Fans of The OA are theorising that its cancellation might just be one big publicity stunt.

Netflix announced its decision to axe the fantasy series earlier this week, with lead star Brit Marling posting a lengthy note following the news.

After saying she had a “good cry” upon hearing the news, Marling, who also co-created the series with Zal Batmanglij, wrote: “Zal and I are deeply sad not to finish this story.”

The news was met with derision on social media, with a petition to save the show created and signed by more than 38,000 people.

These fans are disappointed they won’t get to see what happens next after The OA Part II’s astonishing twist – but it’s now being floated that it could be an extremely clever marketing tactic considering how meta the show went in its closing moments.

*Spoilers for those who have never seen The OA*

37 actors who almost died on set Show all 37 1 /37 37 actors who almost died on set 37 actors who almost died on set Charlize Theron Charlize Theron attempted to perform a backflip for 2005 action film Aeon Flux but was "almost paralysed" for her efforts. She landed on her neck and the extent of her injuries saw production on the film shut down for eight weeks. Paramount Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set Ed Harris It's been rumoured for decades that Ed Harris punched James Cameron in the face while filming the watery 1989 drama The Abyss, but here's reportedly why: Cameron failed to tell Harris that his oxygen tank would run out before cameras stopped rolling on a particular scene, leaving the actor gasping for air. 20th Century Fox 37 actors who almost died on set Martin Sheen At the time of filming Apocalypse Now in 1979, Martin Sheen was drinking heavily and using drugs - so much so that, unbeknownst to the crew or his director Francis Ford Coppola, he had a heart attack in the middle of the jungle. Sheen was forced to crawl for approximately half a mile before finding somebody who could treat him. United Artists 37 actors who almost died on set Jackie Chan Jackie Chan is famous for many things and performing his own stunts is one of them. This has left him with his fair share of injuries in the past, some of which came on the set of 1986 action comedy Armour of God. The actor, attempting to slide down a tree, fractured his skull after falling 25 feet and hitting his head on a rock. Chan was immediately rushed into surgery and, to this day, he has a hole in his skull that he covers with a plastic plug. Golden Harvest 37 actors who almost died on set Michael J Fox Michael J Fox famously came close to dying on the set of Back to the Future Part III in 1990. It was during a scene in which his character, Marty McFly, is hanged by the neck - something the crew permitted Fox to act out himself on the condition that he knew exactly where to place his hand when the noose was around his neck. Fox miscalculated, choking himself before passing out and was cut down after someone realised the actor was close to death. Universal Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set The kids in The Brady Bunch While filming a 1973 episode of The Brady Bunch titled "The Cincinnati Kids", the child stars of the hit TV show reportedly almost got caught up in a horrendous incident. As they were about to shoot a scene riding a rollercoaster - fit with a camera mounted to the front of the carriage - Mike Brady actor Robert Reed insisted crew carry out a test run. It's a good job he did - when the rollercoaster was in motion, the camera came loose and flew into the position the kids' heads would been had they been on board. Paramount Domestic Television 37 actors who almost died on set Aaron Paul Breaking Bad star Aaron Paul cheated death while filming the first season of Breaking Bad in 2008. Having asked for permission to move positions for a scene, the actor was left shaken after a boulder fell off the roof of a nearby RV directly onto the spot where he had just been standing. Sony Pictures Television 37 actors who almost died on set Halle Berry Halle Berry was filming a fight scene on the set of 2013 thriller The Call when she whacked her head on the concrete floor and knocked herself clean out. Fortunately, she had a speedy recovery. TriStar Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set Tom Hanks After suffering a minor cut to his leg on the set of 2000 drama Cast Away, Tom Hanks ended up contracting a potentially deadly staph infection and found himself hospitalised for three days. If untreated, the infection can prove fatal. 20th Century Fox 37 actors who almost died on set Gerard Butler Gerard Butler had a close call while filming 2012 film Chasing Mavericks at a Northern California surfing spot renowned for its dangerous waters. The actor was knocked off his paddle by a powerful wave and submerged underwater until someone eventually came to his aid. 20th Century Fox 37 actors who almost died on set Elisabeth Sladen - Doctor Who Doctor Who legend Elisabeth Sladen had a near-miss while filming the original series' four-part serial "Revenge of the Cybermen", which aired in 1975. After driving a boat into a whirlpool, she was forced to dive into the water after the boat lost control. Stuntman Terry Walsh came to her rescue. BBC Studios 37 actors who almost died on set Tom Cruise In the words of Tom Cruise's Edge of Tomorrow co-star Emily Blunt, speaking on US chat show Conan, about a car chase scene the duo filmed in 2014: “I hear Tom under his breath as I approach the right-hand turn, going 'Brake, brake, brake. Oh God. Brake, brake, brake. Brake it hard.' I left it too late, and drove us into a tree. I almost killed Tom Cruise.” Warner Bros. Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set John Hurt British actor John Hurt was under so much prosthetic playing Joseph Merick in David Lynch's 1980 historical drama The Elephant Man that he almost suffocated. He was told to remain upright while wearing the makeup and would continually forget, almost losing his life in the process. EMI Films 37 actors who almost died on set Jason Statham British action hero Jason Statham escaped death on the set of 2014 action sequel The Expendables 3 after the brakes on a truck he was driving stopped working. He had no choice but to jump from the moving three-tonne vehicle seconds before it went into the Black Sea. Lionsgate 37 actors who almost died on set Daniel Day-Lewis Daniel Day-Lewis went into full "method actor" mode for his role as Buffalo Bill in Martin Scorsese's 2002 period drama Gangs of New York - so much so that he contracted pneumonia after refusing to wear clothes that didn't exist in the 19th century. In fact, he was so dedicated to the role that he reportedly refused medicine that didn't exist at the time of his character, but acquiesced when he was told by medics he could die if he didn't. Miramax Films 37 actors who almost died on set Bob Denver Bob Denver, who played the titular Gilligan on 1960s TV series Gilligan’s Island, found himself in mortal danger after getting trapped inside a hut with a lion that pounced on him. In a lucky twist of fate, his mauling was prevented when the bed the lion was perched on broke, distracting the creature and leaving enough time for the lion's trainer to tackle it to the ground. Warner Bros. Television Distribution 37 actors who almost died on set Kristen Chenoweth Kristen Chenoweth was cast in legal TV drama The Good Wife for its fourth season in 2013, but on her first day on set, a light fixture fell and hit her in the face. She was rushed to hospital having had her skull fractured, nose broken and teeth cracked, not to mention injuries to her spine and ribs. Chenoweth decided not to return to the show save for a cameo appearance in a later episode. CBS Television Distribution 37 actors who almost died on set Lorenza Izzo Lorenza Izzo almost drowned while filming an escape attempt scene on the set of Eli Roth's 2013 horror film The Green Inferno. She was pushed downstream and the film's crew didn't realise her screams for help were real until it was almost too late. Roth reportedly used some of this footage in the finished film. Universal Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set Jennifer Lawrence Oscar-winning star Jennifer Lawrence was required to run through a tunnel on the set of 2012 young-adult novel adaptation The Hunger Games. However, a malfunction with a fog machine saw the enclosed area fill with so much smoke that Lawrence had to escape and came dangerously close to suffocating. Lionsgate Films 37 actors who almost died on set Tom Cruise Performing his own stunts as usual, Tom Cruise found himself in trouble on the set of 2003 film The Last Samurai when a mechanical horse he was required to jump on malfunctioned, leaving a blade held by his co-star Hiroyuki Sanada inches away from his neck. Warner Bros. Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set Johnny Depp Johnny Depp was thrown from a horse on the set of Disney adventure The Lone Ranger (2013) and saw his life flash before his eyes after it proceeded to trample on him. Fortunately, it left him with mere bruises. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set Matthew Fox While filming the last ever episode of Lost in 2010, Matthew Fox - who played Jack Shephard - was almost stabbed by a knife after a retractable one was replaced by a real one. The plan was to use the real knife for a fight sequence, right up until the moment of penetration as a collapsible one looked too fake. Somehow, the knives weren't swapped and Fox was saved by protective padding he'd put on at the very last minute. Buena Vista Television 37 actors who almost died on set Dylan O'Brien Dylan O'Brien nearly met his maker on the set of Maze Runner: The Death Cure. During a stunt that required him to jump from the top of one car to another, the actor was dragged under the vehicle and suffered lacerations and fractures to his cheekbones and orbital sockets. His injuries were so serious that the film was delayed for an entire year and was eventually released in 2018. 