This Cancelled Sci-Fi Comedy Deserved More

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Television programming encompasses a vast array of formats, ranging from high-octane action to heartwarming dramas and humorous comedies. There’s a niche for every taste out there. Occasionally, you might stumble upon a show that stands out uniquely among the masses. These shows might not always break records or amass huge followings, but they leave an impact nonetheless. Today, we delve into one such series – a show that only ran for a single season: The Middleman. This action-adventure series offered a blend of comedy, science fiction, and drama, boasting the potential to reach great heights. Unfortunately, it didn’t quite get the chance to do so.

Sadly, the series The Middleman didn’t make it past its initial season of 13 episodes; one episode was ultimately discarded during editing, leaving only 12 episodes for viewers to watch.

What Is The Middleman?

The Intermediary – A Vibrant Series Exploring a Mysterious Agency

The Intermediary is an exhilarating series that revolves around a clandestine organization dedicated to the preservation of our world. The narrative primarily focuses on Wendy Watson, a budding artist who, despite her longing for a conventional 9-to-5 job, is eager to protect the planet during her work hours. Her superior, often known as The Intermediary, serves as her mentor, guiding her through the labyrinth of her new profession. With each escapade, it becomes increasingly evident that Wendy needs extensive additional training, and it also underscores the bizarre nature of our world. In essence, this series merges action and sci-fi adventure (akin to Men in Black) with quick-witted dialogue and character-driven humor. It is intelligent, sassy, and fearless in its approach to satirizing common tropes.

In essence, The Middleman followed an episodic structure, creating a kind of recurring horror-themed situation. This allowed for a variety of humorous situations to unfold, from zombies obsessed with trout (“The Flying Fish Zombification”) to malevolent puppets (“The Vampiric Puppet Lamentation”), and even extraterrestrials hungry for gems (“The Manicoid Teleportation Conundrum”). In a nutshell, the series tackled an assortment of topics with great enthusiasm and amusement.

Beyond its humorous takes on everyday situations, the TV show “_The Middleman_” was fundamentally based on drama. The main storyline was heavily character-centric, with characters like The Middleman, Wendy, and Wendy’s friends shaping the narrative. This led to some behind-the-scenes intrigue, such as a possible romance between The Middleman (Wendy’s boss) and Lacey (Wendy’s roommate). Characters such as Ida, the witty robot, Noser, the gifted neighbor, and Pip, the art thief, contribute significantly to enriching the world of the series, making it both relatable and unique.

As a passionate fan, I can’t help but appreciate the clever wit that “The Middleman” showcased by weaving intricate references to classic comedic and cinematic elements. Given this, it’s only fitting that the series had strong connections with the comic book world. Interestingly, what began as the intended pilot script for the show was actually transformed into a comic book published by Vault Comics. The creative minds behind “The Middleman,” Javier Grillo-Marxuach and Les McClaine, developed this miniseries initially, which was released in three parts before the television adaptation. Later on, an additional volume was added, encompassing the episode that didn’t make it to the original broadcast.

What Went Wrong?

When a beloved show gets cancelled, it’s natural to seek explanations. Some series were flawed from the start, with episodes airing out of sequence or other issues. However, this wasn’t the case for The Middleman. It received positive reviews initially, but unfortunately, it didn’t manage to attract enough viewers for ABC Family to continue it for a second season.

It’s worth mentioning that The Middleman exhibited an impressive intellect. Some might even say it was excessively clever, resulting in numerous jokes that were too complex for its target audience to fully appreciate. With an abundance of references, viewers who recognized these allusions could identify them as such, but if they didn’t comprehend the underlying reference, the humor fell short. Essentially, a more mature-themed channel might have been a better fit, as its audience would have grasped and enjoyed the jokes more effectively.

Essentially, the show “The Middleman” was canceled prematurely, leaving behind untapped potential for its fascinating characters. Although we appreciate the existing comic book adaptations, we can’t help but lament the fact that the series lasted just one season. We can only cross our fingers and hope that a streaming platform like Netflix recognizes its value and brings it back to life. It wouldn’t matter if the original cast couldn’t return; we’d simply be thrilled to witness a revival of this extraordinary journey.

The Middleman can be purchased for viewing through Amazon and Apple TV.

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2025-05-04 04:10