24. Resident Alien (2021) (Syfy/USA NETWORK) (4 Seasons)

Resident Alien is definitely one of my favorite shows of the last years or so. For a large part do to Alan Tudyk, because how he portrays Dr. Harry Vanderspeigle, is just hysterically funny. But to put it all on him would be unfair to the rest of the cast because this was a truly fantastic cast, not one I don’t like and that says something. I wish this show would get at least 6 more seasons but that’s not gonna happen. The last season does have some kind of a closure, but it was too quick, too easy, we are not ready to loose Harry and his fellow townspeople. Netflix is considering a movie to finish the story, that is something, if it ever becomes a reality, but a few more seasons really had my preference.

23. Roswell (1999) (The WB / UPN) (3 Seasons)

For some reason Roswell has always been a show which I favor, I mean, not sure how to explain, but I have a soft spot for this show. I rewatched it appropriately 3 times after it originally aired. I just love the drama, the mystery of it and the setting, at Area 51. when Ronald D. Moore joined the show in season two, it got a bit more story-arc telling too. Roswell did get some closure, still it was abruptly cancelled by UPN, there were so many more stories to tell but at least the finale gives some closure, but many threads remain unsolved. I really always have loved the intro song “Here With Me” from Dido, still do. Goes a bit far perhaps to say that it gave the show more credibility but it was always a treat to here the intro and it definitely is one of the best intro’s out there.

22. Dollhouse (2009) (FOX) (2 Seasons)

Eliza Dushku starred in the Josh Whedon show, it was a bit strange and awkward, especially in the first season where these people could be doing anything when they were hired by some rich folks who did not know what to do with his or her money, from being a hooker, to a hostage negotiator. Again, a strong cast, most actors we still see today in many other projects. In season two the format changed a bit, we get to learn more about this company, why they are doing what they’re doing. Even though the story has been wrapped up for the most part, because Joss Whedon knew he was going to get cancelled after season two, I would have liked to see a 3^rd season, plenty more stories to tell I would say. Fran Kranz, who plays Topher Brink definitely was my favorite character on the show.

21. Special Unit 2 (2001) (Syfy) (2 Seasons)

This was one of the most silly, funny shows out there. It certainly did not take itself too seriously, which made it just so good. Michael Landes and Alexondra Lee where the Mulder and Scully of Special Unit 2. It only had 19 episodes in two seasons, but it still lingers in my mind regularly and I have already decided that I will rewatch it in 2026 or 2027. Special Unit 2 ends on a massive cliffhanger, which of course frustrated fans, as they left hanging as the creators introduced new threats and unresolved storylines. The final episode, "The Invisible Man," involved the team dealing with an elusive villain, with the finale hinting at future conflicts and character arcs we never got to see, making it a classic abrupt cancellation ending. Sometimes life is so unfair!

20. Alphas (2011) (Syfy) (2 Seasons)

Alphas aired in that time bubble 2011-2014 where Sci-Fi was more scarce and different, after SGU got cancelled, till 2015 there were 4 years without a show set in space, on contrary to the 14 years up to 2011. Anyways Alphas was about a team of super-powered individuals, known as "Alphas", led by noted neurologist and psychiatrist Lee Rosen (David Strathairn), as they investigate criminal cases involving other suspected Alpha for the U.S. Department of Defense. I got hooked on it quickly, even more so when John Pyper-Ferguson joined the show as recurring character and he was the antagonist, which he does very well, just check out Jeremiah (2002). Alphas ended on a major, unresolved cliffhanger in the season two finale, when Syfy cancelled it. Recently I did purchase both seasons on DVD, and hopefully I can start rewatching it this year.

19. Travelers (2016) (Showcase / Netflix) (3 Seasons)

Travelers has become a favorite of mine, this time travel gem is just terrific, just like the cast. A very young cast with one veteran Eric McCormack. Hundreds of years from now, surviving humans discover how to send consciousness back through time, into people of the 21st century, while attempting to change the path of humanity because apparently it’s not pretty what humanity has done with the earth. As said, a phenomenal cast, created by Stargate legend Brad Wright, lots and lots of Stargate connections. I was most impressed with the Canadian actress/singer MacKenzie Porter, who portrays Marcy Warton. She is just an amazing actress, I was astonished about the range she had. No, she was not just a pretty face! Yes, Travelers has some closure, I mean, if you are satisfied as a viewer that it is obviously that it will be tried again…and again…and again. If you have not watched this, as a SCI-FI fan, you have to watch this, I am confident that you will love it.

18. Jericho (2006) (CBS) (2 Seasons)

Of course Jericho can't be missing from this list! The show got cancelled not once but twice. It got cancelled on a major cliff-hanger in the season one finale, after heavy fan protest, through a fun campaign, fans sent 20 tons of nuts to CBS, referencing to a scene from the season one finale "Why We Fight" where Jake Green repeats General Anthony McAuliffe's historic phrase "Nuts!" from the Battle of the Bulge. As a result, CBS uncancelled Jericho and renewed it for a 7 episode second season. Unfortunately the ratings didn’t improve, so CBS cancelled it a second time. The producers filmed two endings: one cliffhanger and one more definitive. CBS chose the latter, which wrapped up the immediate conflict but left enough hanging. When the show wasn't renewed again, the story continued in a comic book series from Devil's Due Publishing, resolving the remaining plot threads.

