One of the Best Comic Book TV Series is Free to Stream 6 Years After Being Unfairly Cancelled

It’s a shame when a promising TV show doesn’t last. Sometimes a series starts strong, connects with viewers, and builds an audience, but doesn’t get to continue for very long. This can happen because the show loses quality after the first season, or, unfortunately, because it’s cancelled despite initially being renewed. Right now, you can watch one of those shows – a series that had a fantastic first season and was briefly renewed before the decision was reversed – for free on Tubi.

The TV show Stumptown, which premiered on ABC in 2019, was based on the comic book series by Greg Rucka. The first season was almost flawless, starring Cobie Smulders as Dex Parios, a former soldier working as a private investigator. Dex deals with both PTSD from her military service and a significant gambling debt. The show, set and nicknamed after Portland, Oregon, closely followed the original comic books. Although initially renewed, the show was cancelled just a year after it began airing.

What Happened With Stumptown?

The cancellation of Stumptown is particularly disappointing because the show was actually doing well, suggesting the decision wasn’t about its quality. Stumptown premiered in fall 2019 and finished its first season just as the COVID-19 pandemic began. The resulting production shutdowns severely impacted the entertainment industry. Although ABC announced a renewal in May 2020—a common time for such announcements—delays caused by the pandemic would have meant the second season wouldn’t be ready until April 2021, too late for the fall television season. This ultimately led to ABC reversing course in September 2020 and cancelling the show.

The cancellation of Stumptown wasn’t just due to COVID-19 delays. There were also behind-the-scenes changes happening with the show’s creative leadership. Monica Owusu-Breen was brought on as a co-showrunner alongside the series creator, Jason Richman, replacing Matt Olmstead, who moved on to lead Law & Order: Organized Crime. This shift in showrunners meant a new creative direction for the show and added to production delays. Combined with the pandemic-related setbacks, these issues ultimately proved too difficult to overcome.

The cancellation of the show Stumptown was disappointing for fans of quality television and comic book adaptations. The series was exceptionally well-made, with a talented cast, including a standout performance by Cobie Smulders. Many believe it was a rare adaptation that lived up to the original comic, and viewers are left to imagine what could have been. Luckily, you can now stream the entire series on Tubi.

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2026-06-02 07:10