20th Century Fox 37 actors who almost died on set Brendan Fraser Brendan Fraser nearly died on the set of The Mummy in 1999 due to an incident that saw a hanging scene go terribly wrong. According to his co-star Rachel Weisz, the actor stopped breathing and was in need of resuscitation as a result. Universal Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set Isla Fisher Isla Fisher got stuck in a water thank for a scene in the 2013 heist thriller Now You See Me, with fellow cast members believing her screams to be the actions of her character. Luckily, she was pulled out - after a terrifying three minutes. Summit Entertainment 37 actors who almost died on set Jim Caviezel Jim Caviezel had a tough time of it on the set of Mel Gibson's controversial 2004 film The Passion of the Christ. Due to the intense filming conditions, he suffered from pneumonia, hypothermia and a lung infection - and even survived getting struck by lightning while filming the Sermon on the Mount scene. "I was lit up like a Christmas tree," said Caviezel, who also dislocated his shoulder on set. Newmarket Films 37 actors who almost died on set Uma Thurman As well as suffering a nasty injury on the set of Kill Bil Vol 2 due to a car malfunctioning, Uma Thurman had a near miss in a separate incident - also involving a car - while filming 2010 fantasy film Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief. After a crew member forgot to apply the brakes to an unmanned van, the vehicle started rolling towards Thurman, who was completely unaware. Thankfully, her co-star Pierce Brosnan spotted it and jumped into the vehicle, slamming the brakes before it hit her. Those 007 skills certainly came in handy. 20th Century Fox 37 actors who almost died on set Jackie Chan As ever, Jackie Chan performed his own stunts for the first of his popular Hong King action series Police Story (1985). However, the climactic scene in the mall saw him crack two vertebrae, dislocate his pelvis and burn his hands in one moment that required him to slide down a pole from a large height. Golden Harvest 37 actors who almost died on set Joseph Gordon-Levitt While filming high-octane thriller Premium Rush (2012), Joseph Gordon-Levitt collided with a taxi, leaving him in need of more than 30 stitches. Columbia Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set Dominic Purcell Prison Break actor Dominic Purcell suffered a broken nose and head injury when an iron bar fell on his head while filming the revival series in 2016. He required 150 stitches. 20th Televisio 37 actors who almost died on set Craig Charles While filming the Red Dwarf episode "Backwards" in 1989, Craig Charles shot a scene that saw him walk out of a lake in reverse. Terrifyingly, the actor - who had weights in his pockets to stop him from floating - got his foot stuck and was held underwater until a rescue team saw him struggling. Grant Naylor 37 actors who almost died on set Sylvester Stallone Sylvester Stallone has had many close shaves throughout his career, but the most life-threatening came while filming 1985 sequel Rocky IV. He asked his co-star Dolph Lundgren to "knock him out" and the resulting punch was so heavy that Stallone's rib cage was pushed into his chest, causing his heart to be compressed due to the swelling of his pericardial sac. He spent nine days in intensive care. MGM/UA Entertainment Company 37 actors who almost died on set George Clooney George Clooney's character was getting beaten up for a scene in 2005 drama Syriana when the actor ended up with an injury that bruised his brain. A chair the actor was tied to was pushed over and Clooney was left with chronic headaches that he eventually had healed in surgery. Warner Bros. Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set Gunnar Hansen Icelandic-born American star Gunnar Hansen was chasing his co-stars with a real chainsaw while filming 1974 horror film The Texas Chainsaw Massacre when he almost died. One day, he slipped in mud and sent the running chainsaw flying into the air - when it landed, it was inches from his head. Bryanston Distributing Company 37 actors who almost died on set Jaime Alexander Jaime Alexander was filming 2012 sequel Thor: The Dark World when she slipped and fell on a metal staircase, luckily avoiding paralysis. Her injuries consisted of slipping a disc in her thoracic spine and chipping 11 of her vertebrae as well as dislocating her shoulder and tearing a rhomboid muscle. Alexander made it back to set a month later. Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures 37 actors who almost died on set Kate Winslet During one of the more intense scenes in 1997 blockbuster Titanic, actors Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio were running away from a large wave when Winslet's dress got caught on a grate and dragged her down. She was held underwater until she managed to break free. 20th Century Fox 37 actors who almost died on set Margaret Hamilton Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West in 1939 classic The Wizard of Oz, was meant to disappear through a trap door in a cloud of smoke caused by fiery jets, but a malfunction saw the door failed to open leaving Hamilton with second and third-degree burns on her face and hands. Loew's, Inc.

