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Old 04-03-17, 06:04 PM
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Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

I'm watching The Lost World (1999) right now and I already know it was cancelled on a cliffhanger. One of the other shows I liked which had promise, Earth 2, was also cancelled on a cliffhanger.

Let's start a list of all the shows which were ended/cancelled on cliffhangers.
Old 04-03-17, 06:11 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

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Old 04-03-17, 06:19 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

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Old 04-03-17, 06:23 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

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Old 04-03-17, 06:31 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Man this thread will be sci-fi heavy:
Sarah Connor Chronicles
Stargate Universe
The 4400
Dominion
Alphas
Alf
Angel
Revolution
Pushing Daisies
V (both versions)
Lois and Clark
Alcatraz
The Deadzone
Second Chance

Hannibal
Soap

It might be interesting to list shows that were cancelled without a cliffhanger (or at least a major one) like Journeyman, Terra Nova and Minority Report. Many producers intentionally end shows with a cliffhanger to nudge a renewal but it doesn't really work. I do appreciate it when they at least try to wrap up a canceled show that airs all the episodes.

Last edited by Kdogg; 04-03-17 at 06:45 PM.
Old 04-03-17, 06:41 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

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Old 04-03-17, 07:00 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

I don't know if it ended on a cliffhanger, or if the El Rey Network just didn't have the next season, but I once watched an episode of Miami Vice, where Crockett had amnesia, and was working for the guy they were trying to collar.
Old 04-03-17, 07:23 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Oh great another list topic.
Old 04-03-17, 07:25 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

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Old 04-03-17, 10:36 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Originally Posted by shadokitty
I don't know if it ended on a cliffhanger, or if the El Rey Network just didn't have the next season, but I once watched an episode of Miami Vice, where Crockett had amnesia, and was working for the guy they were trying to collar.
He got his memory back.


Back on topic:

Old 04-03-17, 10:46 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Anything on Fox, that I like
Old 04-04-17, 12:45 AM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Models Inc.

I watched this show during my adolescent days and it was basically boner city. The show ended with some sniper about to shoot someone at a wedding, I think, and some other crazy shit was going on. And I was bummed there wouldn't be another season of sexy ladies.

So, of all the shows I could recall, this immediately springs to mind anytime this topic comes up.
Old 04-04-17, 02:20 AM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Originally Posted by mrhan
He got his memory back.


Back on topic:

I still remember this one so well. First thing that came to mind when I saw this topic.

Some shows ended their main story line and opened up another like Lois And Clark yet it is not a huge cliffhanger. It could be seen as an open ended ending.
Old 04-04-17, 06:31 AM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Surface arguably ended on a cliffhanger, although it could also just be viewed as being "open-ended" leaving a lot to the imagination.

Carnivale finished the main story arc from season one but left lots of loose ends and unresolved issues.

Others that ended on cliffhangers or unresolved major plots/premises:

Camelot
Dracula
My Own Worst Enemy


Shouldn't there be a distinction made between shows that ended with almost nothing resolved and the main premise left hanging vs. a show that ended with a single story line or story arc unfinished? The former makes watching that particular show pretty much a wasted effort, the latter is just frustrating in the way that reading an unfinished Robert E. Howard Conan story leaves that story unfulfilled while not affecting the rest of the canon.

Also, is the latter case that much different from all of the older, classic shows that just "ended" without any particular denouement? Most shows didn't have a "finale" in the way that The Fugitive, M*A*S*H*, and others offered closure.
Old 04-04-17, 07:02 AM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Originally Posted by Kdogg
Man this thread will be sci-fi heavy:
Sarah Connor Chronicles
Stargate Universe
The 4400
Dominion
Alphas
Alf
Angel
Revolution
Pushing Daisies
V (both versions)
Lois and Clark
Alcatraz
The Deadzone
Second Chance

Hannibal
Soap

It might be interesting to list shows that were cancelled without a cliffhanger (or at least a major one) like Journeyman, Terra Nova and Minority Report. Many producers intentionally end shows with a cliffhanger to nudge a renewal but it doesn't really work. I do appreciate it when they at least try to wrap up a canceled show that airs all the episodes.
Pushing Daisies didn't end on a cliffhanger, it actually tied up the whole series (granted in a quick and kind of awkward way). For Hannibal, I guess you could say it was a cliffhanger because we don't actually know whether they survived, but I think it worked as a series ending even though I wish there was more.

The only one I can think of off-hand to add to the list is an oddity because it's a comedy, My Name Is Earl.
Old 04-04-17, 07:28 AM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

i stopped watching after the news broke but I'm guessing Training Day will end on a hanger?
Old 04-04-17, 08:40 AM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Alcatraz


Not necesarily cliff hangers but Journeyman and Tru Calling didn't finish their stories.
Old 04-04-17, 08:48 AM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Originally Posted by creekdipper
Carnivale finished the main story arc from season one but left lots of loose ends and unresolved issues.
.
Did it, though? Even the main arc didn't really end, since Brother Justin was being resurrected at the end, no? Had it not been for that, there could have been some feeling of resolution.

Originally Posted by Kdogg
Hannibal
Literally! Although, there was talk that it may not be over.

I'd add:


Relativity
Boss - Not so much a 'cliffhanger' but certainly lack of resolution.
Me and Mrs. Jones - A UK series I'd be surprised if anyone else here has even heard of.
Deadwood - To some extent
Old 04-04-17, 11:42 AM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Come on people...

24!

Huge cliffhanger.
Old 04-04-17, 12:57 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

I enjoyed the 1979 series Cliffhangers, but, ironically, it was cancelled early and left two of the three series dangling.
Old 04-04-17, 03:46 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Farscape.
Although they eventually make the miniseries to complete it
Old 04-04-17, 05:52 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Originally Posted by joltman
Pushing Daisies didn't end on a cliffhanger, it actually tied up the whole series (granted in a quick and kind of awkward way). For Hannibal, I guess you could say it was a cliffhanger because we don't actually know whether they survived, but I think it worked as a series ending even though I wish there was more.
I don't remember Pushing Daisies wrapping. Wonder if I missed the final episode?

Originally Posted by Geddlo
Farscape.
Although they eventually make the miniseries to complete it
The same for the original Dallas except with a TV movie.
Old 04-04-17, 06:13 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Originally Posted by islandclaws
Models Inc.

I watched this show during my adolescent days and it was basically boner city. The show ended with some sniper about to shoot someone at a wedding, I think, and some other crazy shit was going on. And I was bummed there wouldn't be another season of sexy ladies.

So, of all the shows I could recall, this immediately springs to mind anytime this topic comes up.
This is me.
Old 04-04-17, 08:15 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

This is a good example of why I dislike cliffhangers. I rather a show end each season with a complete story and start new the next season which some shows still do.
Old 04-04-17, 08:51 PM
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Re: Shows ended on a cliffhanger?

Seemed like there were several sci-fi shows a few years ago that all ended on cliffhangers:

The Event
V
Caprica
FlashForward
Stargate Universe.

Caprica and FlashForward got hastily assembled square-up reels at the very end, but neither were very satisfying. Probably the biggest middle finger to the audience was the ending of SGU though.


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