Some TV series succeed despite the odds stacked against them. Given the sheer number of shows out there between networks and streaming, breaking through can seem almost impossible. Yet, a show like Final Space still managed to find its audience and put out three seasons of amazing TV. But its cancelation has left fans on one heck of a cliffhanger, something that needs to be rectified with Season 4 at the very least.
This science-fiction animated series was the brainchild of Olan Rogers. It told the story of Gary Goodspeed, a resounding failure who was sentenced to five years alone on a prison ship while working on communications relays. His only company was the ship’s artificial intelligence HUE, a seemingly endless legion of disposable robots called Sames, and KVN, Gary’s highly ineffective Deep Space Insanity Avoidance Companion.
Over the course of three seasons, Gary would make several new friends and allies. They would be drawn into a massive plot on the part of the evil Invictus, who planned to infect reality with Final Space and take it over with an army of Titans. Gary and his allies fought back against insurmountable odds. It often seemed like every step forward was accompanied by two steps back. But they never gave up and kept fighting the good fight, no matter what.
No one would ever suggest that Final Space lit up the ratings. But between Adult Swim, TBS, and Netflix, it gained a pretty sizable cult following, more than enough to keep it on the air for three seasons. Unfortunately, the series could not escape the merger between WarnerMedia and Discovery. Its cancellation was part of the cost-cutting and house cleaning measures that went along with that time.
The series left Gary, Quinn, and their allies stuck in a brutal cliffhanger. Invictus was breaking through from Final Space into their reality with an army of Titans following. Their most potent weapon, Ash, had switched sides, leaving them at an extreme disadvantage in the upcoming fight. It’s safe to assume they would figure a way out of this, but fans might never get to see what that looks like without a Season 4.
In a 2018 Twitter post, Rogers mentioned that he had the story arced through the end of Season 6. This means that the overall narrative was unlikely to end with the completion of Season 4. But given the opportunity to close out the story, he might be able to write an effective fourth season that would give resolution to fans and an effective conclusion to Gary’s adventures. It’s something a lot of fans are still hoping will happen.
At this point, the most likely savior for the series still appears to be Netflix. The streaming service carried the show after it aired on broadcast networks, and the three existing seasons can still be enjoyed there. There has been no movement on a new season that fans are aware o,f but hope remains. This series had an incredible story that remains incomplete. Maybe it will take the form of a movie or comic books but it needs to be wrapped up in some capacity.