The series follows a blind girl who goes missing and resurfaces seven years later with her vision restored and the belief that she is a dimension-hopping alien known as “The OA”. In each universe she travels to, she encounters a villainous man named Hap, played by Jason Isaacs, who wants to study her knowledge.

In the second season finale, viewers were introduced to yet another dimension in which Brit Marling and Jason Isaacs are introduced as characters in their own TV show.

One Reddit user named smithif thinks that the cancellation news is all part of Marling and Batmanglij’s five-season plan. They wrote: ”I know it will sound like denial but I truly believe that this isn’t the end. There are so many signs that point to this being a larger game being played by Zal, Brit, and Netflix.”

“Surely, within that dimension, the show would likely be cancelled. The show broke the fourth wall. I believe that Brit and Zal would take this opportunity to live out elements of the show beyond the constraints of the screen.”

Even Isaacs and co-star Emory Cohen have posted a video showing off the movements the characters have to perform in the series so they can travel between dimensions – is this a message for fans? Or a loving tribute to a show that’s truly been cancelled?

The best TV cliffhangers of all time Show all 37 1 /37 The best TV cliffhangers of all time The best TV cliffhangers of all time Breaking Bad – "Gliding Over All" (2012) Karma for killing Gale comes for Walter White in season five. The meth maker believes his days of cooking are long over. Having lunch with his family, everything seems perfect. And then everything goes wrong. So, so wrong. Hank (Dean Norris) goes to use the toilet and picks up a copy of Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass – a gift from Gale to Walter White. “To my other favorited WW. It's an honour working with you. Fondly, GB.” And with that, as Hank realises Walt’s true identity, the end of Heisenberg’s empire begins. AMC The best TV cliffhangers of all time The Sopranos – “Made In America” (2007) The debate over whether certain final scenes of television shows are actually good will rage on and on. The Sopranos remains front and centre of the conversation. It's a seemingly banal occasion – a restaurant dinner scene. We watch on as Tony sits there, observing other customers. Carmela arrives, then AJ and Meadow, who the last we see, is parking her car outside. A bell rings, Tony looks up and the screen cuts to black. It’s an ending that’s inspired essays offering varied interpretations but ultimately, it remains a beautifully-executed few minutes of television – and a cliffhanger that’ll never have a resolution. HBO The best TV cliffhangers of all time EastEnders – The Kat and Zoe revelation (2001) “You can’t tell me what to do ‘cause you ain’t my muvva” / “YES I AM!” - not the work of Shakespeare, granted, but surely one of the biggest moments in soap history. The nation’s jaws collectively dropped as they learned that Kat Slater (Jessie Wallace) wasn’t Zoe’s sister at all, but her mum. BBC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Game of Thrones – "The Rains of Castamere" (2013) Game of Thrones knew George RR Martin was willing to kill off leading characters, but nothing prepared non-book readers for The Red Wedding. Robb Stark (Richard Madden), Talisa Stark (Oona Chaplin) and Catelyn Stark (Michelle Fairley) are attending the wedding of Roslin Frey (Alexandra Dowling) and Edmure Tully (Tobias Menzies) when things go terribly, terribly wrong for the Starks. The Freys turn on them, killing Robb, Talisa and their unborn child. Then, as the blood spills everywhere, Catelyn’s throat is slit. Cut to black. Devastating. HBO The best TV cliffhangers of all time Dallas – "A House Divided" (1980) The cliffhanger that kickstarted the end of season cliffhanger trend. Larry Hagman’s oil baron JR Ewing had made plenty of enemies in Dallas. By the end of season three, one of them took justice into their own hands, shooting JR in the back twice. However, rather than reveal the culprit, the team behind Dallas left the case unsolved. And over the next eight months – the time between seasons – the whole world was asking “Who shot JR?” Unsurprisingly, considering the hysteria around the mystery, 350 million people tuned in to watch the revelatory episode “Who Done It”. CBS The best TV cliffhangers of all time The Simpsons – "Who shot Mr Burns?" (1995) Showrunner Matt Groening had long wanted to do an episode where Mr Burns was shot, and the culprit was not revealed until the next episode. Taking inspiration from Dallas, the animation concluded Part