17. Halo (2022) (Paramount) (2 Seasons)

It was cancelled in 2024 after two short seasons. It was in development for almost a decade before it finally aired on Paramount. I am not a gamer, so for me it didn’t matter too much that it didn’t stay true to the game. I really enjoyed it, a spectacular SCI-FI saga, wonderful soundtrack that comes with it. I have a slight preference for the second season where episode “Reach” just blew me away, just fantastic. I really wish we would have gotten a third season, the final season two episodes are really good, and in the season finale we get these zombies which make it even more interesting. It ended on a major cliff-hanger, we as SCI-FI fans are used to it by now, still it sucks. For a while it looked like Netflix had interest in producing season 3, but haven’t heard from it in at least half a year or so.

16. Dark Angel (2000) (FOX) (2 Seasons)

I think Jessica Alba impressed many men and women back when she started with the Dark Angel series. Not only was she beautiful, she was also a talented actress, remember that she was only 19 years old when Dark Angel started. Created by James Cameron, who at the time was new at making a TV show. The two seasons are different, the first season Max tries to hide her true self more, she works as a bike messenger and mostly hangs out with her friends who also work there, in season two, all brakes are loose, she no longer hides who she is. Recently I rewatched Dark Angel, still holds up, still enjoyable, unfortunately it ends on a cliff-hanger. According to James Cameron, he got word on a Friday that they were saved for a 3^rd season, so they partied to celebrate this over the weekend, but next Monday they still got the message they were cancelled!

15. The Invisible Man (2000) (SCI-FI CHANNEL) (2 Seasons)

Rewatched the complete series back in 2021, Invisible Man arguably is one of the best shows Sci-fi Channel (Syfy) has produced. Right after the Stargate shows. It had a stellar cast, it was very humorous but it also had a very serious tone, especially around the Darien Fawkes (Vincent Ventresca) character, who really doesn’t want to keep doing this but it’s this or prison. He and his partner Hobbes (Paul Ben-Victor) were the heart of the show, their relationship, the bickering, the yammering, that definitely was the reason to watch this show. But overall, very enjoyable, so much humor sprinkled throughout the whole two seasons. Although it does not end on a cliff-hanger, everything else is unresolved and that is frustrating, another thing that frustrates me is that it never got a season two DVD release.

14. Agent Carter (2015) (ABC) (2 seasons)

The final episode “Hollywood Ending” does end kind of okay, especially for a show that is cancelled at that point, but sure, the creators add 10 seconds of footage which makes you want a season 3 even more. Agent Carter is a fun, refreshing show, fun stories, good character moments and developments. Recently rewatched it and it was real fun and I find it unbelievable this got cancelled while other drab gets renewed! What is wrong with folks who keep watching these procedurals into eternity it seems. Agent Carter was a smart piece of television, a likable cast for the most part, a continued story-arc as well. It deserved a third season at least, but no, people much rather watch shows like Law and Order, season 36, or NCIS season 24 and so on.

13. The 4400 (2004) (USA Network) (4 Seasons)

The 4400 explores the difficulties of the 4400 people who all at once returned in a ball of light to Earth; though the returnees had not aged physically, many of them reappeared with dramatic abilities ranging from enhanced reflexes to precognition. NTAC (National Threat Assessment Command) is the government agency responsible for keeping track of the returnees and investigating all things related to the 4400. It had 4 seasons under its belt when the USA Network cancelled the show on a massive cliffhanger. The show’s cancellation in part was because of the Writers Guild strike, back in 2007 and also there were budget issues. The audience were left without any conclusion, very disappointing. But, later on in a few follow-up novels, some conclusions were offered.

12. Humans (2015) (Channel 4 / AMC) (3 Seasons)

A remake from the Swedish TV show Real Humans, the British version was a really strong series. I never saw the original one, so I cannot compare the two but I really enjoyed the British version. In short this is the premise: In a parallel present where the latest must-have gadget for any busy family is a 'Synth', a highly-developed robotic servant that's so similar to a real human. It sometimes was very confronting because awful things happened to these synths. Humans holds a mirror up to the audience about how we can act, react without showing any compassion, empathy and sympathy. Not much needs to happen for people to almost become savages, we see many examples of this in today’s world. Anyways, it ended on a major cliffhanger, concluding with the death of beloved Synth Mia and the revelation of a half-human/half-Synth baby with unique abilities, setting up a new direction for potential future seasons, though the show was ultimately canceled after Season 3.

11. Tru Calling (2003) (FOX) (2 Seasons)

The second show where Eliza Dushku is the lead character, Tru Calling, a personal favorite of mine, especially around episode 13 or something when Jason Priestley’s character arrives and he becomes Eliza Dushku’s character’s antagonist, at least, that is what it looks like, we can’t be a 100% sure because the show ended prematurely. The first few episodes are okay, but nothing really special, but this really becomes a strong show halfway through the first season. Zach Galifianakis’ character Zack, is her boss and also becomes her confident to the secret she is carrying. I believe it has been removed a few years ago but back then on Wikipedia there was info about what possibly would have happened in the following seasons, this would have been really interesting! I found the original webpage where this was posted back in 2005.

Final Word:

Well, there you have it, the first 15 shows, 10 more to go. In part two I will also write down shows which didn’t make it in the Top 25. I hope that you find this interesting. Not sure if this something you like to see more of. Let me know n the comments and if you have your Top 25 multiple seasons, cancelled too  soon, please let me know in the comments also.