Some ‘80s shows have remained relevantand highly watchable in the years since its initial release. Several have even inspired reboots or spin-offs for more modern shows. TV shows from this decade feel insanely energetic and inventive, producing a feeling of nostalgia for this time even for people who didn’t live through it. It might be the big hair, the explosion of color, or the decades’ knack forleaning into science fictionand high-concept ideas. Either way, plenty of ‘80s series have propulsive plots that were thankfully wrapped up in ways that solidified them as favorites.
But not all shows can say the same. Others ended without a resolution, usually because they were canceled when showrunners were expecting a follow-up season, or, on rare occasions, didn’t give a season finale at all. They may have been taken off-air because of low ratings, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t legions of fans upset that certain plot threads never got wrapped up in the end.
These viewers were left wondering if one character ended up with another, if someone was truly alive or dead, or whether the hero actually managed to save the world, among other questions.Cliffhangers are excruciatingly frustratingwhen we’re just waiting between seasons, let alone never seeing that world on screen again. Here are 10 ‘80s TV series that ended with a cliffhanger.
10Friday the 13th: The Series (1987-1990)
Friday the 13th: The Series
When most people hear “Friday the 13th,” I think about the horror films centered on thehockey-masked serial killer Jason Voorhees. But there’s a lesser-discussed fantasy horror series with the same name. InFriday the 13th: The Series, an antiques dealer makes a deal with the devil to sell cursed objects from his shop.
What he’ll receive is wealth and immortality, but it comes at a cost. A cost that is ultimately too high for him to pay. After he’s killed, his niece and nephew inherit the shop and unknowingly sell the cursed items. When they learn of the curse, they must find the items and lock them away for everyone’s safety.
An Abrupt Ending
By the time this series premiered, the Jason films were six films deep and quite popular. Unfortunately, the similar names didn’t exactly attract more viewers. It wasn’t a total flop. Three seasons and over seventy episodes is nothing to be ashamed of. The third season was meant to have twenty-six episodes like the first two, but was cut off at twenty. As such, many storylines were left unfinished and the show, like their quest for the antiques, was incomplete.
9Benson (1979-1986)
ThoughBensontechnically premiered in late 1979, it truly hit its stride in the early-to-mid eighties. It is a spinoff of the sitcomSoap. Here, it follows a fan-favorite character in a new environment. Benson DuBois moved on from his position as a butler to the Tate family in Connecticut and is now the head of household affairs for a governor.
Not only does Governor Gatling have to deal with the stresses of his job, but as a widow, he’s still learning to parent his daughter. This series shows Benson’s growing bond not only with the governor and his daughter, but also with the rest of the household staff.
And the Winner Goes to…
This spinoff excited a lot of people who are eager to follow Benson in a new environment. At first, it didn’t disappoint. Actor Robert Guillaume, who played the titular character, won an Emmy for his performance. The show even outlasted its predecessor, in terms of the number of seasons and episodes.
By the end of the series, Benson was no longer a butler, but a politician running against Gatling. The competition put a strain on their relationship, though they put everything aside to see who was announced as the winner. Hopefully, the characters found out, because viewers never did, as that was the last episode.Stream on Prime Video.
8Automan (1983-1984)
Automanis ascience fiction superhero seriescentered on a man named Walter, played by Desi Arnaz Jr. Walter is both a police officer and a computer programmer, and he has created a program that marries both of his professions. He is the brains behind an AI crime-fighting technology that brings to life a hologram that can exit the computer and fight crime within the city. This superhero, Automan, must pose as a secret agent to protect his true identity.
An Unaired Mystery
Although the ’80s were expanding in the science fiction genre, it remained a very expensive endeavor, one that needed high ratings and strong public interest to keep it going. Unfortunately, Automan didn’t have either. Other popular shows that aired around the same time stole people’s attention.
With the cost of makingAutomanvisually similar to Disney’sTron, it was a simple decision to let it go. Fans didn’t even get to see the first season fully through. The last episode never aired, leaving everyone on the ultimate cliffhanger after an important character died.
Related:The Most Human-Like Artificial Intelligence in Movies, Ranked
7Tales of the Gold Monkey (1982-1983)
Tales of the Gold Monkeyis an adventure show set in the late 1930s. It’s about a man named Jake Cutter who used to be a fighter pilot. He’s still in the aviation world, only now as an air cargo delivery person. Audiences follow his exploits on the fictional island of Bora Gora. We meet many different people in Jake’s life, such as his mechanic friend, a love interest who might also be a spy, and a quirky one-eyed Jack Russell terrier.
Leaving Us Cliff-Hanging
The creator of the show took inspiration from the movieOnly Angels Have Wingsstarring Cary Grant. That film is preserved in the National Film Registry in the United States.
Unfortunately,Tales of the Gold Monkeydidn’t have nearly the same impact. Season one had 22 episodes filled with fun between Jake and his friends. The series finale ended with a bang, including an assassination attempt and Jake needing to figure out who was responsible. It could’ve gone in so many directions in a second season, but never got the chance.
6The Tripods (1984-1985)
The Tripodsis a British-Australianscience fiction seriesbased on young adult novels by John Christopher. It is set in apost-apocalyptic worldwhere three-legged monsters/machines (a.k.a. Tripods) enslave humans are enslaved. But the tripods aren’t fully in control themselves. They’re controlled by aliens, or “Masters.” Masters use technology to control the humans’ personalities and dissuade them from rebelling, which is implanted into them at age 16.