One with the nuclear power plant owner being shot by an unknown assailant. Then, after a Summer of waiting, fans were finally treated to the answer. The two-part episode has gone down as a classic and is often heralded as the series’ best. FOX The best TV cliffhangers of all time Doctor Who – "The Parting of the Ways" (2005) Choosing one standout Doctor Who cliffhanger is almost impossible – especially when you consider that all 37 (and counting) seasons have frequently used the plot device. While the introduction of John Hurt’s Doctor certainly ranks among them, one of best came at the end of the rebooted first series. Having absorbed a bunch of vortexes, the Doctor is struggling and on the verge of regenerating. Turning to Rose (Billie Piper), Christopher Eccleston’s incarnation of the iconic character utters the timeless lines: “Before I go, I just want to tell you, you were fantastic. Absolutely fantastic. And you know what – so was I.” Queue shoddy CGI and the introduction of the soon-to-be nation’s favourite Doctor, David Tennant. “So, where was I? That’s it – Barcelona.” BBC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Breaking Bad – "Full Measure" (2010) Gale (David Costabile) is one of the nicest characters on Breaking Bad. He is not interested in wealth or fame, but in science. However, niceties and a good cup of coffee are not enough to stop him getting in Walter White’s (Bryan Cranston) way. When the choice between their lives has to be made, Walter chooses his own and sends Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) to do the dirty work. Season three ends with Jesse killing Gale – an incident that eventually brings down the drug kingpin Gus Fring. AMC The best TV cliffhangers of all time The West Wing – “What Kind of Day Has it Been” (2000) The West Wing’s biggest cliffhanger came in the season one finale. The episode works its way back from the beginning as we see a Secret Service Agent sense danger from a nearby window at a town hall meeting with the president in attendance. When the episode catches up, gunfire rings out and each member of his senior staff is thrown to the floor. Cut to black as we hear an agent ask over the radio: “Who’s been hit?” NBC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Smallville – “Covenant” (2004) It wasn’t until the third season finale of Smallville that Superman fans’ patience was rewarded as viewers saw Clark (Tom Welling) appear naked in the middle of a Kryptonian symbol burned into the field of his family’s farm. “You shall be reborn,” Jor-El can be heard saying to Clark Kent, but he wasn’t the alone one; the ending marked a radical turning point for the series. The WB The best TV cliffhangers of all time Twin Peaks – “The Last Evening” (1990) Twin Peaks’ season two finale – the mystery drama’s last episode for 27 years – may have featured the most chilling cliffhanger, but the biggest gasp of the series came at the end of season one as the seemingly untouchable Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan) responds to a knock on his hotel room door, only to be gunned down by an unseen assailant. ABC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Buffy the Vampire Slayer – "The Gift" (2001) The 100th episode of Buffy ended with one of the show’s most shocking moments (and no, we’re not talking about the musical episode). Season five concluded with the eponymous ass-kicker sacrificing herself to save the world by jumping into a demonic portal. The episode ends with a slow zoom onto Buffy’s tombstone, which reads: “Beloved sister. Devoted friend. She saved the world. A lot.“ The WB The best TV cliffhangers of all time True Blood - "Plaisir d'Amour" (2008) It's easy to forget that True Blood began life as an acclaimed Emmy-nominated drama, and it was a cliffhanger such as this that made it so: Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin) falls asleep with the friendly neighbour dog Dean for company. Upon waking up, Dean is gone and in his place is local barman Sam Merlotte ( Sam Trammell). Turns out he's a shapeshifter. HBO The best TV cliffhangers of all time The Walking Dead – "Last Day on Earth" (2016) After eight episodes of build-up, the comic book’s deadliest villain, Negan, reared his head in a scene fans were dreading. With the majority of the main cast lined up at his mercy, Negan – in retaliation for the death of one of his gang – decides which one to kill by using “Eeny Meeny Mino Moe”. After selecting his victim, the camera switches POV and Negan bludgeons the unseen character to death leaving fans with a six-month wait before finding out who had met their maker. AMC The best TV