In 2010, J.J. Abrams' hit mystery seriesLostfinally came to an end, leaving audiences with a need for more mind-bending mystery series, but unfortunately, the perfect replacement was canceled after just 1 season. First released in 2004,Lostis a sci-fi showthat follows the passengers onFlight 815, who become stranded on a deserted island after a crash. With the stakes already high as the strangers attempt to survive, their story becomes even more complicated as they reveal their darkest secrets and begin to uncover horrifying truths about their new island home.
Lostwas a groundbreaking seriesat the time because of its shocking twists and unique sci-fi world. Audiences became deeply invested in the show, which spurred them to go online and discuss with other interested viewers. For one of the first times ever, a TV show became a common subject of discussion on the internet and among real life people. Ultimately, this got audiences hooked on this type of captivating on-screen entertainment, butunfortunately, few things have lived up toLost.One series in particular never even got a real chance.
JJ Abrams' Alcatraz Show Could Have Been A Thrilling Follow-Up To Lost
How Alcatraz Compared To Lost
In 2012, Abrams put out a new TV show calledAlcatraz,and it had the potential to be the perfectLostfollow-up. The show focused onRebecca Madsen, a detective who discovers the fingerprints of an Alcatraz inmate who was believed to be deadfor decades. Harboring her own history with the iconic prison, Madsen teams up with an expert to try and figure out what is going on. Eventually, the pair discover that this inmate is not only alive, but he hasn’t aged a day, and more inmates may be following after him.
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Based on the premise alone,Alcatrazhas some strong ties toLost.First and foremost, both series are concerned with mysteries of time. Just asLost’scharacters are trying to piece together where they are and why,Alcatraz’scast have their own set of problems that should be impossible, but somehow aren’t. Furthermore,Alcatrazincludes manyactors who also appeared inLost,such as Jorge Garcia. With Abrams behind both series, the pair definitely have similar atmospheres, regardless of their plot differences. Yet,Alcatraznever had the chance to prove itself, as it was canceled the same year it premiered.
Why Alcatraz Was Canceled After One Season
Alcatraz Should Have Been Given Another Chance
The main reason forAlcatraz’scancelation was because of viewership. Although the show was considered to be one of the most exciting releases of the year, over the course of the season, fewer and fewer people were watching. Ratings went down so significantly that Fox eventually decided to cancel the series. It simply wasn’t worth spending more money on if audiences were not that interested. Of course,this meant thatAlcatraznever really got the chance to prove its worth, or show how similar it would have been toLost.
In some ways, it is surprising thatAlcatrazwas discarded so quickly by Fox. For six seasons,Lostwas one of ABC’s biggest titles. With Abrams now behindAlcatraz,one would think that Fox would give it another chance. Perhaps it had something to do withLost’sdisappointing ending. Either way,Abrams' past work should have convinced Fox to keepAlcatrazgoing, at least for one more season. Abrams may have been able to improve on the areas that were lacking, turning it into another raving success likeLost.
Alcatraz Season 1’s Cliffhanger Makes Its Early Cancelation Even Worse
What Other Shows Are Good Lost/Alcatraz Replacements
Aside from losing out onaLostreplacement,Alcatraz’scancelation is a disappointment because the series ended on a massive cliffhanger. In the final episode ofAlcatrazseason 1,Rebecca is stabbed by Tommy. She is shown to be taken to the hospital where she flatlines and is pronounced dead. Considering that Rebecca was the protagonist of the series, season 2 definitely would have expanded into even more unique storylines, most likely revolving around resurrection and the afterlife. Yet, over a decade later, audiences will never got those answers.
Another Abrams show that could be good forLostlovers isFringe,which follows detectives investigating unusual crimes.
Luckily,Losthas not gone without a replacement for too long. AlthoughAlcatrazdidn’t quite work out,a number of new series premiered afterLost,trying to emulate the mysterious quality of the show.Another Abrams show that could be good forLostlovers isFringe,which follows detectives investigating unusual crimes. There are also shows likeThe Leftovers,which thrive on strange occurrences and big questions. Because of this,LostandAlcatrazhave not been entirely forgotten.