Faded Into Oblivion
This series had all the makings of a success. It was based on a book series with four successful novels and came in quick-to-digest, 30-minute episodes. It had two seasons and a third one was written, but the writing was on the wall for the network. The ratings weren’t great. Thus, the third season was nipped in the bud. As follows, all the unanswered questions meant to get explored never were. Ever since,The Tripodshas basically disappeared from public consciousness.
Related:The Best Sci-Fi TV Shows Based on Books, Ranked
5The Colbys (1985-1987)
The Colbys, also known asDynasty II: The Colbys,is a soap opera about a wealthy family. It was a spin-off of another show also on this list calledDynasty. Jeff Colby is one member of the family who has recently moved to California for a fresh start. What he doesn’t expect when he arrives is that his supposedly dead ex-wife Fallon survived and is now married to his cousin. Get ready for prime rich people drama.
A Huge Letdown
From business dealings to love triangles, this show has everything people expected from a soapy drama. Perhaps that was the problem.The Colbysdidn’t add anything new to this space, and after two seasons, interest declined. Yet even those who hoped for more with the series wished it didn’t leave off on such an open-ended note. In an ending few would’ve seen coming at the start of the series, Fallon is whisked away by aliens in a UFO. Perhaps odd choices like these are the reason it failed to find its audience.
4Misfits of Science (1985-1986)
Misfits of Scienceis a sci-fi dramedy that follows a scientist named Dr. Billy Hayes, who researches and supervises a group of humans with superpowers. There’s a guy who can make himself smaller, a telekinetic teenage girl, a rock star with electric powers, and more in his group. Though Dr. Hayes doesn’t have any powers, he’s a crucial member of the team. Each episode has the Misfits dealing with a new threat, from clandestine government programs to aliens.
Quickly Tossed Aside
This show was Courteney Cox’s first main role in a television series. However, it’s also one of her roles that most people don’t even know exists. As is the common theme among this list, the cancelation that led to a huge cliffhanger is the result of low ratings. This one performed so badly that the last episode never got the chance to air.
Which is a shame, because there seemed to be interesting directions the show was heading. Billy gets arrested, the FBI gets involved, and the plot threads Cox’s character Gloria was dealing with in the prior episode.
Related:Courteney Cox’s 5 Best Performances, Ranked
3Dungeons & Dragons (1983-1985)
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons: An animated television series that follows six friends who are transported to a mystical realm where they acquire magical abilities and must navigate various challenges to find their way home. The storyline combines elements of fantasy and adventure, emphasizing themes of friendship, courage, and problem-solving. The series originally aired in the 1980s and has remained a nostalgic favorite for many viewers.
Dungeons & Dragons, also known asD&D, is a wildly successful franchise. It started as a role-playing board game and has since become video games, movies, series, and more. In 1983, it was made into an animated series. Six friends are brought into the D&D world and must figure out how to return to their world. But it’s not just the various obstacles in the realm that impede them. If they wish to be successful, they’ll also have to outsmart a wizard with a devilish appearance.
A Bittersweet Ending
The success of this show seemed inevitable. As mentioned, the brand had built-in fans from episode one. And to be fair, it did last three seasons. But that third season left off with a major cliffhanger because the last episode never came to fruition. News of the cancelation was announced before the creators could finish up the season finale.
This was incredibly frustrating for fans, however, this one has a bit more of a satisfying conclusion. Years later, one of the writers shared the script online and an audio version was released.Stream on Plex.
2The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1981)
the hitchhiker’s guide to the galaxy
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxywas a short-lived BBC sci-fi comedy adapted from a radio series which was later turned into another TV show, a novel, a film, and a play. In this world, the earth was destroyed by aliens to construct a bypass. However, not all life was lost. A man named Arthur Dent survives and is rescued by an alien, who takes him on adventures throughout the galaxy.
Behind-the-Scenes Dispute
This series didn’t have a huge budget that it could allot to snazzy special effects and huge sets. Rather than being a detractor, many fans agree it added to the show’s charm. The author of the books, Douglas Adams, was also behind this show. Adams planned on a second series, but never saw eye-to-eye with the network.
It’s reported he wanted to venture away from the radio series’ plot and instead delve into the storyline of an unfinished project. While many of the threads were efficiently wrapped up over the six existing episodes, the intrigue-inducingpost-credits scenewas left unanswered.Buy on Apple TV.
Related:Why More Old-Time Radio Shows Should Be Adapted for Film
1Dynasty (1981-1989)
Dynastyis a soap opera about the Carrington family who live in Denver, Colorado. Blake Carrington is an oil magnate who became a multimillionaire due to his business savvy. His children, and various employees see just how stressful maintaining such an empire can be. Krystle is a young man set to marry Blake, but his children are not ecstatic about this new addition to the family.Each member of this dysfunctional familyhas a secret that will shake up their dynamics and perhaps the family’s fortune.
What Goes Up, Must Come Down
This series did not have a straightforward trajectory. It premiered with a three-hour-long episode, and ratings for the first season weren’t stellar. But unlike others on this list, the network didn’t give up after a disappointing debut. They kept chugging along, and eventually, America bought into the Carringtons' drama. But the low viewership caught up withDynastyin its last few seasons.
It was canceled after nine seasons, ending with two major characters jumping off a balcony. Later, there was a reunion that did give a little bit more closure, but it wasn’t the same as having a canon in the original series. Luckily for viewers who came to love the family, a reboot aired in 2017.Stream on Prime Video.