cliffhangers of all time The Leftovers – "Ten Thirteen" (2015) Lost co-creator Damon Lindelof's HBO drama was set in a world that saw two per cent of the world’s population disappear into thin air during a tragic event known as the Sudden Departure. Season two presented an intriguing mystery: the disappearance of three teenage girls from a Texan town that nobody had vanished from. It was the season's penultimate episode that cleared up this plot line as Matt Garvey (Chris Zylka) breaks into a heavily-guarded trailer – only to be met with the three teenage girls staring back at him. What’s more is they’re dressed all in white, a callback to the disbanded cult from the first season. HBO The best TV cliffhangers of all time Lost – “Deus Ex Machina” (2005) In episode 11, the writers had introduced a hatch buried underground and, week in week out, the fans waited patiently for any detail about the mysterious structure the writers were willing to give them. The end of episode 19 saw a desperate John Locke (Terry O’Quinn) banging on the door, just as desperate to get inside as the viewers were... only for a light to come on from within. This ending remains an unforgettable moment for those who watched it at the time of broadcast. ABC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Lost – “Two for the Road” (2006) “I’m sorry.” “For what?” BANG. On paper, not so effective but on screen, it equated to one of Lost’s most gasp-inducing cliffhangers. Viewers watched behind their eyes as Michael (Harold Perrineau), desperate to save his son from the mysterious Others, shoots Ana-Lucia (Michelle Rodriguez) and, in a cruel twist, Libby (Cynthia Watros), who has accidentally stumbled upon the whole thing while looking for some blankets. ABC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Lost - 'Through the Looking Glass – Part 2" Whether you love or hate Lost, there’s no denying that the season three finale deployed one of the most breathtaking rug pulls in television history as writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse revealed a shake-up long in the running: flashbacks featuring a suicidal Jack Shephard (Matthew Fox) were, in fact, flashforwards to the future. The Oceanic Flight 815 plane crash survivor made it off the island he’d been so desperate to get off for three whole seasons, but was, disturbingly, desperate to get back. The ending set the benchmark for all future finale and was so huge it made newspaper headlines. The best TV cliffhangers of all time Line of Duty – Series four premiere (2018) The fourth series of Line of Duty didn’t hold back on the shocks. In fact, its first episode featured a cliffhanger ending to rival the best of them. With DCI Roz Huntley (Thandie Newton) dead on his floor, her murderer – Forensic Coordinator Tim Ifield (Jason Watkins) – sets about dispatching her body, but as his chainsaw nears her face, Roz’s eyes suddenly open. The best TV cliffhangers of all time Heroes – ”The Butterfly Effect” (2008) After season one, Heroes became pretty dreadful television. But this cliffhanger looms in the memory for being so left-field it warrants applaud: having captured serial killer Sylar, Angela Petrelli – parent to superheroes Nathan and Peter – tells him she can provide him with the love and guidance he needs. Angry, Sylar tells her she’s not his mother to which Angela drops the bombshell: “But I am dear, I am.” A head-scratching mid-season reveal that had fans chomping at the bit for the next episode. NBC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Grey’s Anatomy – “Who’s Zoomin’ Who?” (2005) After spending an entire season watching the blossoming romance between medical intern Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) and Dr Derek Shephard (Patrick Dempsey), the world of viewers was rocked upon discovering the shock revelation that Derek was married all along. ABC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Green Wing – “Emergency“ (2004) Channel 4 sitcom Green Wing took the term “cliffhanger” quite literally for each finale of its two series. While it became a tad gimmicky the second time around, the first remained a genuinely surprising way for a comedy series to end: having discovered that the colleague he’d just slept with was his mother, drug-addled anaesthetist Guy Secretan (Stephen Mangan) steals an ambulance, drives it to the country and loses control. After crashing, the episode ends with Guy and several other characters dangling – you guessed it – off a cliff. Channel 4 The best TV cliffhangers of all time Dexter – “The Getaway” (2009) A particularly nail-biting fourth season was shaping up to end well: after