Queer dramas that got canceled too soon: 5 modern queer dramas that definitely should have gotten more seasons

Queer dramas have always lived in a strange paradox. Despite these shows punching well above their weight in impact, emotional complexity, and audience loyalty, they are sometimes forced to meet harsher expectations from networks and streamers to be immediately big numbers, have broad appeal, and be social-media viral all at once. For that reason, proportionally many queer dramas are never given the space they require to flourish to their fullest.

The reason these cancellations hurt so much is that the majority of this series wasn’t broken artistically. They were long-term designed arcs with evolving characters and incomplete emotional journeys. A couple more seasons, and they could have layered representation while expanding their world.

Here are five queer dramas that, if you ask us, should have been given significantly more time, by any creative measure.

Here are the 5 modern queer dramas that definitely should have gotten more seasons

1. Boots

Boots is one of the queer dramas that portrays a queer teenage boy making it into the Marine Corps in 1990, when homosexuality was banned in the US military. The boy is shown trying to make their way through friendship, desire, ambition, and survival in a city that never quite lets them exhale. The show is grounded and raw, dealing with themes of identity, class anxiety, social perception, and others.

The show, unfortunately, got cancelled after its first season, facing backlash from the U.S. Department of Defense (Pentagon).

2. 1899

From the creators of Dark, 1899 follows a ship of European migrants on their journey to America, who come across a mysterious deserted vessel at sea. The story turns into a mind-bending sci-fi game of memory, identity, and even reality, with queer characters in its global cast. Again, even this show got canceled after season 1. This was obviously a multi-season story. It’s like stopping the novel after the first act.

3. Genera+ion

In a conservative Orange County community, Genera+ion follows Gen Z queer teens as they navigate sex, gender identity, mental health, and family tensions. The show utilizes a multi-perspective rather than a single lead.

Wrapped up after season 1, this show definitely deserved more for its attempt to capture the earnest innocence and emotional intimacy of queer youth.

4. I Am Not Okay With This

Sydney Novak is a teenage girl coming to terms with grief, anger, the fact that she’s a lesbian, and that she has dangerous telekinetic powers. The series mixes superhero mythology with deeply personal stories. This show concluded after its short season 1, consisting of seven episodes.

5. Smiley

Smiley is a Spanish LGBTQ+ romantic drama in which two men end up in each other’s lives when one of them sends a mistaken voicemail. It’s light and funny as a rom-com takes, but it secretly grows into a savvy exploration of vulnerability, emotional truth, and contemporary gay dating.

The showrunners have confirmed they had a second season planned. The emotional foundation had been established, while the show’s run could have allowed the characters to outgrow first love and confront real-world repercussions.