The Top 10 Unresolved TV Cliffhangers That Will Leave You Begging for Answers

Cliffhangers are a fantastic concept for television shows that are guaranteed to return. However, there are instances when a series gets canceled before resolving these suspenseful storylines. Drawing inspiration from film and radio serials, many TV shows employ cliffhangers to keep viewers hooked, whether it be for the next episode or setting up anticipation for the return of the series months or even years later. One notable example is Dallas, which transformed from a popular primetime soap to an iconic and highly influential event television with its season 3 finale cliffhanger asking "Who killed J.R.?" Other outstanding shows have also left audiences stunned with their season-ending cliffhangers.

But what would have happened if Dallas had been canceled after season 3, leaving the identity of J.R.'s potential assassin forever unanswered? While Dallas and its cliffhanger have secured their place in television history, there have been other series that remained unresolved, leaving viewers in a constant state of suspense without any resolution. Sometimes, the creators of these shows may reveal their plans for the cliffhanger's payoff, but it's not the same as witnessing these outcomes play out on screen. Sadly, unless a revival or sequel film is produced, these TV shows serve as frustrating examples where audiences are denied the satisfaction of receiving answers to their cliffhanger endings.

10 1899 — What Is The Purpose Of The Simulation?

9 Mork & Mindy — Are Mork & Mindy Stuck In Prehistoric Times?

1899, a show filled with enigma and symbolism, captivated a dedicated group of followers who tirelessly deciphered its complexities and intricacies over the years. Blending the realms of period drama and science fiction, it skillfully weaved intricate backstories and perplexing plot twists which enthralled its audience upon its premiere on Netflix in November 2022. Regrettably, despite its allure, the streaming platform chose to ax the series, leaving countless unanswered questions about the disclosed simulation. Although some fans perceive 1899 as having the ability to stand alone due to its conclusive revelations, others were left disheartened by the unresolved enigmas and fresh mysteries that would forever remain unexplained.

Contrary to popular belief, Mork & Mindy didn't conclude with a tantalizing cliffhanger. Nevertheless, the fourth season of this Happy Days spinoff had originally planned to leave the main characters marooned in prehistoric times, opening a door for Season 5 to explore their continued temporal adventures. Unfortunately, ABC abruptly canceled the sci-fi comedy, neglecting to air the eagerly anticipated three-part season finale titled "Gotta Run" and leaving fans wondering about the fate of their beloved duo. Instead of risking disappointment by airing the episodes in their intended order, the network decided to save one episode for last, giving the illusion of a happy conclusion with everything back to normal. Alas, the unresolved cliffhanger from the penultimate episode continued to haunt viewers' imaginations.

8 Agent Carter — Who Shot Thompson & Why?

Agent Carter, despite being deemed superior to many other MCU TV shows, unfortunately did not have the opportunity to conclude on its own terms. Although a third season was not confirmed, season 2 of Agent Carter left viewers hanging with a cliffhanger mystery while also providing closure for certain storylines. Regrettably, the series was canceled, leaving the fate of SSR Chief Jack Thompson uncertain after being shot by an unidentified individual who absconded with a file pertaining to Margaret "Peggy" Carter. According to writer Jose Molina (via Den of Geek), Thompson would have survived his injuries, and the shooter was intended to be revealed as Peggy's presumed deceased brother, Michael, who had hidden motives.

However, what happened next remains unknown. It is evident that there was a significant storyline involving Michael Carter and his motives for shooting Thompson and stealing the file labeled "M. Carter," but this narrative will likely never be officially detailed. What's even more disappointing is that MCU fans were never able to discover if Agent Daniel Sousa, who was hinted at as a potential love interest for Peggy, ultimately became her original husband—before the revelation that perhaps Steve Rogers, who could time travel, was her husband all along. Above all, it is crucial to note that Agent Carter should have lasted long enough to showcase the establishment of S.H.I.E.L.D. as the successor to the SSR, as intended.

