As Pride Month is underway, it’s a good time to look at LGBTQ+ adaptations that were canceled after one or two seasons. These shows graced our screens for a minute and introduced characters that left a lasting impression.

From viewership numbers to low ratings among critics, shows can be canceled for many reasons. Here are five queer adaptations that got canceled too soon. 

‘High School’ – Prime Video

Set in the late 1990s, “High School” is based on a 2019 memoir of the same name by musicians Tegan and Sara Quin. It follows the twins as they navigate a new high school and self-discovery—which is complicated by being a twin and having similar life experiences. TikTok creators Railey and Seazynn Gilliland star as Tegan and Sara, with “How I Met Your Mother” star Cobie Smulders as their mother. The show ran for one season on Freevee, premiering on October 14, 2022, before it was canceled by Prime Video due to many viewers not finishing the season.

‘Boots’ – Netflix

“Boots,” inspired by a 2015 memoir by former U.S. Marine Greg Cope White titled “The Pink Marine,” was also set in the ‘90s, this time in the world of the U.S. Marine Corps. Identifying as LGBTQ+ was still illegal in the military at the time, causing problems for closeted Cameron Cope (Miles Heizer) and his best friend Ray McAffey (Liam Oh), who joined a new set of recruits. The ensemble-driven series shows the challenges of navigating boot camp and the bonds they form in the process. “Boots,” whose trailer features “Freedom!” by George Michael sung by the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus, ran for one season on Netflix, premiering on October 9, 2025. It was canceled by Netflix for reasons that remain unclear. 

‘Dead Boy Detectives’ – Netflix

Based on a DC comic book series by Neil Gaiman, “Dead Boy Detectives” involves two teenage ghost best friends, Edwin Payne and Charles Rowland, and their detective agency—along with Crystal, a clairvoyant, and her friend Niko—who work to solve the most perplexing paranormal cases of the mortal world. The Netflix show stars George Rexstrew, Jayden Revri, Kassius Nelson, and Yuyu Kitamura as this unlikely quartet. The series, which premiered April 25, 2024, was canceled after one season due to poor ratings.

‘First Kill’ – Netflix

With a popular premise that adds a lesbian twist, “First Kill” is a coming-of-age story about proving yourself in the family business—by getting your first kill. The problem is that monster hunter Calliope (Imani Lewis) and vampire Juliette (Sarah Catherine Hooks) were set to kill each other, but develop feelings for each other. The show premiered on Netflix on June 10, 2022, and was canceled due to low ratings among critics after one season.

‘Gentleman Jack’

Described as the “first modern lesbian,” Anne Lister (Suranne Jones) sets off to return the fortunes of her home, Shibden Hall, and find herself a wife in BBC’s “Gentleman Jack,” which is based on “I Know My Own Heart: The Diaries of Anne Lister, 1791–1840.” The series, which also ran on HBO, was canceled after two seasons, citing low viewership due to the Monday night BBC time slot and the pandemic postponing Season 2.

About the writer

Carissa Shellenberger attends Dickinson College as a Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies major and is interning at Booked & Screened this summer for her internship requirement. Usually haunted by Sigmund Freud, Judith Butler, or a certain feminist magazine, she is excited to be working on something where at least two of these are less likely to show up.