This Amazing 12-Episode Thriller Was Unfairly Canceled After 2 Seasons, But Here's Why You Still Need To Watch It

The 2013 British thriller Utopia was one of the very best TV shows of the 2010s, and its cancelation was lamentable. It is a must-watch for thriller fans and anyone seeking some truly original storytelling. It is rare for original TV scripts to bear the hallmarks of such stark originality, but Utopia sprung from an original idea by Huw Kennair-Jones, Mark Aldridge, and Clare McDonald. The original Utopia was great, despite being scrapped after only two seasons and being followed by a distinctly average American remake created by Gillian Flynn.

Written by Dennis Kelly and John Donnelly, the original Utopia was heavily stylized and uniquely so. Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill displayed an almost similar approach to violence, color, and character design. A graphic novel that some believed predicted the future was at the heart of the conspiracy in the show, with government officials and secretive individuals after it. Utopia's celebration of creativity radiated outward from its very core, reaching its every stylistic choice. Amazon Prime's Utopia made many changes from the original, and the impressive visual elegance of the original was siphoned away from the story.

Utopia Is One Of The Greatest TV Shows You've Probably Never Seen

Utopia Never Made It To Season 3

The original Utopia was canceled, originally broadcast on the UK's BBC Channel 4. It is poetry in TV form and TV at its best, but it remains little-known due to its regionality and early cancelation. The show didn't get high enough viewership for a season 3 renewal. This is one example of the many unfortunate TV shows that were actually too intelligent to sit well with the state of mind of the average primetime viewer, who often seeks slightly less challenging or violent material. Many tried to recreate Utopia's success, but no one managed.

Utopia's Cancelation Was Arguably The 2010s' Biggest TV Injustice

Utopia Should Get A Season 3

Utopia was one of the 2010s most original and promising TV shows and its cancelation was devastating. The mystery was never unraveled, with season 2 ending on a huge cliffhanger. Fight Club and Se7en director David Fincher was set to direct an American remake written by Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn. Tragically, this never transpired, reportedly due to budget disputes. Flynn's show went to Amazon instead, but Amazon's Utopia has mixed reviews due to its watered-down mediocrity. Amazon released the original Utopia as well, but even butchered this, downgrading the aspect ratio and removing key scenes.

The original Utopia's hyperviolence worked because underneath it lay the most gentle of messages - the pen is mightier than the sword. This was the whole point. All the ruthless brutality and firepower of MI5, assassins, and huge corporations were no match for one comic, which had the real power - the power to change the world. Amazon's Utopia was canceled after season 1 as it completely missed this point, both less violent and less beautiful than the original. From its soundtrack to its visual identity, Utopia celebrated innocent creativity and beauty, which fought with its ugly violence at every step.