Zombie shows have a way of getting under your skin. You root for the characters, get sucked into the chaos, and just when you think you’re safe, the show gets canceled. Suddenly, all those storylines, cliffhangers, and characters you’ve come to love are gone. It’s frustrating, heartbreaking, and honestly, kind of unfair.
Over the years, there have been a few zombie shows that left us feeling exactly like this. Gone too soon, but not forgotten. In this article, we’re looking back at three canceled zombie series we’re still not over, including one in particular that we think deserves a full-on revival ASAP.
Black Summer
- Creators: Karl Schaefer and John Hyams
- Cast: Jaime King, Justin Chu Cary, Christine Lee, Sal Velez Jr., Kelsey Flower, Erika Hau, Gwynyth Walsh
- Seasons: 2
- Where to watch: Netflix
Netflix canceling Black Summer after two seasons hurt in a way that’s hard to put into words. This was a show that I faithfully watched, episode after episode. What made its cancellation especially painful was knowing there was so much more the story could have explored. There were more characters, more relationships, more moments that could have left an even deeper mark on its audience. But unfortunately, low viewership led to its demise. Now it’s just another promising series that ended too soon.
But perhaps Netflix could still recognize the impact Black Summer had on its dedicated fans and give it a second chance? The world it built was tense, immersive, and brutally real, and its characters deserved more time to grow, survive, and face the challenges that were only just beginning. Look, even a one-season revival would work. That’s all it would take to give closure to the story and let fans see the characters’ journeys continue.
Black Summer takes place six weeks into the zombie apocalypse. We follow Rose, a desperate mother who is ripped away from her daughter, Anna, and sets out on a perilous journey to find her. Alongside a small group of survivors, she must navigate a brutal, unforgiving landscape while facing relentless dangers during the deadliest summer of the outbreak.
Daybreak
- Creators: Brad Peyton and Aron Eli Coleite
- Cast: Colin Ford, Alyvia Alyn Lind, Sophie Simnett, Austin Crute, Cody Kearsley, Jeanté Godlock, Gregory Kasyan, Krysta Rodriguez, Matthew Broderick
- Seasons: 1
- Where to watch: Netflix
While Black Summer was more on the serious side, Daybreak took a very different approach to the apocalypse. It's a post-apocalyptic dramedy, so it wasn't focused solely on tension or terror. Instead, it balanced the chaos of a world overrun by zombie-like “Ghoulies” with humor, teen drama, and absurd situations.
The short-lived series follows high schooler Josh Wheeler as he navigates this strange new world, forming unlikely alliances, facing bizarre challenges, and trying to survive while searching for his missing British girlfriend.
Unlike Black Summer, which was given at least two seasons to explore its story, Daybreak wasn't given this opportunity. In December 2019, Netflix canceled Daybreak after just one season, leaving fans without closure and the story unfinished. Once again, low viewership was the main culprit, cutting short a show that was equal parts chaotic, funny, and surprisingly heartfelt.
Freakish
- Creator: Beth Szymkowski
- Cast: Leo Howard, Liza Koshy, Adam Hicks, Aislinn Paul, Meghan Rienks, Melvin Gregg
- Seasons: 2
- Where to watch: Hulu
Freakish had a short run as well, with Hulu axing it after only two seasons. Technically, it's not a zombie series. However, it shares some similarities. That's why it's included on the list. The show follows a group of high school students who suddenly find themselves trapped inside their school after a chemical spill from a nearby factory turns ordinary people into violent, mutated creatures.
As fear spreads, the students struggle not just to survive, but to keep their humanity intact. Tensions rise as resources dwindle, friendships are tested, and alliances shift in unexpected ways, all while the relentless threat of the monstrous “freaks” closes in around them. Though not traditional zombies, the freaks function in a similar way. They're dangerous, contagious, and capable of wreaking havoc on anyone who crosses their path.
Why was Freakish canceled, you ask? Like so many shows that develop a dedicated fanbase but never quite hit the mainstream, low viewership is believed to have sealed its fate.