since the shows failed to captivate the audience. Other times, though, HBO canceled great shows after just one season, causing an outcry among the shows' fans.
5 Minx
There are never enough great retro shows. Minx was one of them, and it has a complicated story. It was initially renewed for a second season after its premiere in 2022, but HBO later changed its mind and canceled the series instead. Set in Los Angeles in the 1970s, the series centered on Joyce, a young woman who joins forces with a B-list publisher to create the first erotic magazine for women. The series dealt with relevant topics such as feminism but did so in an entertaining, yet clever way.
It created a strong atmosphere of the 1970s and the pacing as well as the actors' performances made for a fun story. Ophelia Lovibond was lovable as Joyce and the main duo (Lovibond and Michael Angarano) had a strong dynamic between them. This wasn't enough to persuade HBO to release the second season, however, even though Minx has above-average ratings online and deals with an attractive topic.
4 The Nevers
Joss Whedon has multiple movie hits under his belt (such as Avengers, 2012), but he hasn't always been so lucky when it comes to his TV shows. After the infamous cancelation of Whedon's show Firefly, another of his TV series has been canceled after just one season. The Nevers combines two genres that are still rarely seen together: science fiction and historical drama. Taking place in England in the late 19th century, the series centers on a group of women who have extraordinary powers but are mostly shunned and persecuted by society.
Victorian London, as portrayed in the show, comes across as very real, and it adds an extra charm to the story filled with many fleshed-out characters with different sorts of powers. Whedon's other array into the super-powered people genre worked well and offered a shocking plot twist. The show had a strong cast and scored a positive overall rating of 7.4 on IMDb, but the second half of the first season is yet to be released, and after the show's cancelation, it's unclear when (if at all) the remaining episodes will air.
3 Time Traveler's Wife
Time travel is a popular topic, and not just in pure science fiction shows. Despite its popularity among fans, for every long-running show such as Doctor Who, there are several time-travel stories that don't do so well. Based on the bestseller novel of the same name, Time Traveler's Wife chronicles the complicated love story of Henry and Clare who don't meet in the same order. Even though time stands against them, they still manage to build a loving relationship, but there's something horrible lurking in Henry's future. The chemistry between the main characters works, so it's easy to believe the bond between them.
Theo James and Rose Leslie manage to make their heroes sympathetic even in their weaker moments. The series plays with time in a way that's fun to explore, and attentive viewers won't get lost in all the time-travel subplots. With just six episodes, the series is easy to watch fast, but those who want to know how the story ends will have to read the book or watch the 2009 movie starring Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams.
2 Unscripted
People regularly watch their favorite actors and actresses in TV shows but not so many series offer a window into the lives of actors themselves. Unscripted is one of the few examples, and it does so in a comedic way. It focuses on the lives of three hopeful actors who live in Los Angeles and are hoping to get their big break, but things don't always go according to plan.
The series deal with topics and experiences that won't be familiar to everyone but presents them in a way that makes them easily understandable. The main characters are relatable and funny at the same time. Unscripted flew under the radar, and it became an even more underrated comedy since its premiere in 2005, with less than 500 ratings on IMDb. Anybody interested in the acting world or simply somebody who just wants to laugh will enjoy the series though and get fun celebrity cameos as a bonus.
1 Gordita Chronicles
Ratings-wise, Gordita Chronicles did well with the audience, but even that didn't stop HBO from canceling it after a single season. The show focuses on a young girl named Carlota who moves to Miami after her dad gets a job there. Set in the 1980s, the series shows that starting a new life somewhere else isn't easy, but that it's not impossible if somebody is determined to make it work.
And Carlota is very determined to make it work. Gordita Chronicles has a feel-good atmosphere, and it combines comedy and the occasional drama effortlessly. The ten episodes run by fast, and by the end of the series, the viewers will find themselves wishing for more.