weeks of playing cat-and-mouse with the Trinity Killer (John Lithgow on Emmy-winning form), Dexter finally put an end to his murderous ways and returned home ready to pack up and join his wife Rita on their vacation. Only Rita’s still at home... dead in the bathtub. Trinity killed her before Dexter got to him. A heartbreaking end to a standout season. Showtime The best TV cliffhangers of all time Battlestar Galactica – “Kobol's Last Gleaming: Part 2” (2005) When things are going supremely well towards the end of a season finale, you know something big is about to go down. Battlestar Galactica proved no different. After destroying the Cylon Basestar – a warship belonging to the enemy – crew member Boomer, who viewers had learnt was a Cylon in the mini-series that aired the year before, fires a round into the chest of Commander Adama (Edward James Olmos), the show’s main character. ABC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Babylon 5 – “Z’ha'dum” (1996) Having been warned for two seasons that Z’ha’dum means death, fans expected big things from an episode called “Z’ha’dum”. They weren’t wrong. It ended with the show’s lead character jumping to his death. The episode was so big the episodes leading up to it teased “Z minus 14 days” and “Z minus 7 days.” PTEN The best TV cliffhangers of all time 24 – “Day 5: 10:00pm – 11:00pm” (2006) 24 was filled to the brim with huge cliffhangers, but this one – arriving at the 16 episode mark – stands out for sparking what would be the show’s best run of episodes. President Charles Logan (Gregory Itzin) is revealed to be the mastermind behind the shocking assassinations of David Palmer and Michelle Dessler, which kickstarted the season. And thus the show’s most memorable villain was born. FOX The best TV cliffhangers of all time Friends – "The One with Ross’s Wedding" (1998) While Ross (David Schwimmer) and Rachel’s (Jennifer Aniston) “will they, won’t they” courtship arguably went on far too long, there was one moment during the season four finale that left fans with their jaws on the floor. Just after Rachel had accepted Ross was happy with fiancé Emily (Helen Baxendale), everything goes catastrophically wrong. Instead of saying Emily’s name during the wedding vows, Ross says the iconic line: “Take thee Rachel”. After the wedding, as the season finished, everyone was left wondering whether the pair would finally rekindle their romance for good. NBC The best TV cliffhangers of all time The X-Files – "Anasazi" (1995) “I’m in a boxcar, buried inside a quarry, and there are bodies everywhere,” says Mulder to Scully during the season two finale. And just as Mulder solves the riddle of how those people died, the roof of the boxcar slams shut, trapping him inside. Worse still, the Smoking Man then arrives with a unit of soldiers. When they open the boxcar, Mulder’s somehow nowhere to be seen and they decide to blow the freight to smithereens. Did Mulder survive? Did he get away? FOX The best TV cliffhangers of all time Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life – "Fall" (2016) “It certainly wasn't the ending I expected,” Rory Gilmore actor Alexis Bledel said of the finale. “Fitting but frustrating”, was how Vanity Fair referred to the episode. The Gilmore Girls sequel, A Year in the Life, concluded with a four-word exchange between Rory and her mother, Lorelai (Lauren Graham). “Mum”, the daughter says, sitting in a park’s bandstand. “Yeah”, she replies. “I’m pregnant,” Rory says. Queue hundreds of fans wanting more from the story, which had, ultimately, come full circle. Netflix The best TV cliffhangers of all time Star Trek: The Next Generation – "Best of Both Worlds" (1990) Another science fiction show filled to the brim with cliffhangers. Star Trek: The Next Generation had many, but few can measure up to Picard (Patrick Stewart) becoming a Borg. The season three finale sees the Enterprise’s crew having no choice but to turn on their former captain, with Riker (Jonathan Frakes) ordering Worf (Michael Dorn) to open fire on Picard’s Borg ship. Fans had to wait three months to discover whether Picard could be saved – and the fandom almost imploded in the meantime. Paramount The best TV cliffhangers of all time The OC – "The Dearly Beloved" (2005) Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) and Ryan Atwood (Benjamin McKenzie) would have done anything for each other. When Ryan’s brother Trey (Logan Marshall-Green) gets in the way, attacking Marissa, Ryan has no other course of action but to settle things “once and for all” between them. As the brawl ensues, Marissa somehow ends up shooting Trey. And as the bullet goes through