The canceled TV series that quietly started the Justified universe

From everyone shows like “Justified” that are worth watchingKaren Sisco is the only one who deserves credit for starting the franchise. Admittedly, this was unintentional and happened years before FX's crime drama about Deputy US Marshal Raylan Givens (Timothy Olyphant) came to fruition. However, “Karen Sisco” is canonically associated with “Justified” and it's a shame that the series has been largely forgotten, as it is one of many. great shows that got canceled after one season.

Based on Elmore Leonard's eponymous character, “Karen Sisco” stars Carla Guggio as the eponymous U.S. Marshal as she solves crimes in Miami, Florida while trying to earn the respect of her peers and navigate a dating world full of men. who can never guess her real job. Fortunately, she has a close confidant in her father, Marshal Sisko (Robert Forster), a retired lawyer who is always ready to impart a few words of wisdom.

While “Karen Sisco” was sent to the chopping block after one season, the creators of “Justified” did not forget about it. With that in mind, let's explore how the two series are connected.

In addition to both shows being based on characters imagined by author Elmore Leonard, “Karen Sisco” and “Justified” are creating their own shared universe in the third season of the latter series. In the episode titled “Cut Ties,” Carla Gugino reprises her role as a Miami-based law enforcement officer, albeit under the name Karen Goodell, since her character is married (and to avoid legal trouble).

Despite the name change, the character's backstory still coincides with the events of “Karen Sisco.” In the episode, we learn that she is in Miami, and that's where she met Raylan Givens. Talking to Entertainment Weekly“Justified” showrunner Graham Yost also admitted that Goodell and Cisco are one and the same, though he jokingly tried to deny it:

“I don't know what you're talking about. I honestly don't know what you're talking about. No, listen, we're big fans of Carla, she loved playing marshal, we thought it would be fun to have her play marshal again. “

At the time, the door was open for Gugino to return to “Justified,” but the stars never aligned. However, her one-off appearance was enough to enrich the universe and bring fans together who wanted to know what happened to Sisko after her show was canceled in 2004.

“Justified” had the luxury of ending with a purpose after six seasons. Additionally, Raylan Givens has since returned to action thanks to the Justified: City Primeval spinoff, ensuring that the franchise continues to expand. Meanwhile, “Karen Sisco” was canceled by ABC after seven episodes due to low ratings despite positive reviews, and the show has become a forgotten gem in the annals of television history.

At the time, ABC planned to make some changes to the series and bring it back with a bang. The network hoped that some revamping would help the show resonate with viewers, but they ultimately gave up on trying to make it a success, and the show ended up with three unaired episodes locked, loaded, and ready to go.

Also, at the time of this writing, “Karen Sisco” is not available for streaming or purchase on DVD or Blu-ray. Hopefully, the continued popularity of “Justified” will lead to more of the series someday, but for now, it seems destined to remain in ABC's vaults, gathering dust.