7 GLOW — What Happens With The New Wrestling Show?

Whereas most TV shows canceled on a cliffhanger are the result of unexpected non-renewals,

6 V — Do The Visitors Win?

Being canceled on an unresolved cliffhanger is already a disappointment, but V has managed to experience it twice. The original alien-invasion series from the '80s was abruptly terminated, even though production had already begun on the next episode, which would have provided answers to certain questions. Unfortunately, it had to be abandoned midway through filming. Despite discussions of potential continuations and alternative scenarios over the years, the show was eventually rebooted in 2009. However, the new series also faced cancellation without allowing storylines to reach a satisfying conclusion, leaving the humans defeated by the Visitors. Perhaps, that's just the inevitable ending to the story.

5 Moesha — Who Was Pregnant?

Did Moesha move in with Hakeem? What happened to Myles? Which one of the characters was pregnant? That's a lot to leave on the table, but when Moesha was canceled due to poor ratings suddenly after its sixth season, these questions went unanswered. While it could be assumed that Myles eventually returned home safely, the spinoff sitcom The Parkers could have resolved the rest of the cliffhanger's dangling storylines. In fact, Hakeem had other love interests in that show, indicating that he and Moesha didn't end up together in any case. However, the intended revelation of the identity behind the positive pregnancy test seen in the Moesha finale never materialized according to the plans for The Parkers.

4 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures Of Superman — Where Did That Baby Come From?

DC fans often find themselves disappointed by unfinished movie and TV franchises, but the cancelation of Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman in 1997 was particularly shocking. The season 4 cliffhanger finale left viewers on edge as Lois and Clark discovered an infant on their doorstep, coinciding with their struggle to conceive a child naturally. Years later, a producer confirmed that the baby from the Lois & Clark cliffhanger finale was from Krypton, but the reasons for his presence and his origins remained a mystery. The producer also revealed that the decision on whether the child would possess superpowers was never finalized.

3 Hannibal — How Do Lector & Graham Survive Their Fall?

Sometimes a cliffhanger involves an actual cliff, as it does with the origin of the term and also the season 3 finale of Hannibal, which, to the dismay of fans, turned out to be the series finale as well. The unintentional conclusion of the show witnessed the title character and Will Graham sharing an embrace near the edge of a cliff, only for Graham to pull them both across that threshold, causing their fates to become uncertain as they plummeted together. Interestingly, this could now be interpreted as a reversal of and homage to a Sherlock Holmes story that was supposed to be the character's demise but ultimately wasn't. However, the question of Bedelia's dinner guests also lingers...

2 Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles — What Happens To John In The Future?

Although the Terminator movie franchise has become increasingly frustrating, the television counterpart has proven to be even more disappointing. This is not to say that Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was a bad TV series—quite the opposite. However, the show's ending left viewers hanging with an unresolved cliffhanger, which was definitely not satisfying. Over the course of two seasons, the main character (played by Lena Headey, one of two Game of Thrones stars to join the cast) and her son John (Thomas Dekker) continued their journey after the events of Terminator 2: Judgment Day. They were constantly pursued by a malevolent Terminator (Garrett Dillahunt) while being assisted by a benevolent one (Summer Glau).

Despite the show's devoted fanbase, it was ultimately cancelled by Fox due to its ratings not meeting expectations. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles came to an end just a month after the season 2 finale aired in 2009. The creators had not anticipated the abrupt termination, resulting in the second season lacking a true conclusion. While some storylines were tied up and the title character seemed unlikely to return for a third season, the show had hinted at an intriguing new plotline involving John Connor arriving in an alternate future where his identity was unknown.

1 My Name Is Earl — Who Is Earl Jr.'s Father?

As a show continues to air, its fanbase grows and the disappointment of a sudden cancellation increases. My Name is Earl had a compelling concept that deserved a proper conclusion, but NBC unexpectedly ended the series after four seasons, leaving both the show and its fans unsatisfied. The main issue was that the fourth season of My Name is Earl concluded with a cliffhanger, revealing surprising revelations about Earl's biological son, Dodge, but leaving the true father of Earl Jr. unknown. Additionally, viewers were deprived of witnessing Earl completing his list of good deeds, which truly merited a resolution.