him, Imogen Heap’s song “Hide and Seek” – AKA the “Mmmmh, what you say?” song – suddenly starts playing. It’s hard not to laugh. The pop song cuts through the scene, completely at odds with what’s happening on screen. No wonder, then, that Saturday Night Live famously parodied the scene in one of their most-beloved skits of all time. Fox The best TV cliffhangers of all time The Office US – "Casino Night" (2006) Jim (John Krasinski) and Pam (Jenna Fischer) were the ultimate “will they, won’t they” couple, their chemistry electrifying the early seasons of The Office. Things peaked for the first time during the season two finale. Following Casino Night at Dunder Mifflin, Jim finally takes Pam aside to reveal his true feelings, telling her: “I’m in love with you.” She is, at the time, engaged to Roy (David Denman), and decides to reply to Jim: “What are you doing?” While all hope for the pair seems lost, Jim finds Pam (calling her mother) before the episode’s end and kisses her. Cruelly, the showrunners decided to cut to black after the moment, leaving fans wondering for months whether the couple would return to screens happily together (spoiler: they do not). NBC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Alias – "The Telling" (2003) JJ Abrams loves ending things on a twist. Before creating the mystery-box filled Lost, the filmmaker created Alias, and the season two finale marks one the show’s greatest endings. The episode sees Sydney (Jennifer Garner) discover that Francie (Merrin Dungey) is not Francie at all, but a duplicate. The two then brawl, ending with Sydney shooting Francie and then collapsing due to exhaustion. We immediately jump to Sydney waking up in Hong Kong. After reuniting with her lover Michael Vaughn (Michael Vartan), Sydney realises things are amiss as Michael is wearing a wedding ring. Turns out, she has been missing for almost two years. Cut to black, and the world asking “What just happened?” ABC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Spooks – "Smoke and Mirrors" (2003) The season two finale of Spooks shocked the nation. While the episode begins with the CIA taking on a seemingly straightforward mission – to prevent a member of the Cabinet being assassinated – we soon discover that everything’s not as it seems. The formerly-presumed dead Herman Joyce (Tomas Arana) is still alive and masquerading as Herb Zeigler. Not only that, but the villain has masterminded an elaborate plan to make it seem as if Tom (Matthew Macfadyen) has assassinated the Chief of the Defence Staff. With everything working against Tom, the agent finds himself backed into a corner. And when Harry (Peter Firth) loses faith, Tom decides to shoot Harry with his shotgun. Does Harry die? Will Tom ever be found innocent? The questions were many. BBC The best TV cliffhangers of all time Dragon Ball Z – Next time on Dragon Ball Z There’s really no definitive Dragon Ball Z cliffhanger, as almost every single episode in the series finishes with one. From Vegeta staring menacingly at the camera to the villainous Cell launching a deadline attack on Goku, the series leaves you anywhere and everywhere. When that voice-over comes in with “Next time on Dragon Ball Z”, you can guarantee any child watching will be hooked and instantly wanting to watch the next episode. Cartoon Network The best TV cliffhangers of all time Pushing Up Daisies – “Kerplunk” (2009) Pushing Up Daisies was unceremoniously brought to an end after just two seasons, with showrunner Bryan Fuller having to quickly conclude the whimsical series with very little notice. The epilogue was added late into the writing process and sees the narrator offer some closure to each characters’ story. Yet, with Ned (Lee Pace) and Chuck (Anna Friel) standing on her aunts’ doorstep, waiting to finally reveal that she’s alive, fans could see that there were originally supposed to be many more seasons to come – and they still want them desperately. The best TV cliffhangers of all time Sherlock – "The Reichenbach Fall" (2012) Following a war of words with Jim Moriarty (Andrew Scott) on the roof of a building (in which Moriarty shoots himself in the head), Sherlock (Benedict Cumberbatch) decides to seemingly commit suicide by jumping off the building. However, not all is at it seems, as Sherlock is seen alive before the episode end. Fans of the series – plus Martin Freeman’s Watson – were left questioning what exactly happened to Sherlock, with all being revealed in the following special.

Netflix has previously dropped surprise projects in the past, but officially cancelling a show with no intention of axing it would be another thing altogether.