13 Noteworthy TV Shows That Ended in 2016
11. Dead of Summer – August 30th
While the freshman season of Freeform’s ’80s summer camp horror series Dead of Summer, a new show from the minds of Once Upon a Time creators Adam Horowitz and Edward Kitsis, had its share of missteps, the show delivered a surprisingly satisfying twist and season (or, I guess, series) finale.
The idea of heroes and villains (and preconceived notions of the sorts of characters who fit into those roles) was turned on its head with the reveal that apparently sweet and innocent Amy was actually a legit psychopath and that mean girl Jessie was the chosen one to save them all.
We were excited to see more of the camp’s dark, mysterious history, especially given the epic mythology that the show’s writer teased would be explored in future seasons set in various other decades.
Unfortunately, months after the first season concluded, it was announced that Season 1 would be the show’s last. Guess we’ll never find out why Stillwater was so damn rife with evil to begin with.
12. Beauty & the Beast – September 15th
This modernized – and very loose – adaptation of the classic love story of the same name aired for four seasons on The CW. Its ratings were consistently pretty weak (especially towards its end), but Beauty & the Beast enjoyed a loyal base of fans.
After years of ups and downs, Vincent and Cat’s story finally came to an end with the conclusion of Season 4. Luckily for viewers who stuck with the show all the way to the end, their OTP VinCat enjoyed a happily ever after in Paris. Knowing well in advance that the fourth season would be its last, the writers were able to map out a satisfying and complete conclusion.
13. Rectify – December 14th
There will never be another show quite like Rectify. The SundanceTV series ended after four seasons this year, giving us a finale that gave just enough closure to feel both satisfying and hopeful.
Season 4 allowed Daniel to start coping with his trauma and gain some self-worth while becoming part of a new community, and as the season ended, we had the sense that no matter what happened, he was going to be okay.
Which of these TV shows are you missing the most? Be sure to let us know in the comments below, and check out more of our favorites from 2016 right here!
*Additional contributions from Charles Dulaney, Cade Taylor, Christine Laskodi, James Windley, Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, and Ashley Bissette Sumerel
Caralynn Lippo
Caralynn is a freelance writer and editor, but most importantly, she is a diehard TV addict. A few of her current favorites are Mr. Robot, You're the Worst, iZombie, and The Vampire Diaries. She also writes about TV for Romper, The TV Junkies, and TV Fanatic.