Television

LGBT2Q shows we lost in 2021

With this year coming to a close we look back on all the wondering LGBT2Q TV shows that ended or were cancelled in the last year. Let’s celebrate and mourn the end, and recognize the many great shows we need to say goodbye to. Sadly the shows that ended without much notice didn’t get to tie up loose ends. While the series’ that bowed out gracefully gave us closure.

Ended

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

The last couple of years have been rough for many reasons, and this didn’t help TV shows, disrupting schedules and graceful bowing outs. Brooklyn Nine-Nine also struggled to keep a home, creating an extra long final few seasons. The witty single-camera comedy never took itself seriously, unlike the overly rigid Captain Holt, the shows gay character and station boss.

Pose

The Ryan Murphy series celebrated the drag ball culture of the 1980s and 1990s. The three season run concluded on June 6 after 26 episodes. Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Billy Porter, Indya Moore, Dominique Jackson, and Angelica Ross gave amazing, award-winning performances.

Shameless

The American remake of the British drama completed 11 seasons this year, ending on a high note. Like it’s British cousin, Shameless was not shameless when including gay and queer romance. Long time family member Ian Gallagher (Cameron Monaghan) was gay throughout the series, and at one point he had a relationship with Trevor, a gay trans man (Elliot Fletcher).

Shrill

The creation of series star Aidy Bryant based on the book by Lindy West, Shrill got a three season 22 episode run on Hulu. Aidy plays Annie, “described as a fat young woman who wants to change her life”, but she comes to realize she’s perfect the way she is, and doesn’t need to please her perfectionist boss, bad boyfriends or parents.

Cancelled too soon

Generation

Cancelled after only one season, losing Generation does make you wonder if HBO Max is committed to LGBT2Q television. The show was smart, provocative, and unapologetic. And Justice Smith was amazing and non-conforming. You can still stream the single season on HBO Max, if you haven’t already.

Irregulars

This British production gave us a glimpse into the lives of Sherlock Holme’s Baker Street irregulars gang with only a few moments with the famous detective. It was all about the Irregulars,

Special

The comedy-drama created by and starring Ryan O’Connell based on his memoir, managed to get only two seasons and 16 episodes before Netflix pulled the plug. Ryan plays a fictionalized version of himself, a gay man with cerebral palsy, as he navigates relationships, friendships and self-sufficiency.

Atypical

After four seasons Netflix pulled the plug on the comedy-drama that revolved around Sam Gardner, a teen on the autism spectrum and his supportive family. Canadian actor Keir Gilchrist played Sam amazingly, with his sister Casey played by non-binary icon Brigette Lundy-Paine, who of course had a great storyline coming out in the last season. The main actors have already found plenty of work after the show, while creator & show runner Robia Rashid has lamented that the show was at a natural ending point (although COVID didn’t help).

Supergirl

It may seem that the Vancouver-shot superhero show bowed out to make way for Superman & Lois, although it may just have been poor timing. Once again COVID had an impact, derailing production. Still the show managed six seasons, a strong showing, except not compared to other much longer running DC universe franchises. Supergirl gave us her lesbian sister, Alex Danvers, and the first trans superhero, Nia Nal. And we got to see Jeremy Jordan, so we counted that as a plus, at least for three seasons. Melissa Benoist’s performance as Superman cousin of course stole the show, and we hold out hope her character is seen again.

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist

Another two season series, the musical-comedy-drama followed software developer Zoey Clarke as she can hear people’s inner most thoughts, as songs. This meant most episodes included multiple song-and-dance numbers. Alex Newell gave us the show’s queer character through the character Mo in a delightfully gender fluid performance. Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist was given a two-hour holiday special to create some closure.

Dear White People

The Netflix series based on the film, ended its run after four seasons, while rumours of a fifth season did linger. Character Lionel Higgins (DeRon Horton playing Tyler James Williams’ character) was a gay student who worked at the school newspaper, and more importantly had plenty of action and revealing sex scenes. Lionel had a good arc over the first three seasons, running from his sexuality, embracing it through monogamy, then embracing all queer culture has to offer in season three.

Diary of a Future President

You can be forgiven for missing this one Disney+ pre-teen comedy, but this is also one show cancelled far too soon. The show revolves around 13-year-old Cuban-American Elena, who hopes to one day become President. Her older brother Bobby comes out in the first season, honestly a more interesting storyline to focus on. Being Disney+ they couldn’t have lead a show with a gay character coming out, but making it a subplot hides the story and may not have helped keep an audience.

Bonding

After a two season run, Netflix cancelled the BDSM comedy that had featured a young gay man (Pete, played by Brendan Scannell), who becomes a dominatrixes’ assistant, following his former best friend into the world of BDSM. It was a delightful comedy taking a look inside kink.